Comments for Hillbilly Housewife

Comment on Scratch Jiffy Cornbread Recipe by Jim Neill

Jim Neill — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:34:01 +0000

No, no, no, no, no! I have never had a mix that was any good.
Here’s how you make cornbread.
1 cup of whole grain, coarse ground, white corn meal (white has better flavor)
1 T non-aluminum baking powder (I use Rumford)
1 egg (fertile from my chickens)
1/3 cup of oil (I prefer walnut or hazelnut)
1 cup milk (I prefer goat milk, more butterfat than cow milk)
If you use wheat flour it’s not really cornbread.
Never, ever use sugar. “A true southern cook relies on the natural sweetness of the corn.”
Mix the corn meal and the baking powder.
Mix the egg, oil, and milk.
Mix dry and wet ingredients together.
I fry mine like pancakes but you can bake it in the oven about 400 for 10 to 20 minutes depending on how deep your dish is.

Comment on Peanut Butter Granola by Sonya Skinner

Sonya Skinner — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:14:54 +0000

It shouldn’t mold, as none of the ingredients(except butter) require refrigeration.

Comment on Frugal Living Without A Big Pantry by Beth

Beth — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:08:20 +0000

I’d like to make a comment about Aldi’s. I actually save right at $60-$100 when I shop there. Which is twice a month. My family thinks the cereal, poptarts and yogurt they carry taste much better than the name brand items at grocery stores. I also save about $1.00 a box for cereal and poptarts. There are a few items I won’t buy, which is bread and meat. The bread has a tendancy to not be soft and I always wait for meat sales at my local stores. I do watch the flyers for other items, but all in all, Aldi’s is great. The kids love the soup and the fruits and veggies are wonderful and MUCH cheaper. I can get 3 bell peppers there for the cost of one at another store. Dry milk is $2.00 + cheaper at Aldi’s and I use a lot of it. Don’t give up on the store yet.

Comment on About Repurposing by colleen

colleen — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:37:23 +0000

When my daughter has a upset stomach she gets the puke bucket, a plastic shoe box lined with several plastic shopping bags. As she gets sick I can throw out the bags. Saves on my tummy!!

I also like to use containers and drops of food coloring in the tub for water experiments my daughter creates.

I cut holes in old miss match socks and cut the toes off and they make great dresses for beanie babies.

I used old bleach bottle for a sharps container when I was on insulin.

I use a old 5 gal bucket to sit on when I am cleaning out weeds in the flower garden too.

coat hanger and old pantyhose made a great butterfly net/pool cleaner.

I shop at thrift stores for all kinds of stuff. From craft things (flat sheets for quilt backing) to clothes to bath toys for my daughter ( a handful of 10 cent toys work good in the tub..)

A milk carton filled with dryer lint works goof for the birds to make nests out of.

I used pop bottle caps on the chair legs to keep them from scuffing the floor.

My favorite use of a old towel was to write wonder pet on it and pin it to my daughters shirt as a cape she used it for days!!

We use old plastic creamer containers with the spout to put by the door filled with ice melt to sprinkle on the side walks.

Some times i am frugal sometimes I look at it as creative!!

Comment on Frugal Living Without A Big Pantry by Carin

Carin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:26:16 +0000

I enjoy reading your information and wanted to add this link to storing canned items under the bed as indicated in a previous post.
http://amatterofpreparedness.blogspot.com/search/label/Storage%20Space
Thank you for all your good information

Comment on Frugal Living Without A Big Pantry by carolb

carolb — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:06:02 +0000

how ’bout dehydrating? easy to learn (library has the info), takes up little space, not much time and easy to rehydrate. some dehyrated foods last a long time without spoiling.

Comment on What To Do With Puffed Rice by Jeannie

Jeannie — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:03:42 +0000

When my children were young I used to make my own “Super Golden Crisp” with puffed wheat cereal. I’ll bet it would work with puffed rice as well.

Place puffed wheat (rice) cereal in jellyroll pan and toast in 325° oven 6-8 minutes. Meanwhile, melt 1 stick butter or margarine and 1/2 cup honey in a very large pan. (If you like cinnamon you can add a healthy dash to this mixture). Add cereal to honey mixture and stir thoroughly to coat well. Return to pan and bake another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool thoroughly and store in an airtight container. (It may seem a little soggy while hot, but it will crisp up as it cools.)

Comment on Frugal Living Without A Big Pantry by Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:43:45 +0000

I would also like to suggest something i learned from Amy Dacyzyn’s Tightwad Gazette, in thinking about places you could feasibly store stuff. Many people could store flats of canned goods under their beds, along with other things. Food does not necessarily have to be stored in the kitchen.
I also adore shopping at Aldi’s, but i do treat them the same as any other store in double checking that they truly do have the lowest prices. I was recently disappointed to find out that canned veggies went up so now the chain store’s 20 for 10 deal is actually better than my beloved Aldi. I also do not find it very helpful to get the email from there because their weekly specials are typically things i won’t buy, even at lower prices. Convenience foods still cost more than homemade.

Comment on Frugal Living Without A Big Pantry by Rhonda

Rhonda — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:31:04 +0000

Another way to think outside the box… I have a small upright freezer in my extra bedroom! I live in a small 2-bedroom apartment with a tiny kitchen. I did some rearranging in the extra bedroom and was just able to squeeze that little freezer in there. It sure does help with food storage, though!

Comment on Frugal Living Without A Big Pantry by Singing Sparrow

Singing Sparrow — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:32:38 +0000

Oh dear ones thank you for all the support and clues.
Tonya-even though thousands of miles between us we must be living in the same apartment building. Now I have a wonderful idea for how to utilize those dark portions of my under the counter cupboards.