Backpost Crochet Washcloth

Last night, I finished crocheting this washcloth. Uninteresting, I know, but let me tell ya-- these things are my favorite cleaning supply. They are washable, durable, good for scrubbing, and great for dusting. I managed to snag a skein of Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn from a locan thrift store last week for 50 cents, so I decided I'd make up a pattern for a washcloth with a backpost single crochet. Sorry for the blurry images-- used my phone camera, but you can still see the texture pretty well. So, here's how you do it:


What you'll need:
A little less than 1/2 of a ball of cotton yarn (like Sugar n' Cream, but it doesn't have to be that brand)
A crochet hook size E.

To begin:
Row 1: Chain 30
Row 2: 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Continue to end of row (29 st) ch 1, turn
Rows 3-31: sc in BACK LOOP OF EACH STITCH across 29 st. ch1, turn
Row 32: sc in back loop of each st across 29 st. Ch 20. sl into last sc of row 32 (To form loop) Ch 1, turn
Loop: Working around the loop, sc in each st. (not into the loop, but into the stitches) (20 st). sl into last sc of row 32.

Fasten off, sew in tails.

And viola! You're finished!

Budget Friendly Tips: Grocery Style

So many of the people I know have been trying to cut down their budgets lately. In response to this, I've compiled a list of ways to do this. One of the major areas of our budget up until last fall was our food budget. It's been tricky, but with some planning and care, I've managed to spend no more than $120 on grocery shopping each month. This includes food for Mark and me, but also at least one weekly meal to feed fellow missionaries at the Opportunity Center. Here are some of the ways that I do it:

1) Go to the library. My local library has a phenomenal selection of cookbooks, including books dedicated strictly to healthy, inexpensive recipes. Most of these books offer tips and tricks of their own on how to cut back on spending, but just having a good selection of recipes in your arsenal is helpful. The more you know how to cook, the more creative you can be.

Cookbook suggestions:

The Healthy College Cookbook

Not only is this book adorable, it also houses tons of great healthy recipes, ranging from vegan to carnivorous-- and all equally appealing! My favorite? Ramen Noodle Stir-Fry!

For One or Two

This was one of my first cookbooks. I love it, mostly because the recipes are great and they make less servings, which means less wasted food. There is a good selection in this book, including a whole section dedicated to meatless meals. My recipe pick: Goujons With Garlic Mayonnaise.

2) Meal Plan. I've been told that my kitchen is run like a cafeteria. Why? Because each time I go grocery shopping, I make a structured list of everything we will cook in the coming month. I hate grocery shopping, so I only do it once a month. This might sound unnecessarily rigorous, but it actually frees us up to do things besides cook and decide what we will eat that night. I'm also able to better gauge what I'll spend, which leads me to the next tip.

3) Shop Smart. I keep all of my grocery lists, receipts, and a copy of meal plans in one notebook. It is my jumping off point for meal planning (it helps me remember what I cooked last month). It is a good base for my shopping list (I can see what needs to be purchased for the recipes I'll prepare), and it helps me know how much I'll spend (I can add it up more precisely, because my receipts and item prices are right in front of me.) You can use this notebook to record and store coupons, too, though I am not much of a coupon-er at all.

4) Don't Stress About Luxuries. What I mean by this is, if there is something that you enjoy, don't think that you have to cut it out of your budget completely. Sometimes, you can learn how to make it yourself or find it somewhere for less money than anticipated.

Most of all, learn to crave efficiency. By doing this, you'll save money, time, and stress!

Easiest Quiche Ever

I am always on the lookout for super easy recipes that require very few ingredients, are inexpensive, and can be changes around a little for variety. This quiche recipe has it all!

Ingredients:

3 eggs
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1 cup shredded cheese of your choice
1 prepared pie crust.

Directions:
Roll piecrust into a 9" pie pan, Mix all ingredients well and pour into pie shell. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.

That's it! It's super easy. Some of the variations I like to make are:

Add 1 can of well drained asparagus, 1 can of well drained chicken breasts, and use Monterey Jack Cheese.

Add 1 well drained can of diced tomatoes with green chiles, 1 can of well drained spinach (or 2 1/2 cups of fresh spinach), and use pepper jack cheese.

The options are limitless!

Enjoy!

Cranberry Orange Bread

I made up this recipe last week, and the loaf disappeared. Literally. It didn't last 24 hours. I used my bread maker, but I will post directions for a conventional oven. The finished product is FANTASTIC used for French Toast.

Ingredients:

•2 teaspoons yeast
•3 cups all purpose flour
•1 1/2 teaspoons salt
•3/4 cup plain yogurt
•3 teaspoons butter
•3 tablespoons honey (I used Missouri Wildflower honey from Femme Osage Apiary)
•1/2 cup warm water
•1 teaspoon orange oil (I found mine at Dollar Tree, but I'm sure any grocery store has it.)
•1 cup dried cranberries

Directions: In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes, or until it is slightly foamy. In mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of the flour and the salt. Add yogurt, butter, orange oil and honey. Mix well. Add cranberries and fully incorporate. Continue adding the remaining flour until a soft dough forms. It should not be sticky. Kneed on floured surface for about 3 minutes.

Cover and let dough rise about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake dough in loaf pan until a knife inserted in center of loaf comes out clean & crust is lightly golden.

Black Bean Burgers

Lately, I have been trying to get out of the mindset of "Meat is a food group," and into the mindset that "Protein is a food group." Mark and I have enjoyed some vegetarian meals recently. This weekend, amongst the other missionaries at the Opportunity Center, I was able to make this recipe for black bean burgers with my sister. It was delicious! Definitely a keeper!