Nothing purchased can come close to the renewed sense of gratitude for having family and friends.   ~Courtland Milloy

This season, I am increasingly aware of the blessing of family and friends.  And you wonderful folks here are some of those I feel priveleged to count among my friends; though our connection is just a "cyber" one, I feel a kinship with many of you who are part of this little community. 

I received this little poem in my inbox from another dear friend, and would like to share it with you:

I pray you have a lovely Thanksgiving holiday, surrounded by the the blessing of family and friends, enjoying some of the bountiful harvest from your gardens! 

I will be back visiting with you on the Front Porch soon.   Our family is once again "on the move", so it may be a few days until the computer has a new spot in our little nest, and is set up and ready to go.  First must come other things...the kitchen, the bedrooms, the bathrooms (oh, they need some serious attention), and of course, a nice sunny spot indoors for my potted herbs. 

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!!!

Blessings to you and yours,

Catherine

Don’t you love the ease of shaving with your favorite shaving cream or lotion? Well, you can get that simple time saver for less!

When your shaving cream or lotion runs out, don’t replace it. Instead use olive oil! Olive oil is a bit thicker than other oils, but also provides essential moisture to your skin. Rub it on your leg and shave as usual. If this seems like the end of this frugal practice, hold on, because you will also save on your moisturizing lotion. When you use olive oil in place of shaving cream, you won’t need to moisturize your skin afterwards. DOUBLE SAVINGS!

This tip works with men as well, and since olive oil doesn’t have an odor, no purchasing of separate products. Now that is a simply frugal savings!

These are my thoughts.

Leslie Valeska

~Contributing Writer~

Leslie Valeska is the lucky wife of Thomas.  With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of the fine art of homemaking. She is a writer, speaker, and vintage seamstress. For FREE daily tips and a FREE E-zine on simple and frugal living visit her blog Journey to Simplicity. Need a source of encouragement, inspiration, and support on your journey to Godly womanhood? Visit Simple Journey Ministries (she has a FREE E-zine too!) Of course, don’t forget to visit the Simple Journey Bookstore!

Sweet Potato Quesadillas.   I got the recipe from Angela and I thought they were really good.  A bit spicy, but not too bad.  I actually reduced the spices a bit and was fine with the taste.  I just know I couldn't have done all that chili powder!  LOL.  But, they were good, I really liked them.  (We substituted cheesey sauce for cheese).

However... I had two daughters try them... and one spit it out.  I had another two refuse to try them.  My husband said they were good, but would have like them with real cheese (I used a cashew sauce).  I didn't see anything wrong with them and we eat fried sweet potato slices all the time... ???  I served them with our homemade tacos and everyone LOVES those homemade corn tortillas and perhaps it was just too much food. 

I asked if they would eat them just as a meal and eyebrows raised.  I don't get it because this was actually quite good and I saw nothing wrong with it at all.  I get the feeling sometimes that they are ganging up to veto foods so that I will just give up. 

A funny, we're out of the colby-jack cheese that they love and use on everything.  We ran out last week and I had already said that we wouldn't buy more food until payday.  I can make a cheesey sauce and I wasn't that worried... they eat it at potlucks at church, so I figured we'd be fine.  But they got some pizza cheese... mozzarella/provolone/ and cheddar cheese mix that they put onto their tacos... (it was in the freezer).  I figured they have got to be desperate... , but not desperate enough to give into eating more healthy. *sigh*

I really don't think they are out to veto things, but they are holding my trials up to a higher standard, meaning it needs to taste as good as Thanksgiving dinner, in order to join the menu.  Seems a bit unfair and I believe they are missing out on some good food by being so particular.   I'm going to have to just make my own recipe file for me... what I like, because it's beginning to look after 2 months that I will be dining alone.  : (   I just hope my attitude about doing so doesn't bring me down.  I feel so much better not eating dairy... I'm less sore, less tired, I have clearer thinking... and less grumpy days.  Plus my health will be much better as well... heart disease is a huge factor in each side of my family and I just don't want to be another statistic. 

I have to remind myself daily that this IS worth it!  

Warmly, ~Melissa 

With the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaching (where did this year go?); I've been pondering having a thankful heart.  Our family has much to give thanks for- health, a home (not our dream home, but a roof over our heads nonetheless), friends, family, and for the time being, 2 gardens! 

Gardening is one of those things that we just "do" in our family.  For me, growing things is not only a hobby, but a passion I suppose.   As I ponder giving thanks, and more importantly....living thanks to Him who gives to us so generously and abundantly; I am seeking ways to make gardening a way of giving and living gratitude.  

Here are a few thoughts:

Sharing the harvest, a simple place to start.

Planting an extra row of edibles to donate to a food bank or needy famililes.

Saving seeds and sharing those with other gardeners.

Starting a community garden and teaching others the skills to grow their own food.

Market gardening, and donating part (or all) of the profits to the needy or perhaps to a missionary.

Hosting a "Harvest Festival" that gives honor and glory to the Lord of the Harvest.

Giving the gift of seeds to a needy family.

Supporting mission efforts that teach sustainable agriculture.

Anyone else have ideas to share?

Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.   ~W.J. Cameron

Blessings,

Catherine

We paid the bills the other night and found we are having enough to pay the bills, however my grocery money was a little short this month due to all the car repairs.  I told everyone that we will just have to wait until Dh gets paid until buying some more food. 

This really isn't a problem at all.  I have a good stockpile of the basics... whole grain for breads (and all the other bread staples), dried beans and basic herbs and spices, rice and pasta, canned tomatoes and other sauces, cashews and peppers for my "cheesy sauce", some rice and almond milk in their vacumn sealed boxes... basically everything we need to survive except DAIRY!  LOL.  I even have plenty of fruits and veggies.

So we are again dairy free for another week as a family, together!  *grin*  God is so good to me.  My family is supportive again this week because we are out of cheese, milk, etc... due to money shortages.  I get a short breather for me to catch my breath and be ready for the holidays without dairy. 

I've noticed the last two weeks the attitudes around the house are more selfish in nature and I haven't been quite able to figure out what to do about it as of yet.  I never really noticed, but tonight, I went to church to hold our monthly health meeting and I asked my girls if they'd come with and help and not one was willing to go.  This is really odd... they've always been willing... then one of my daughters pipes up with ... what will you give me?  I looked at her questioningly and she replies... will you take me out to eat?  I said, we're serving dinner at the health meeting, why would we go out to eat and then she said... no, I'm not going. 

I was just stunned, I've not ever really encountered them rejecting an opportunity for service at church.  In fact, they have always LOVED helping in the kitchen and I was floored by the reaction.  Oh my kids have had days of not helping from time to time, but usually in coincided with "something" going on in their lives... but this... I don't know... I think it is more heart issues I am dealing with.  Perhaps my dairy free break is not only for me, but for them to have to give of themselves.   I will have to do some praying this week to see if further direction is needed.  Now that I am aware of this, I'll likely need to pay attention to what is ruling their lives... self or Christ.  I know many times I do not notice myself when I stray from what is right and sometimes redirection is needed.  God seems to find a way to wake me up and get my attention.  It seems that now is a time for my girls to "see" what I have seen today.  May God give me wisdom that I can do it in a loving and non-critical way so that they might be open to change. 

My computer time is about done for today.  Time for a quick pick up before bed.

Warmly, ~Melissa 

This weekend, I tried making Sour Cream Patties, but without dairy.  Beings dairy is a main theme of this recipe, I was hoping it would turn out.   It was fine.  My daughters said it was just like the regular version... my only change was that I used tofu sour cream in place of the dairy version. 

Sour Cream Patties:

Patty:

One can of vegetarian burger, 4-5 eggs, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 2 packets of george washington's broth (just the powder)... a chicken or beef flavored seasoning is a good substitute for this, and a 1/2 teaspoon of sage.

Mix together and fry in a non-stick skillet... no oil necessary if you let the pan heat up first.

Sauce:

2 cups of sour cream, 2 cups of a seasoned broth (I've done both vegetarian chicken or beef... both are good), mix together.  One small can of mushrooms/drained, and one onion sliced into rings.

Layer patties, mushrooms and onions in a pan... can use a 9 by 13 or layer in a 3 quart crockpot.  Pour sauce over it.  Let the crockpot cook on low for about 4 hours.  OR bake at 350 F for 45 minutes until bubbly and onions are soft. 

This is one recipe my husband enjoys and me going dairy free was killing him because the only vegetarian dishes he likes contain dairy.  *grin*  My girls said Dad won't even notice a difference.   He didn't get to try them...since he was at work and they were gone before he had a chance to try them. 

One more recipe to add to the approved list.  At least I have a nice meal for special occasions that I can count on.  This recipe is a bit pricey and I tend to double it and put it into my 5 qt. crockpot when I do make it.  Left-overs are still just as great! 

Warmly, ~Melissa

I stubbed my toes and I just had to tell someone.   I feel like I have nails sticking into the tips of my toes...

Sitting here with my feet up in the air, ~Melissa

Conventional wisdom would tell us that the time for putting up produce has come and gone with summer's long, warm days.  But, that just isn't so!  There are many ways to keep preserving the harvest even as we head into late fall and early winter.  Here are a few ideas:

Cranberries -  Take advantage of the low prices and abundance of this versatile autumn fruit.  I like to stock up on the 3 lb. bags available at Costco and other discount stores.  Just throw the bags into your freezer for future batches of homemade cranberry jelly, breads, muffins and even for juicing.  Canning cranberry jelly is super easy.  Because of it's high acidity and natural pectin content, you only need to put your jars in a boiling water bath for about 5 minutes.  Little half-pint jars of cranberry jelly are a great addition to a Christmas gift basket.  Write to me if you would like my recipe for Honeyed Cranberry Jelly.

Yams & Sweet Potatoes - Again, another veggie that is in season right now.  You must have a pressure canner to can these gems, but they are great for the freezer too!  Simply boil them whole till tender, remove skins and chunk up or mash.  Then, freeze in quart bags.  Now you have them ready-cooked for those last minute meals.

Nuts - Plentiful and nutritious late season crop.  Buy them in bulk in their shells for the best prices.  Once shelled, most nuts freeze very well.

Pumpkin - Now that Halloween has passed, your local pumpkin patch, farmer's market or grocery store may be eager to sell their leftover pumpkins.  Buy small to medium sized pumpkins and keep them in a cool (not cold), dry, dark place.  They will keep for several months if they are not cut open.  When you are ready to use them, you can bake them like squash, scoop out the flesh and freeze for pies, breads and soups.

Apples - Still delicious and fresh in the markets.  Prices are low, so stock up!  There is no end to what you can do with apples - applesauce, apple butter, pies, juice - can them, freeze them and/or dry them.  You can be enjoying delicious, freshly made apple treats through the months ahead by putting in a little time and effort now.

I have learned that no matter what the date says on my calendar, I can always find something to "put by" to keep my pantry filled with fresh, home-preserved foods.

Lisa Vitello

Lisa publishes the New Harvest Homestead newsletter for women who want to live a simpler, more home-centered lifestyle.  Back issues are packed with recipes and information for canning and preserving all of the foods above and lots more!