Do you need an easy dinner that even the kids can throw together? Keep tostadas as an easy dinner recipe. It is very inexpensive and so easy to make. What a time saver! You can put this on the table in five minutes!
* 1 large tomato diced
* 1 bag chopped lettuce (prewashed)
* 1 pkg. Guerrorro Tostadas (precooked corn tortillas)
* 1 small package shredded cheese
* 1 large can refried beans
* 1 jar of your favorite salsa (or home-made)
Open the can of refried beans and put into a microwave safe bowl, warm in microwave for about three minutes (depending on your microwave). While it is warming, put the grated cheese in a bowl, put the lettuce in another bowl and the diced tomato in another bowl. Set them all on the table with your salsa (don't forget to put spoons in all of the bowls). Set the table and as soon as the beans are warm, dinner is ready. Spread the refried beans onto the corn tortillas, sprinkle with grated cheese and top with lettuce and tomato. Garnish generously with salsa and your dinner is served! That's it! Easy huh?
For more info: www.examiner.com/x-2940-Denver-Frugal-Living-Examiner~topic81796-Recipes
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
How to build a square foot table garden
With the coming of Spring, I have decided to have a garden, whether we sell our house or not. So I am building myself some table gardens for square foot gardening. You can do this yourself. This is especially helpful if you do not want to be bending over, or, if you have an extreme bunny rabbit population like I do. First measure the area you wish to put your table garden and see what size will fit there. Then all you need are:
* (2) 2x6" boards, whatever length (for small root plants like radishes and lettuce and spinach)
* (2) 1x6" boards for the end caps (whatever length)
* plywood
* Some type of wood to use for legs
* Scrap wood for braces
* Deck screws
* A good cordless drill
* Some good potting soil and seed
I found some 2x6's 8' long in the garage, so I used those. I also found some scrap 1x6's in the garage about 20" long, already cut into pieces, so I used those.
Then I went to Home Depot and found some 2x2's in the trash in the lumber section. I asked a young man if I could have them and he said yes and he even cut them for me the length I requested for free, but I think Lowes would probably do the same thing, go to whichever one is closest to you. I had him cut them into 29" pieces since that is about the length of my kitchen table legs. However, in retrospect, I should have cut them shorter since I didn't allow for the 6" depth of the boxes, they are actually a tad taller than I really wanted, but that is just fine. I'll take that into account on the next box.
So all I did was screw the ends onto the boards and cut plywood the measurement of the box, then I screwed the plywood onto the box and drilled holes in the bottom for drainage. I also added some scrap wood for braces on each end. As you can see, mine are very rudimentary, but it will serve it's intended purpose, and I can take them with me should we sell the house!
Today I planted my early crop, spinach, lettuce, radishes, small flowers, and some herbs. But in my next box I will plant some of the other veggies that were too early to plant now. I am going to plant a salsa garden, I will keep you updated and even upload photos as my garden grows. If you would like to send me photos of your garden, please do so! I will post them as I receive them, please send smaller files though, as the large ones don't work for such a small configuration. I do realize there are examiners that are specific to gardening, however, frugal living does include gardening, so send those photos anyway. You can send them to marilyn@frugalliving-denver.com thanks. By the way, be sure to check out the Square Foot Garden video.
* (2) 2x6" boards, whatever length (for small root plants like radishes and lettuce and spinach)
* (2) 1x6" boards for the end caps (whatever length)
* plywood
* Some type of wood to use for legs
* Scrap wood for braces
* Deck screws
* A good cordless drill
* Some good potting soil and seed
I found some 2x6's 8' long in the garage, so I used those. I also found some scrap 1x6's in the garage about 20" long, already cut into pieces, so I used those.
Then I went to Home Depot and found some 2x2's in the trash in the lumber section. I asked a young man if I could have them and he said yes and he even cut them for me the length I requested for free, but I think Lowes would probably do the same thing, go to whichever one is closest to you. I had him cut them into 29" pieces since that is about the length of my kitchen table legs. However, in retrospect, I should have cut them shorter since I didn't allow for the 6" depth of the boxes, they are actually a tad taller than I really wanted, but that is just fine. I'll take that into account on the next box.
So all I did was screw the ends onto the boards and cut plywood the measurement of the box, then I screwed the plywood onto the box and drilled holes in the bottom for drainage. I also added some scrap wood for braces on each end. As you can see, mine are very rudimentary, but it will serve it's intended purpose, and I can take them with me should we sell the house!
Today I planted my early crop, spinach, lettuce, radishes, small flowers, and some herbs. But in my next box I will plant some of the other veggies that were too early to plant now. I am going to plant a salsa garden, I will keep you updated and even upload photos as my garden grows. If you would like to send me photos of your garden, please do so! I will post them as I receive them, please send smaller files though, as the large ones don't work for such a small configuration. I do realize there are examiners that are specific to gardening, however, frugal living does include gardening, so send those photos anyway. You can send them to marilyn@frugalliving-denver.com thanks. By the way, be sure to check out the Square Foot Garden video.
Medicine in a bowl-Good health to you
I wrote an article including a recipe for granola, and as I have been experimenting with the recipe myself, I began to add ingredients that are really good for you (and me). I realized that all of the ingredients I put in are in effect, medicine. Just think about it for a minute...
The basic ingredients are:
* Oatmeal, good for you and shown to lower cholesterol.
* Sunflower seeds, good for you, high in protein.
* Coconut, good for you, considered by many to be a natural anti-biotic.
* Ground flax seed, good for you, high in omega-3 fatty acids.
* Organic extra virgin cold pressed olive oil, again, good for you.
* Pumpkin seeds, considered by many to be a natural parasitic and high in protein.
* Nuts, good for you, high in protein and containing "good fats".
* Raw honey, also good for you, helps also with allergies. You can use agave nectar instead of honey if you prefer for sugar reasons:
* Agave nectar, good for you, especially since it is very low on the glycemic index, and many diabetics can tolerate it very well.
* Pure maple syrup can be used instead of honey or agave to give a different flavor and, also good for you, high in nutritional value.
* Dried fruit, especially the berries, such as blueberries, are high in proanthocyanidins, basically the purple color is good for the blood and helps keep platelets from sticking together. If you use dried currants instead of raisins, they are very tolerable for ones with diabetes and or hypoglycemia.
Did you know that you can cook your granola like oatmeal? So if you wear dentures and think that the nuts and seeds are a problem, don't sweat it, cook your granola just like oatmeal. It is just as yummy cooked! And you can also use the left over cooked granola in the blender with your protein shake ingredients.
So you see, granola is like medicine in a bowl. I forgot the last perk, it wil keep you regular.
For more info: Save money by making your own granola
The basic ingredients are:
* Oatmeal, good for you and shown to lower cholesterol.
* Sunflower seeds, good for you, high in protein.
* Coconut, good for you, considered by many to be a natural anti-biotic.
* Ground flax seed, good for you, high in omega-3 fatty acids.
* Organic extra virgin cold pressed olive oil, again, good for you.
* Pumpkin seeds, considered by many to be a natural parasitic and high in protein.
* Nuts, good for you, high in protein and containing "good fats".
* Raw honey, also good for you, helps also with allergies. You can use agave nectar instead of honey if you prefer for sugar reasons:
* Agave nectar, good for you, especially since it is very low on the glycemic index, and many diabetics can tolerate it very well.
* Pure maple syrup can be used instead of honey or agave to give a different flavor and, also good for you, high in nutritional value.
* Dried fruit, especially the berries, such as blueberries, are high in proanthocyanidins, basically the purple color is good for the blood and helps keep platelets from sticking together. If you use dried currants instead of raisins, they are very tolerable for ones with diabetes and or hypoglycemia.
Did you know that you can cook your granola like oatmeal? So if you wear dentures and think that the nuts and seeds are a problem, don't sweat it, cook your granola just like oatmeal. It is just as yummy cooked! And you can also use the left over cooked granola in the blender with your protein shake ingredients.
So you see, granola is like medicine in a bowl. I forgot the last perk, it wil keep you regular.
For more info: Save money by making your own granola
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