Refried Beans and Hotsie-Totsie Sauce!

We all love a little Mexican flavor now and then, right?! Well get ready for some totally awesome better-than-Taco-Bell-flavor that's headed right for your taste buds! :)

Not only are these two dishes delightful, they're also a frugal meal because you can serve meatless bean burritos with the hotsie-totsie sauce with a sprinkle of cheese, and for much less money than it costs to eat out at a Mexican restaurant. Satisfying, healthy, and SO GOOD! :D This is one dinner that definitely needs to dive into your menu. :)

And just look how simple it is...

Refried Beans

Ingredients:

• 5 1/2 cups (or 2 pounds) dry pinto or black beans
• about 3-3 1/2 quarts of water, as needed
• 2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 4 teaspoons cumin
• 3 teaspoons salt, to taste

Directions:

• Rinse the beans.  Cook the beans with the water in the crockpot for 8 hours on high.
• Drain the beans, reserving the liquid.  
• Mash the beans and add the bean liquid as needed to make a smooth mixture. 
• Add the spices and stir them in well.

Serve them with tortilla shells, freshly grated cheddar cheese and Hotsie~Totsie Sauce.  Oh, go ahead and have some sour cream if you really have to! ;)

Hotsie~Totsie Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 ( 15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 3 teaspoons cumin
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions:

Place in sauce pan and stir well, simmer at a very low temperature for 15- 20 minutes.

Remove and cool. Store in an air-tight container like a mason jar!

May be kept in refrigerator for several days.

You are getting your spices at a really good price, aren't you?  If you haven't heard, please check out our post on Best Prices for Herbs and Spices.

Enjoy this deliciouso dinner, perfect for your summer evenings when you want a little zesty flavor without breaking the bank. :D

  You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.

Best Prices for Herbs and Spices!

This is a HUGE frugal tip here, folks.  If you love to cook from scratch like we do, you use a lot of spices and herbs.  One awesome way to save money is to buy your herbs and spices in bulk.

Herbalcom.com is just the place. I have ordered from there several times and each time have been completely happy with my purchase.  They have so many items like loose leaf teas, herbs, spices, cocoa powder, essential oils, as well as empty capsules and things like beeswax!

Nothing fancy here, just straightforward great prices.  Their website will not tickle your visual senses! But hey, if I save lots of money, it doesn't have to be pretty!

For example,

Over time, that could add up to a lot of money!  Herbalcom.com sells the spices and herbs in 1 pound packages.  That can be a lot of spice so you may want to go in with a friend or just store them in mason jars like I do.  :)

I make up my own capsules of herbs to take orally by using herbs from Herbalcom.com.  That tutorial is for another post but if you like to use herbs for remedies, this is the source for you.

I also have met people who like to make their own special herb mixes and sell them.  At these prices, that option is very affordable.

But don't just take my word for it, hop on over to Herbalcom.com and comparison shop for your favorite items.

Happy cooking!

  You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.

Cool & Creamy Coleslaw

Cool, creamy, fresh, crunchy, sweet, tangy, it's all that and more!  There's something about coleslaw that just speaks SUMMER!!

If you have always wanted to make your own coleslaw from scratch, this recipe is for you.  It's simple to make but awesome to the taste buds.  This coleslaw is literally the best I have ever eaten.  Better than...well, we won't go there!

You can add more veggies or spices but you should try it as it is and then decide if it needs anything. :)

Ingredients:

1 head cabbage
1 carrot, grated

Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt

(I know!!! That's it! You can do that, right?) :D You won't believe how good it is with just those simple ingredients!

Directions:

Shred the cabbage in the food processor or cut it coarsely with a knife.  Grate (or shred) the carrot and add to the cabbage in a large bowl.

Mix the dressing ingredients in a medium bowl, whisking together.  Add to the cabbage and carrot and stir until well mixed.  If you pop it in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight, the flavors will blend and the sauce seems to increase!  Mix before serving.  

Enjoy this delicious coleslaw with your next barbecue, picnic or gathering.  You'll be so glad you did! 

You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.

Simple Sunday Thoughts #7- O Come.

Have a blessed Sunday!

  You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.

Exciting Memorial Day Weekend Sales!!!

Everyone loves a bargain! There are several sales right now going on for the weekend that I just had to tell you about. You never know, you may want to get something new for summer. :)

(These are affiliate links and we do profit from your clicking through and purchase.)  

Hancock Fabrics is having a 5 day sale so hop on over and check it out.

Deborah and Co. is having a sale, too.

Everything at our store is 15% off with the code: MEMORIALDAY and there is free shipping within the US on orders of $100.00 or more.  The sale is good from May 24th through May 27th.

And a beautiful dress store, Eshakti, has a great sale!

Memorial Day Sale upto 50% OFF + FREE Customization

One of my favorite places...Zenni Optical has free shipping!

This Memorial Day weekend, join Craftsy in honoring the brave men and women who have served in the US Armed Forces. For every class sold this weekend, Craftsywill donate a portion of the proceeds to benefit a veterans' organization. Select classes will be on sale up to 60% off! Have all the classes you want? Consider gifting a class to your favorite service member! 

Happy shopping!

  You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.

Guilt-free Luscious Chocolate Cake

Chocolate!  There aren't many desserts I love more than something chocolate, especially chocolate cake.  I mean, seriously, almost everyone LOVES chocolate.

When I cut out white sugar and white flour from my diet, the chocolate cake went, too!  But this homemade, from scratch recipe is just the ticket to satisfy that chocolate craving!  It uses honey and whole wheat flour and you would never know it! ( I will tell you that it is a little less sweet than box cake but just as moist and tasty!)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2/3 cup cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter or extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups honey
• 2 teaspoons vanilla (you are using your DIY vanilla, right?)
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup water

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Grease and flour two 9 inch round baking pans or one 9x13 inch baking pan.  
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. 
• In the large bowl of your mixer, cream butter (oil), honey and vanilla.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. 
• Gradually add flour mixture alternately with water.  When all ingredients are added, beat for 2 minutes.  
• Spread into prepared pans.
• Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, depending on pan size, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  
• Cool in pans for 15 minutes, remove from pans if using the round pans.

Serve with fresh fruit like strawberries or blueberries or if sugar is not a problem for you, try this easy and delicious homemade frosting.

Frosting:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shortening (like Crisco) or coconut oil
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 4 cups confectioner's sugar
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla  (you are using your DIY vanilla, right?)

Directions:

• Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Beat on low speed until well blended and smooth.
• This amount covers a 9x13 pan. Double the recipe for a two layer cake.
• Note: 8 cups of confectioner's sugar = one 32 ounce bag.

Now you can have your cake and eat it, too!!

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Outwitting The Hotel-room Coffeemaker

{Gloria here!} Coffee! Can't live without it!  But what to do when you are away from home and staying in a hotel for a weekend?

It's really nice that the hotel offers free coffee samples... but there are only two!  I don't know about you but that is not going to last a weekend for me!

Let me share with you my DIY On-The-Go Coffee method. This will work in most hotel coffee makers (but not the kind that use the K-cup). This works for hot tea also!!

Before you leave home, pack a supply of 8-10 cup coffee filters, grab a handful, for as many cups of coffee that you will want.  Stash some coffee (already ground) in a ziploc bag, take plenty!  And bring a spoon if you want to measure out your coffee.  You might want to bring your favorite to-go cup, too!!

Put the coffee in the middle of the filter, enough for a cup of coffee.  Carefully draw up the edges of the filter and give it a twist.  Fold it over so it fits into the machine.  Place it in the basket and slide it in place.  Add the proper amount of water and press start!

In three minutes, a fresh cup of coffee made with your favorite brand of coffee!

Because I wanted to fill my to-go cup, I added a little more coffee to the filter and used it twice.

I hope this helps you on your next trip to be able to enjoy fresh brewed coffee in your usual quantities!!

You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.

We will be at GHEA/Atlanta this weekend!

These candids are from last year conventions. 

We are super busy getting ready to be vendors at the GHEA Homeschool convention this weekend.  If you are going, please stop by our booths.  We are Jewels by Julia and Warfare by Duct Tape in the Exhibit Hall.

We'll be sharing more about these businesses that belong to the young people of our family.  Until next time, have a great weekend!

Hope to see you there!

  You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.

DIY Resizing a Shirt

I have a little sewing trick that comes in handy so many times.  Re-sizing a shirt!

My son is 6 foot 3 inches tall and has a 32 inch waist.  Yes, he only weighs 150 pounds.  But he has such broad shoulders that he wears a men's large shirt.  The shirts are usually cut for a much heavier man so, you guessed it, they hang like a sack on him.  Voila! The shirt re-size to the rescue!

Have the person (my son) put on the shirt.  Pin up the sides and even under the arm if needed where the new seam will go.  Have them take the shirt off.  It is important that they can comfortably get the shirt on and off (especially if it is a pull-over) and you know this before you start sewing.

Carefully measure how far in the new seam will be at each pin.  I try to average the measurement and make both sides the same at that point.  Then with the shirt inside out pin the new seam. (I go pin by pin.)

For this shirt, I made it more narrow it at the waist and gradually flared it out under the arms.  I measure from the bottom to the narrowest place at the waist and make sure the sides are even. Stitch the seam. Have them try on the shirt to make sure it fits and the seam look smooth. I usually sew a zig-zag stitch inside the seam allowance so the fabric won't fray.  Trim the seam close to the zig-zag stitching.

I also did this for several of my blouses as I have lost 30 pounds over the last year. I just can't go out and buy a whole new wardrobe and some of these shirts were my favorites!  I had a helper pin up the shirt while I had it on. I sewed them up and they look great, plus I feel great that I'm not wearing big baggy shirts!

Save some dough, be resourceful and give it a stab.  (Just don't stab your finger with the pin!) You'll be glad you did! :)

  You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.

Summer Picnic Chicken Nuggets

It's that time of year...warm air, sunshine and picnics outside!  These tasty chicken nuggets make a great summery meal.

And they are made from simple, healthy ingredients.

You (and your kids too!) will LOVE them. :D

• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 3 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne
• 1/4 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. thyme
• 1/4 tsp. cumin
• dash garlic powder
• dash onion powder
• extra virgin olive oil for frying, enough to fry the chicken.
• 2 breasts of boneless, skinless chicken (or enough for your crowd) ;)

Directions:

1. Cut the chicken into small pieces, no bigger than about 1 inch or so.
2. In a small bowl, (I use a cereal bowl), beat the egg and add the 1 cup milk. Beat together.
3. In a medium bowl, mix all the rest of the ingredients, flour and spices. 
4. Dip the chicken in the egg/milk mixture, then toss it in the flour/spice mixture to coat it. 
5. Do it again. I double dip and coat for a nice thick breading but it is not necessary. Do it as you like.
6. Set aside on a plate until you have coated all of the chicken pieces.
7. Heat extra virgin olive oil in deep fryer (or if using a skillet or pot, heat that now.)
8. Using a slotted metal spoon, slowly lower the breaded chicken nuggets into the hot oil.
9. Fry for about 3 minutes or until golden brown.
10. Drain on paper towels.
11. Test to make sure they are cooked through and cook longer if the chicken is not completely cooked. 

Serves 5. 

Serve with your favorite fresh veggies and side dishes! 

While the oil is hot and ready to go, make some Homemade Onion Rings, too!  The recipe might sound familiar because it is the same breading and it tastes Oh, So Good for both!  Easy-Peasy!!  :)

  You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.