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You have your own individual account, a social net working out that lets you communicate with other people across the country and you also are connected to a Home Depot expert to answer any of you gardening questions.

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Peanut Buttter Granola Bars

I was recently asked to re post my recipe. My book Save Your Money, Save Your Family is now available
serves 18

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups rolled oats quick cooking
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup milk chocolate chips (optional)


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Beat together peanut butter, honey, egg, vegetable oil, and vanilla blend well.
3. Mix oats, sugar and salt together and mix well.
4. Add oat mixture to peanut butter mixture mix until batter becomes sticky.
5. Stir in chocolate chips (optional)
6. Press into a 13" x 9" pan coated with cooking spray. Use a piece of wax paper to press mixture into an even layer in the pan
7. Bake 12-15 minutes. Cool completely and slice into bars. Makes 18.

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Cost Saving Tips for Buying Vegetables

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The Best Cost-Saving Vegetable Tip
Do you ever stare at the vegetable drawer in your refrigerator and think, "I don't even want to look in there"? If so, you may be falling into one of the biggest money-wasters when it comes to vegetables:

Buying too much.

Buy less more often:

The best advice is simply to plan carefully. If you don't end up eating it when you intended to, freeze if possible. Some vegetables, such as peppers, can simply be cut up and dropped into a zip-lock bag.

Others, like spinach, can be wilted in a hot pan first (seriously, it takes less than two minutes). But don't wait until they start to get yucky! Freeze as soon as you start to think you might not eat the veggies right away.
That way, they will not only have the best flavor, but you will preserve nutrients, which tend to degrade with even a few extra days of storage. KJPGSEVUJYEM
My book is now available Save Your Money, Save Your Family

KJPGSEVUJYEM

Cranberry Date Breakfast Bars

Servings: Provides 3 dozen bars

6 ounces dried cranberries
8 ounces chopped dates
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
2 cups oats old fashioned
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup powdered sugar optional
1 -2 tablespoons orange juice optional
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract


Preparation:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a saucepan over low heat, simmer cranberries, dates and water, stirring constantly. Simmer until all water is absorbed; remove from heat. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla; set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir in butter or margarine until well blended.

Spread half of the flour mixture into ungreased 9 x 13-inch pan; bake in oven for 8 minutes.

Remove from oven and spoon cranberry/date mixture over crust; sprinkle with remaining flour mixture, pat gently.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned; cool.

Optional: Combine powdered sugar, vanilla and orange juice to make a frosting. Drizzle over cereal bars.

Servings: Provides 3 dozen bars

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Oat choc pecan breakfast bar

serves 24 prep time 10min cook time 30 min

1 cup softened butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup oats quick cooking
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup wheat germ toasted
4 eggs
2 cups chopped pecans
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips


Directions:
In a bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar. Combine oats, flours and wheat germ; gradually add to creamed mixture. Press into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. In a small bowl, beat eggs until foamy. Stir in pecans, coconut and chocolate chips. Spread evenly over crust.
Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: about 2 dozen.

Grandma Naomi Chicken Pot Pie

chicken Pot Pie

serves 8 Grandma Naomi

2 cups shredded chicken cooked
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 9 1/2-ounce boxes frozen mixed vegetables
2 refrigerator pie shells


DIRECTIONS
1.In large boiler add all ingredients, heat until bubbling.
2. Pour mixture into pie shell, and cover with the second crust. Crimp the edges, and make slits in the top crust.
3.Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 30 to 45 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.












www.saveyourmoneysaveyourfamily.com

Do You Know What the average American Family Spends on Eating Out

Food is one big area where many families could be more thrifty. Families spend an average of $2,434 on food away from home, according to the Consumer Expenditure Survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you (and your spouse and your children) eat lunch out every day of the week then try brown bagging at least one of those days. If just one of you does it you may save up to $400 a year and if you can double or triple that savings you could finance a family vacation with it.

Simple, inexpensive and healthy lunches.

Lunch should be only about 400 calories. Buy large bags of pretzels, rice cereal, a large jar of peanuts, celery sticks, carrots, large bag of apples, a large jar of peanut butter, couple of favorite jellies or jams, a large block of cheese, a large box of crackers.

Pack my Cranberry Date Breakfast Bars or Peanut Butter Granola Bars.

A lunch maybe a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a small bag of pretzels, and some apple wedges, sprinkle with a lemon juice, cinnamon sugar to keep them from turning brown. A healthier yummy lunch. Or pack a mixture of rice cereal, pretzels, peanuts mix with Worcestershire sauce, add some garlic salt if desired warm in oven 350 degrees for 10 min. cool and divided into bags for a great lunch snack. Pack a Peanut Butter Granola Bar and slice the block cheese into thin sliced cubes and crackers.

Lunch can be a great way to include younger children in letting them help prepare their lunch the night before.

10 Simple Steps to Save Money

Saving Money has always been something we American's should do. No Matter What.
And now it is more important than ever.


1. Make a list of all your expenses:

Which includes, utilities, house payment, car payment, rent, property taxes, insurance on your house, autos, medical insurance, donations, entertainment, golfing, clothes, etc. I mean everything.

Put the list in 2 categories: Name the first category Needs: Name the other category wants/pleasures and be honest.

An example of a need is housing and transportation, an example of a want/pleasure is golfing 3 days a week and a cappuccino every day.

2. Make a budget and stick to it. Take the 2 list from above and apply a dollar amount to each item. Look at what you are actually spending for each and take a look at your income.

3. Stop buying on credit: credit cards, auto loans, pay day loans are the worst.

4. Eliminate debt first: stop paying late fees. And do not incurre more debt. Once debt is paid it will free up more of your money.

5. Trim your expenses: this is much easier than you think:

Take the 2 list from above: Start with the wants/pleasure list first. I am not saying completely cut everything out but take a look at it and cut 30% of the cost out. Still enjoy life find different ways that are less expensive to do the same things you enjoy. If you must golf go the a least expensive course. And for your favorite drink make it at home most of the time and buy it out only 1 per week.

Then take list 1 from above: Your needs are different but those expenses can be cut as well. If your house payment, rent, car payment is more than it should be, sale the house, rent out a room to help with expenses, find a less expensive place to rent, trade in that auto for something less expensive and do not buy another car until this one is paid off. A car payment is like flushing your money down the toilet. Most cars today will last 10 years with just the normal maintenance.

Then look at your food budget. Or make a food budget. Stop spending for fast food and eating out all the time. Cook at home. My book Save Your Money Save Your Family will be in book stores soon. You really can feed a family of 4 for $250.00 per month with a little planning and cooking more at home. Make it a family affair. And by doing this you will be eating much healthier.

6. Always record your expenses: As soon as you use that debit card. (Which is another great way for consumers to loose track of their finances and for banks to capitalize on making more money) write down the purchase immediately, you know as well as I do we loose that little pieces of paper that are called receipts for the transaction. And do not use a credit card.

7. Always know where your money is to the penny: With online excess today for your bank account, there is no reason for you not knowing where every penny is. And you should never overdraft your account. You are only making the bank money. And killing your cash flow and credit.

8. Set a time frame for you and your family: This will help you to meet your goals in a realistic manner.

9. Pay yourself first: Take 10% of your check each time you are paid and put it in the bank. Include it as one of your needs items. And once it is in the savings DO NOT TAKE IT OUT. CUT SOMEWHERE ELSE. Remember it is your money, you worked for it, you should have some of it for your tomorrows, and no one else is going to help you save your money, only you and your family.

10. SAVING MONEY IS YOUR GOAL: Follow the steps above and you will be successful. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! STAY FOCUSED, KEEP THE OBJECTIVE ALWAYS IN MIND, HOW GREAT IT WOULD BE TO HAVE YOUR HOME PAID FOR COMPLETELY IN A SHORT FEW YEARS OR TO PAY CASH FOR YOUR NEXT CAR.

Create Healthy Habits for you and your family:

Eat Breakfast:

According to a Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital study of children from Philadelphia and Baltimore, there was a clear link that showed children who usually ate breakfast performed better in mathematics and they had fewer cases of hyperactivity in the classroom. The children also attended school on a more regular basis, compared to their peers who missed out on breakfast. (Pediatrics, January, 1998; Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, February, 1998) Suite101.com
Preparing breakfast takes very little effort: It will take a little more organization and 10 more minutes in the morning:


Make sure you have several breakfast items on hand: Not just cold cereal.


Oatmeal eggs
cream of wheat bread
pan cake mix butter
syrup jam/jelly
yogurt
fruit/fresh/frozen
milk
juice

when making pan cakes make them 3" in diameter. make 2 dozen more than you will eat and freeze them. When you are short on time pop them in the microwave for a couple of minutes.

Turkey Chili

Turkey Chili recipe

1 Cup chicken broth
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 large yellow onion
1 green pepper chopped
4 cups tomatoes chopped
1 green chili chopped
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper

1. In large sauce pan brown turkey, in a small amount of chicken broth. Add onions, and the rest of the chicken broth. Saute until onions are tender about 5 minutes.

2. Add green pepper, tomatoes, cilantro, green chili, chili powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste.

3. Cook over medium-low heat for 30 min., stirring frequently.

4. Serve.

serves 6 to 8

or adjust to using a crock pot,
complete
step 1. then pour into a crock pot.

2. crock pot temp. set to low heat.

Serve your Halloween guest from the crock pot.




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SUMMER VACATIONS/LABOR DAY/HOLIDAY

SUMMER VACATIONS/LABOR DAY/HOLIDAY
AT THE BEACH, LAKE AND PARKS
PREPARING AND PLANNING FOR THESE ARE AS EASY AS 1, 2 ,3
CLEAN UP THE AREA BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
DON'T BOAT OR DRINK AND DRIVE.

1. ICE CHEST USE SOLID BLOCK ICE. IT LAST LONGER AND WILL KEEP YOUR FOOD AND DRINKS COOLER LONGER

2. DRINKS: SODA AND BEER WILL DEHYDRATE YOU. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE PLENTY OF WATER. ALSO REMEMBER TANG THE ASTRONAUTS. MIX AND POUR INTO A GALLON MILK JUG AND FREEZE AS IT THAWS IT IS COLD AND REFRESHING.

3. FREEZE GRAPES: THEY ARE DELICIOUS

4. PEANUT BUTTER GRANOLA BARS (SEE RECIPE)posted 7/29/09

5. NATURAL FOODS (NOT JUNK)SEE BELOW HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCHES: CARROTS, CELERY, APPLE WEDGES SPRINLE WITH CINNAMON AND SUGAR, MIXED CERELS ADD RAISINS AND M & M'S.

6. MEATS: LEAN CUTS OF TURKEY, AND HAM, MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IT COOL.

7. EASY HEALTY SNACKS: CRACKERS AND NILLA WAFERS. FOR CHEESE AND CRACKERS. NILLA WAFERS WITH PEANUT BUTTER.

9 Tips To Save Money By Keeping Your Vegetables Fresher Longer

1. Too much moisture can cause vegetables to mold and melt.

2. When Purchasing your vegetables at the grocery store dry off the excess water, before placing the item into the plastic bag. Most grocery stores provide paper towels that are located in the produce department.

3. When you get home do not just toss all the vegetables in the refrigerator. How many times have you found your green onions melting in the refrigerator: they have become liquid green yuk.

4. Most vegetables are not to be washed before use.
Except for carrots, beets and celery.
Carrots and beets cut off the roots, wash and dry them completely place them in a perforated plastic bag. Place them in the refrigerator they should last approximately 2 weeks. As for celery the green leafy tops are really very tasty for soups. Clean celery as you would carrots. Dry them completely place them in a perforated plastic bag.

5. Leafy greens, such as lettuce and spinach should be placed in plastic storage bags and put in the coolest place in the refrigerator. Should you notice to much moisture accumulating in the plastic bags wrap the leafy greens in a paper towel.

6. Cabbage, uncut, unwashed wrapped in plastic should last for approximately 10 days .

7. Cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, place in plastic storage bags and place in the refrigerator.

8. Peppers, onions, celery, scallions and tomatoes can be frozen. Thaw and use them in baking and in soups.

9. Potato and sweet potatoes, place in a brown paper bag. Put in a dark, cooler room. Potatoes should last for several weeks. Sweet potatoes contain more sugar, so they break down quicker than regular potatoes.

Tip # 7 How do you feed Unexpected Guest without blowing your budget:!!!!

When unexpected guest arrive you don't have to wait until they leave to eat.

Just improvise ! Add food items that cost the least to purchase and the easiest to add without making your guest feel they are an inconvenience.

Many food items fits the bill.

Potatoes, Long grain white or brown rice, barley,pasta, lettuce and many other .

Potatoes add 1 per additional person eating. Microwave: serve mashed potatoes instead of baked. Rice can be served as a starch by itself or added to increase volume. (ex: add to soup, burritos, casseroles as well as barley and pasta.

If serving a salad increase the lettuce and serve the salad into individual salad bowls.

And as far as dessert easy!! Always have a large jar of applesauce on hand, or a couple of boxes of vanilla and chocolate instant pudding, graham crackers or nil la wafers.

Pour applesauce into small individual serving dishes, sprinkle with cinnamon, stand 2 small graham crackers to one side like rabbit ears and serve.

Or make pudding according to directions, pour pudding into small individual serving dishes, layering each flavor, put a dollop of whip topping in the middle and serve.

Peanut Butter Granola Bar Recipe

Peanut Butter Granola Bars. This recipe is fun and easy to make. Let your kids have fun making them with you.

• ½ cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 ½ cups rolled oats, quick cooking
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup milk chocolate chips (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Beat together peanut butter, honey, egg, vegetable oil, and vanilla blend well.
3. Mix oats, sugar and salt together and mix well.
4. Add oat mixture to peanut butter mixture mix until batter becomes sticky.
5. Stir in chocolate chips (optional)
6. Press into a 13” x 9” pan coated with cooking spray. Use a piece of wax paper to press mixture into an even layer in the pan
7. Bake 12-15 minutes. Cool completely and slice into bars. Makes 18.

Tip #6 Cooking with the kids can be fun, exciting, and educational and builds Self Confidence.

Cooking basically is following directions. (Remember Tip # 5 is to follow directions). One of the first lessons in elementary school we are taught is to follow directions. By following directions the outcome is already proven to be successful. By following directions your children will learn how to read and comprend each step given (with your help of course) for example the recipe states to stir not mix. Following directions will teach them about math (fractions to be exact) how to convert cups, ounces, teaspoons, tablespoons. Your children will be having fun while learning, can you imagine you and your children making homemade peanut butter granola bars, you packing the granola bars in your child’s lunch, and your child’s friends and class mates will want to know where those granola bars came from and your children can say I made them myself, or they use it for show and tale. It builds self confidence, teaches them patients, and teaches them how to work together.
Self Confidence is one of the greatest gifts you as a parent can instill in your children. If they make a mess or if it does not come out perfect just remember what is important you are making memories and teaching them many lessons that will follow them for the rest of their lives.

Tip # 2: Spend Less, Get More – 5 Ways to Save Money at the Grocery Store

The five ways takes you very little time and can save you hundreds of dollars on your grocery bill each year.

It’s no secret that groceries take a huge chunk out of the family budget. The more people in your house, the more you spend each week at the grocery store. Saving money on groceries is one way you can actively affect the amount of money you spend every week, month and year. The good news is that you don’t have to make huge sacrifices to find huge savings. In fact, the following five simple steps take you very little time and can save you hundreds of dollars on your grocery bill each year:

1. Take the time to look at coupons, ANY coupons: store coupons, manufacturers’ coupons, local coupons, coupons from magazines and coupons that you print off the internet. If at all possible, use them. It may not be the brand you normally buy but many off brands come from the same place as the more well known brands. Check to see what is on sale - and I mean really on sale. For instance, some grocers place some offers at “10 items for some dollar amount.” Well, you have to ask yourself: is it really a bargain? Bring a calculator and do the math; if it IS a bargain, snatch it up. If not, walk on by.
2. Stick to your lists. DO NOT BUY IF IT IS NOT ON YOUR LISTS. You took the time to prepare your menu for the week or month. (See my book Save Your Money, Save Your Family coming soon) and made a lists of food items that you need. Stick to it.
3. Eat before you go. Even if it is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a glass of milk. This will keep you from impulse buying because you are hungry.
4. Don’t buy non food items at a grocery store. Toiletries, laundry, paper products, make up even spices, bread, wine are to be purchased from a discount store, 99 cent store or day old bread store.
5. Always remember: the bigger companies that can afford to have their products at eye level pay to be there. So this convenience costs you, the consumer, more money. If you don’t believe me, try this simple experiment the next time you go shopping: look up above eye level and look down at the knee level, these companies are smaller companies but have as good as or better food products for much cheaper prices.

Tip # 1 Take Control of your Life

I mean literally take control of your life. Yes bad things are going on in our economy, but let's face it no one is going to bail you out but you. So TAKE YOUR LIFE BACK.

Sit down and take a look at your family, finances and the way you live everyday.


Get rid of things that costs you money that you really don't need ( if you can not decide what those are think back 10 years ago what luxury items did you not have then well I am sure today you still don't need them so get rid of them).


Right now needs out weigh wants. Make sure the entire family is part of the costs saving actions, it could be a little as a smaller child making sure all the lights are turned off when no one is in a room.

Continue to read my blog for more tips. Look for my book SAVE YOUR MONEY, SAVE YOUR FAMILY in book stores soon.

In Book Stores Soon Continue to read my blog for Tips and Ideas for helping your family in todays world

There is a silver lining you just have to look for it. Millions of people world wide are in the same mess you are. Even those rich and famous are filing bankruptcy, homes being foreclosed on, and loosing jobs, just because they make more money only means they have more stuff and more debt so everything is relative.

This is the time that families need to pull together by getting back to basics. Learning to appreicate what you have. This is the time in your life you will find out what is really important. Don't be surprised to find it is family and don't be surprised to find that you and your family can enjoy the more simple things in life again; each other.

My book Save Your Money, Save Your Family does just that. Look for it. Continue to read my blog for Tips on helping you and your family.

Look for my book Save Your Money, Save Your Family coming soon in book stores.

Have a Happier, healthier family in under 30 days

Every 15 seconds an American family files for bankruptcy.
The stock market is in freefall.
Credit card default rates are at a record high.
Millions of new homeowners are “upside down” in their mortgages, with no simple solution in sight.
Home mortgage foreclosures are up more than three-fold over the last generation and car foreclosures have hit record levels.
Even if things were to turn around tomorrow with the economy, those who have lost their jobs, their pensions, their life savings – even their homes – will still be digging out for years to come.
Could there be a silver lining in this recession? A chance for families to get back to their roots, start spending more time together and discovering the joys of actually communicating?


Not only IS there, but you can literally have a happier, healthier family in under 30 days when you read Save Your Money, Save Your Family: A Foolproof, 28-Day Plan for Recession Proofing Your Family – for $250 or Less!