Monday, March 23, 2009

Frugality Challenge #4


Create a family budget and find ways to save money.

The church suggests that we use a budget:

"Keep a record of your expenditures. Record and review monthly income and expenses. Determine how to reduce what you spend for nonessentials.

Use this information to establish a family budget. Plan what you will give as Church donations, how much you will save, and what you will spend for food, housing, utilities, transportation, clothing, insurance, and so on.

Discipline yourself to stay within your budget plan."
-providentliving.org

Yes, I used the big bad B word! I don't like living on a budget but doing so helps me to know exactly what our expenses are, determine how much we can save, plan for the future and be wise with any discretionary money. For those of you who already have a budget, good job! Take a few minutes and see if there's any expenses in your budget that you can cut or lower. For the rest of you who are dreading this challenge--accept it. You'll be happy that you did!

The church has a nice budget worksheet you can use to begin. Click or copy and paste the following address:

http://providentliving.org/pfw/multimedia/files/pfw/pdf/72727_FamilyBudgetWorksheet_pdf.pdf

For more help with budgeting, here's a link to about.com which has links to many websites which can help you with budgeting:

http://financialplan.about.com/msubbudg.htm

Monday, March 9, 2009

Financial Preparedness: Frugality Challenge #3

Frugality Challenge #3

Designate one day this week as a spend-free day. Be creative and do not make any discretionary purchases that day. Estimate the amount of money you didn't spend and deposit it in savings. If you're really brave, try it once a week for a month.

Should you accept this challenge, please feel free to share the ways you avoided spending money. Good luck!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Cooking with Basic Food Storage: Homemade Pancake Mix


How many of us use a boxed or bagged pancake mix to make pancakes? I know I do! They're quick and easy to use but the pancakes never taste quite as good as the ones you get from a restaurant. Here's a little secret: Many restaurants make their own dry pancake mix and add the wet ingredients just before baking. So here's a mix developed by a restaurant chef that you can make from scratch and store in an airtight container. Whenever you feel like pancakes, add the wet ingredients and. . .Voila! You have your own delicious restaurant-style pancakes in no time for just a fraction of the cost of a prepared mix from the store!

Homemade Pancake Mix
10 c flour
1/4 c baking powder
1 T salt

Mix flour, baking powder and salt well in a large bowl. Transfer to a four quart plastic container with a tight fitting lid. Store in a cool, dark, dry place until ready to use.

To make pancakes (about 20): Put 3 cups of the pancake mix into a bowl; stir in sugar to taste (from 2 Tablespoons to 1/2 cup). Whisk 4 eggs in a medium bowl; whisk in 2 c milk and 1/4 c melted butter into the eggs. Add the dry ingredients; stir until just incorporated. Heat a griddle or skillet over medium heat. Add 1/2 tsp vegetable oil; swirl to coat. Ladle 1/4 c batter for each pancake into the skillet. cook until bubbles appear, about 2 1/2 minutes. Turn pancakes. Cook 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter.

Source: Bill Daley and Christopher Prosperi of Connecticut's Metro Bis restaurant, McClatchey Newpapers.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Cooking with Basic Food Storage: Rice Recipes


Browned Rice

1 c rice

1/4 c shortening

1/4 c chopped onion, meat, celery, or other vegetables (optional)

1 tsp salt

3 1/2 c water


Heat shortening in skillet. Add rice. Cook, stirring constantly, about 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Add vegetables and continue cooking 2-3 minutes (optional). Add salt and water. Simmer over low heat 20-25 minutes or until rice is tender and excess liquid is evaporated. Makes 6-8 servings.


Rice Risotto

1 large onion, chopped

3 T butter

4 c water

2 c white rice (not instant)

3 T oil

4 tsp chicken bouillon plus 1 tsp salt


Saute onion in oil and butter, then add rice and saute until yellow. Add water, chicken bouillon and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer until liquid is absorbed (about 20 minutes.)


Spanish Rice Au Gratin

1/2 c uncooked rice

1 c water

1/2 c onion, chopped

1/3 c green pepper, chopped

1/2 c celery, chopped

1/2 tsp Worcestershire

1 1/2 T margarine

1 c tomatoes

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp chili powder

1 c cheese, grated


Combine rice, water and salt. Bring to a boil, stir, cover, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Meanwhile, saute onions, peppers and celery in margarine. Add tomatoes, sugar, chili powder. Add Worcestershire. Add cooked rice and simmer until thick. Pour into buttered casserole and top with cheese.


Rice Pilaf

2 c rice

4 T butter or margarine

4 c liquid (chicken broth if served with fowl; beef broth if served with beef)

1 c slivered almonds

3/4 c chopped celery

3/4 c chopped green onions

3/4 c chopped carrots

Salt and pepper to taste


Brown rice lightly with butter in skillet. Place in casserole with boiling broth. Cover and bake one half hour at 375 degrees. Take from oven and add vegetables and nuts, stirring and mixing well with fork. Return to oven for one half hour. Makes 8 servings.


Parsley Rice

2 c precooked rice

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 c parsley chopped

1 1/2 c grated sharp cheese

3 eggs

2 1/2 c milk

2 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 c oil

1 T Worcestershire sauce


Beat eggs well. Add oil, onion, parsley and grated cheese. Combine with rice, salt and milk. Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Very good served with chicken gravy.


Oven Baked Rice

2 c rice

1/2 c butter

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cans beef consomme

1 can water

1 c mushrooms

1/4 tsp rosemary

1/4 tsp sweet basil

Salt and Pepper to taste


Melt butter and saute rice until lightly browned. Add onion and mushrooms and saute until tender. (If mushrooms are canned, add later.) Put into buttered casserole and pour beef consomme and water over the top of the rice. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serves 12.


Brown Rice

1 c rice, unwashed

1 pkg onion soup mix

6 T butter or margarine

1 small can mushrooms

2 c water

Handful of slivered almonds (optional)


Brown rice in melted butter in frying pan. Grease casserole and add browned rice and other ingredients. Cover and cook in 300 degree oven for about one hour. Sprinkle almonds on top.


Broccoli Rice

1/2 c rice (or 1 1/2 c precooked rice)

1/4 c margarine

1 onion, chopped

2 c chopped broccoli, cooked and drained

2/3 c grated cheese

1/2 c milk


Cook rice (or use precooked rice). Saute margarine and onion in a small skillet. Add broccoli, cheese, milk and cooked rice. Bake in covered casserole at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Serves 4.


Pizza Rice Casserole

2/3 c rice (or 2 c precooked rice)

3/4 lb. ground beef

1 onion, chopped

2 c tomato sauce

1/4 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

Dash pepper

1/4 tsp oregano

1 tsp parsley flakes

1 1/2 c cottage cheese

1/2 c shredded cheese


Cook rice (or use precooked rice). Brown ground beef and onion in a large skillet. Add tomato sauce, garlic salt, sugar, salt, pepper, oregano and parsley flakes. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Combine cottage cheese and cooked rice. Put 1/3 of rice mixture in a buttered 2 quart casserole. Top with 1/3 of meat-tomato sauce. Continue to alternate layers, ending with tomato sauce. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Serves 6.


Fried Rice

3 c cooked rice

3 strip bacon, chopped fine

3 eggs, slightly beaten

1 1/4 c cooked meat, diced fine

2 T green onions, minced

1/2 c sliced mushrooms, sauteed

2 T soy sauce

Salt to taste


Fry bacon until slightly brown. Remove bacon from skillet. Empty grease from pan--set aside. Scramble eggs in skillet used to fry bacon. Remove eggs and set aside. Use bacon drippings to fry cooked rice for approximately 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add remaining ingredients and combine well. Continue cooking for 10 minutes. Serve hot.


Ham Fried Rice

6 unbeaten eggs

1 onion, diced

4 T butter or margarine

2 c frozen peas, cooked

1 c diced ham

6 c prepared rice

2-3 T soy sauce


Cook rice according to package directions. In a large skillet, melt butter and cook onions until tender, but not brown. Add eggs and scramble. Add rice and soy sauce. Stir in peas and ham. Heat through.


Source: Traverse Mountain 1st Ward Pantry Cookbook

Preparedness Quotes

"When faced with the choice to buy, consume, or engage in worldly things and activities, we all need to learn to say to one another, 'We can’t afford it, even though we want it!' or 'We can afford it, but we don’t need it—and we really don’t even want it!'" - Elder Robert D. Hales, April 2009 General Conference

"Many areas of the world have experienced difficult economic times. Businesses have failed, jobs have been lost, and investments have been jeopardized. We must make certain that those for whom we share responsibility do not go hungry or unclothed or unsheltered. When the priesthood of this Church works together as one in meeting these vexing conditions, near miracles take place.

"We urge all Latter-day Saints to be prudent in their planning, to be conservative in their living, and to avoid excessive or unnecessary debt."
- President Thomas S. Monson, October 2008 Priesthood Session, General Conference

"Avoid the philosophy that yesterday's luxuries have become today's necessities. They aren't necessities until we make them so. Many enter into long-term debt only to find that changes occur; people become ill or incapacitated, companies fail or downsize, jobs are lost, natural disasters befall us. For many reasons, payments on large amounts of debt can no longer be made. Our debt becomes as a Damocles sword hanging over our heads and threatening to destroy us."
- President Thomas S. Monson, April 2006 General Conference

“We have built grain storage and storehouses and stocked them with the necessities of life in the event of a disaster. But the real storehouse is the family storeroom. In words of revelation the Lord has said, ‘Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing’ (D&C 109:8.)”
President Gordon B. Hinckley

"We need to make both temporal and spiritual preparation for the events prophesied at the time of the Second Coming. And the preparation most likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult--the spiritual. A 72-hour kit of temporal supplies may prove valuable for earthly challenges, but, as the foolish virgins learned to their sorrow, a 24-hour kit of spiritual preparation is of greater and more enduring value.

"We are living in the prophesied time 'when peace shall be taken from the earth' (D&C 1:35,) when 'all things shall be in commotion' and 'men's hearts shall fail them' (D&C 88:91.) There are many temporal causes of commotion, including wars and natural disasters, but an even greater cause of current 'commotion' is spiritual." Elder Dallin H. Oaks

“Every father and mother are the family’s store keepers. They should store whatever their family would like to have in case of an emergency…(and) God will sustain us through our trials.” President James E. Faust

“We live in a most exciting and challenging period in human history. As technology sweeps through every facet of our lives, changes are occurring so rapidly that it can be difficult for us to keep our lives in balance. To maintain some semblance of stability in our lives, it is essential that we plan for our future. I believe it is time, and perhaps with some urgency, to review the counsel we have received in dealing with our personal and family preparedness. We want to be found with oil in our lamps sufficient to endure to the end.”- Elder L. Tom Perry, Ensign, Nov. 1995

"Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food. . . and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food free." President Thomas S. Monson

"Just as it is important to prepare ourselves spiritually, we must also prepare ourselves for our temporal needs. … We have been instructed for years to follow at least four requirements in preparing for that which is to come.

“First, gain an adequate education. Learn a trade or a profession to enable you to obtain steady employment that will provide remuneration sufficient to care for yourself and your family. …

“Second, live strictly within your income and save something for a rainy day. Incorporate in your lives the discipline of budgeting that which the Lord has blessed you with. As regularly as you pay your tithing, set aside an amount needed for future family requirements. …

“Third, avoid excessive debt. Necessary debt should be incurred only after careful, thoughtful prayer and after obtaining the best possible advice. We need the discipline to stay well within our ability to pay. …

“Fourth, acquire and store a reserve of food and supplies that will sustain life [if local laws permit such storage]. Obtain clothing and build a savings account on a sensible, well-planned basis that can serve well in times of emergency. As long as I can remember, we have been taught to prepare for the future and to obtain a year’s supply of necessities. I would guess that the years of plenty have almost universally caused us to set aside this counsel. I believe the time to disregard this counsel is over. With events in the world today, it must be considered with all seriousness.” - Elder L. Tom Perry, October 1995 General Conference

“Maintain a year's supply. The Lord has urged that his people save for the rainy days, prepare for the difficult times, and put away for emergencies, a year's supply or more of bare necessities so that when comes the flood, the earthquake, the famine, the hurricane, the storms of life, our families can be sustained through the dark days. How many of us have complied with this? We strive with the Lord, finding many excuses: We do not have room for storage. The food spoils. We do not have the funds to do it. We do not like these common foods. It is not needed -- there will always be someone to help in trouble. The government will come to the rescue. And some intend to obey but procrastinate.” - The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.375

“All too often a family's spending is governed more by their yearning than by their earning. They somehow believe that their life will be better if they surround themselves with an abundance of things. All too often all they are left with is avoidable anxiety and distress” - Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

"Be prepared in all things against the day when tribulations and desolations are sent forth upon the wicked." D&C 29:8

"Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not aquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them." President Ezra Taft Benson

"Fear not little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. . .Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." D&C 6:34, 36

"I believe that the Ten Virgins represent the people of the Church of Jesus Christ. . . They (five foolish) had the saving, exalting gospel, but it had not been made the center of their lives. They knew the way but gave only a small measure of loyalty and devotion.

"The foolish asked the others to share their oil, but spiritual preparedness cannot be shared in an instant. . . . This was not selfishness or unkindness. The kind of oil that is needed to illuminate the way and light up the darkness is not shareable. . . . In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living." - President Spencer W. Kimball

“We encourage families to have on hand this year’s supply; we say it over and over and over and repeat over and over the scripture of the Lord where he says, “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say?” How empty it is as they put their spirituality, so-called, into action and call him by his important names, but fail to do the things which he says." - President Spencer W. Kimball


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