Happy New Year
Our friend Linda came to visit us for five days after Christmas. We had a really good visit with her and other family members while she was here.
As is her usual spirit, she was very generous with us this year. She waited until she came here to decide what to get me for Christmas as she wanted to get me something that she felt we needed.
We have been getting along well without the microwave since it died last summer, and had gotten to the point where I thought about never replacing it because we had learned to live without one.
Linda felt like she could not live with a microwave and therefore she decided that she was going to buy me a new microwave for Christmas.
Here is a picture of the new microwave:
I have to admit it is really nice to be able to warm up the cream cheese danish we had on hand and to soften butter and heat up food quickly again.
She also noticed that the water filter on our sink had a red light on it, so she bought us a package of three new water filters to have on hand.
She also took us out to dinner several times this week and we also had dinner at my brother-in-laws home this past week for dinner twice.
I've been busy today in my frugal kitchen. I don't have any bread on hand, but I do have the ingredients to make bread from scratch, so that is what I did.
Here is a picture of the dough after kneading and ready to go in the oven with the oven light on to keep it warm for rising.
And after slicing...
A pork loin roast was set out of the freezer to thaw for dinner tonight. I will save a portion of this to make Pork Fried Rice for dinner Monday night.
I also cooked up some rice today, so that it will be chilled for tomorrow night's dinner. I kept the lid on the pan while cooking to keep all the heat and energy inside so the rice would cook faster, which saves money.
I am using the foods we have on hand here rather than going out and buying more food in my efforts to save money.
I also have 15 bean Cajun soup beans along with Chickpeas soaking for another night's dinner this week and for some mock tuna salad.
Finally, here is a photo of my Christmas cactus. It's not bloomed yet, but it is trying. :)
I hope all of you have a wonderful 2017.
Belinda
~ Living within our Means ~
What a sweet friend you have. Your bread looks yummy! Best wishes for 2017!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Isabella. Best wishes for you in 2017 too. :)
DeleteThe bread looks soooo good!
ReplyDeleteI am very happy that you were gifted a microwave, it is amazing how much easier that makes life. What a thoughtful friend you have.
Happy New Year Belinda!!
Thank you, Susan. A microwave does make life easier that's for sure.
DeleteHappy New year to you too, Susan. :)
What a nice friend to bless you in many ways this past holiday! I am once again doing my annual pantry/freezer challenge. I have to keep my blinders on in the stores and stay out of them!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carol. We are very blessed indeed.
DeleteI am right there with you on the pantry/freezer challenge. I am using up whatever I have to make meals for as long as I can this month. I'm going to be as creative as possible. :)
That is a beautiful microwave! It sounds like you had a great week!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Meme. :)
DeleteHappy New Year, Belinda! It sounds like you had a lovely holiday.
ReplyDeleteI get so excited when I'm waiting for one of my plants to bloom. Keeping my fingers crossed that your Christmas Cactus gives you a good show!
The exciting thing around our area (just north of Seattle, WA) is that we had snow again! I know, to many folks, snow is no big deal. But it is for those of us in Western Washington state, where some years we don't get a single flake of snow.
Wishing you a prosperous 2017!
Oh, how neat, Lili~! We love snow and don't see it here very often, but love it when we do. I hope you enjoy it while it lasts. :)
DeleteI will have to post a picture when my Christmas cactus blooms, so you can see it. I hope it gives me a good show too. :)
Happy New Year to you too and I hope 2017 is prosperous for you and yours too, Lili. :)
Would that I had my mother's Christmas cactus plants. I do have a few of her last irises. Two or three of her rhizomes were mailed to me from 1000 miles away. You may pass on cactus plant rootings to Bailey.
ReplyDeleteHow neat that you have some of your Mom's rhizomes, Anna. You surely must cherish those.
DeleteBailey likes my Christmas cactus, so I hope that she will want to have some of it as well.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous coming year.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Toni. I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year as well. :)
DeleteHi Belinda,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great friend to gift you the microwave and filters. It is a huge blessing to have a microwave and filtered water. We have 2 Brita pitchers that we use. We also have reusable water bottles that we use when we go in the car it saves so much money. Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday. I am making turkey soup for dinner and I think I will make a couple of loaves of bread to go with it. Happy new year to you and your family!
Blessings,
Patti
Thank you so much, Patti. I hope you and your family have a Happy New Year too.
DeleteYour turkey soup and homemade bread sounds delicious. Perfect meal for this time of year. :)
Happy belated New Year!
ReplyDeleteI love practical gifts. The microwave will come in handy and makes it so much easier to use up leftovers.