The Homestead Mindset Anywhere: by Donna Miller : menu

Basic Whole Wheat Bread: Think ouside the bread box

Millers Grain House — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:55:00 GMT

You can stretch your budget and your menu with the one basic bread recipe that we send out with every newsletter . "How?" – you may ask. Simply look at the lump of dough differently. This is a mindset - just start thinking outside the bread...(read more)

What to do when no income comes in.

Millers Grain House — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:27:00 GMT

Well folks, this is where the rubber hits the road and we've lived it off and on for a while. Hubby's new job (although having the potential to be wonderful) has yet to cut him a real check for 2 months. So, while we either wait to see if the...(read more)

More about my single New Year's Resolution - Organize: it will keep us healthy

Millers Grain House — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:39:00 GMT

As I mentioned last entry, I wanted to take note at how my one and only New Year's Resolution effected us in the area of health. Well, organizing things around this homestead has definitely paid off on the health side already. I'm down 4 pounds...(read more)

Left Over Turkey Ideas!

Millers Grain House — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:23:00 GMT

We had two turkeys for Thanksgiving. Somehow we anticipated a hoard of guest that just never seemed to show up so now we are over loaded with turkey. We have a left over smoked turkey and a regular one. There should be an award for how many dishes you can make from a picked over turkey after Thanksgiving.Here are a few things we are doing with the remainders of ours:1. Duh - Sandwiches, that's a given.2. Turkey Pot Pie (plain)3. Turkey Noodle Casserole (smoked)4. Turkey Soup (made stock out of the 'carcass' and remaining meat that fell off the bone before throwing it away)5. Turkey Salad - like chicken salad (plain)6. Turkey Sheppard’s Pie (using also those left over mashed potatoes)So with that little list I think my family may be over loaded on turkey for a while but at least there's a variety! I'd love to hear what you all did with your turkey extras!

How to stretch a left over baked potato.

Millers Grain House — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:21:00 GMT

Now, I know there are more ideas than this one....but this is our FAVORITE way to use them rather than toss them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MumZcIjTJQ

It's short so it should load pretty fast!

Best Blessings and enJOY!

Donna

Fun New Game: "Let's see how long before I have to get groceries again!"

Millers Grain House — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:23:00 GMT

Part of the homesteading mentality is making deprivation creatively FUN ~

So after I got groceries this past week - I thought it would be fun to see how long before I have to get ANY again...so the game is ON!

Drinks always consist of mostly water between meals, and milk, OJ, coffee or tea with a meal.

So for the meals yesterday (the day after grocery shopping) here is how I fed my family of 5 adults - all three meals:

Breakfast - Multigrain Waffles (made with a little fresh milled flour and left over grits and oatmeal) w/ Agave Nectar and banana
Lunch - Left-over Homemade Friday Night Pizza and apple
Dinner - Pinto Beans and pan fried cubed potato browns, green beans.
Dessert - Lemon Amish Friendship Bread (pound cake) with berries.

Today's three meals for 5 adults consisted of:

Breakfast - Cheese omelette with Turkey Bacon and apple
Lunch - Homemade Hummus and pita chips, homemade cherry yogurt, carrots and snap peas.
Dinner - Butternut squash Mac and Cheese (ssshhhh...they don't know squash is in there), tomato soup and salad.
Dessert - Lemon Amish Friendship Bread (pound cake) with berries (yep again, I baked 3 loaves!).

Thursday night our family goes out to dinner so...we'll just see tomorrow or Friday what the next two days' meals look like...

The point I guess I am getting at is not that I think I'm so 'good' at stretching my grocery dollars - it's more that making it a game or FUN helps me be more creative.

My goal is to buy nothing aside from MAYBE milk. eggs or fresh produce for the next 2 weeks - (and I'd like to avoid those too if possible) that is until October 3rd (our son turns 22 so we'll HAVE to buy some special foods then!) Stay tuned to see if I can pull it off! It's my own personal challenge to see if I can do it! To see if $105 will last two weeks for a family of five grownups!

Have fun playing YOUR game that helps you stretch those dollars!

Best Blessings!

Donna Miller

New Videos each week on stretching grocery dollars: Tried and True Tips and tricks http://www.youtube.com/user/thewheatguy