tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post799025137028935191..comments2024-03-26T19:10:34.328-08:00Comments on The "Make Do" Homemaker: When Life Gives You Lemons...: Frugal Friday: Money Saving Weekly RecapErika, "The Make Do Homemaker"http://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-65708131835100734212017-01-08T18:11:13.351-09:002017-01-08T18:11:13.351-09:00So many comments on the ranch, so I won't echo...So many comments on the ranch, so I won't echo.<br /><br />This has been a frugal weekend for the simple fact it snowed, so we had to stay home. No lunch out, or unnecessary spending, so thats good. Because I do have to be mindful the rest of the month. Unexpectedly I bought some things on clearance for upcoming gifts, plus clothes for my growing like a weed son, that I'm low on money. The plus side is that I got most everything he needs, and cute stuff too at the used kids store and goodwill. Goodwill I lucked out and found next size up dress slacks, one with the tag still on it. <br /><br />This week I hope goes well. Its been full of stressors. With church callings, ugh. And family. But oh well. Thats life. <br /><br />Im going to get my chips freebie thusday, hope they arent out!!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09360397522677275215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-24517007954338358912017-01-08T17:37:11.974-09:002017-01-08T17:37:11.974-09:00I love that you get to use the Friday Freebies. F...I love that you get to use the Friday Freebies. For whatever reason, our computer and phone are messed up and they won't down load them! Yikes! I need to take some time and figure it out! Everyone drinks ranch around here, so not sure what I would do with it other than serve it on salad.<br /><br />What a great deal on canning lids. I need to buy a lot this year. I usually wait until Bi-Mart has a sale, usually in the spring. I don't know what they will go for this year, but it is usually the cheapest price around here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-79730413341810480532017-01-08T15:00:12.246-09:002017-01-08T15:00:12.246-09:00I think you do an amazing job no matter how frugal...I think you do an amazing job no matter how frugal you need to be. You come up with some great ideas for meals, you're creative and were able to make many Christmas gifts and you patch, mend, repair with the best of them. And I know I didn't mention, the gardening and the canning, whether it be home grown or a good deal from somewhere else. I don't know how you were brought up - if frugal was the only way you know, or if you developed it out of necessity, but I think you are fantastic! Most everyone I know has to be frugal to some degree or another and can always find ways to stretch their pennies from your posts. Thank you and I look forward to every single post. I hope this year is easier for you and your family. A lot of people had a rough 2016. You all deserve a break. Take Care. Ranee (MN) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-70405399674473176362017-01-08T14:46:15.002-09:002017-01-08T14:46:15.002-09:00I use ranch dressing on roasted potatoes. Basical...I use ranch dressing on roasted potatoes. Basically chop the potatoes and onions and add dressing mix well. Place on baking sheet and cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes at 375 then uncover and finish roasting until brown.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06946608761373714442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-19403328726018373672017-01-08T12:25:02.605-09:002017-01-08T12:25:02.605-09:00Great job with grocery shopping this week, Erika. ...Great job with grocery shopping this week, Erika. It's really hard to stay on task with such a super tight budget, but you always impress me with your ability to do so. So jealous of those freebies you are able to get, though.<br /><br />Although we do like ranch dressing, I understand your dislike of the flavour. I didn't always enjoy it, either. We use ranch dressing as a dip for pizza crust and veggies or as a topping on sandwiches and wraps instead of mayo. But, if you don't like the dressing, you probably won't use it that way. So to help you out, I did a little searching on line. Although the product you have isn't Hidden Valley ranch, the Hidden Valley Ranch website (www.hiddenvalley.com) has a bunch of recipes that use ranch dressing in them. You can do an advanced search with specific products, to eliminate those that are for their powdered dressing packets. I thought you might like to look through the website yourself an choose some recipes that your family might like to try.<br /><br />I would have been just as excited about the canning lids as you are! I have found some on sale at the end of the season for a great price and bought a stash to use over time. Feels so good when you pull out your canning supplies and you don't have to run out to buy lids. Great use of that gift card for sure!<br /><br />What a great idea to use fig jam to fill the cookies! I never would have thought of using it for that. Hope your husband enjoys the treat in his lunch. My daughter loves chocolate chip cookies too, so I'm sure they will be a hit in her lunches. I made up a brownie mix from my pantry for my daughter's lunches this week. I cut them up and individually wrapped 5 squares for easy grabbing in morning. The left over squares will be used for Sunday dinner dessert.<br /><br />My daughter loved Finding Dory as well. Her first movie "obsession" was Finding Nemo when she was a toddler...we watched it so often we knew every line by heart. My husband and I just watched Finding Dory with my daughter this week for free on Kodi Exodus. She saw it twice while it was in theaters, but not with us. Great movie! Oh, and if you can find the movie "Trolls" for free, we watched that one this week and my daughter really enjoyed it as well. It's a real girly kind of movie, perfect for your daughter.<br /><br />Glad you hear you had a productive and relatively uneventful week. All the best for another good one, Erika!<br /><br />Rhonda A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00448188064878559345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-35572171880806042042017-01-08T11:04:44.516-09:002017-01-08T11:04:44.516-09:00I'm not a fan of Ranch dressing at all. But I ...I'm not a fan of Ranch dressing at all. But I try to keep it sometimes in case we have company since Ranch seems to be popular. My husband will eat it on a salad if that's his only choice, but he puts it on his baked potato instead of sour cream. So that's a thought for you. You did great this week organizing and I agree that an organized house can make you feel better. Have a great week. ...Vicky in KyVickyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415155053864029871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-30654655219078394622017-01-08T10:04:08.668-09:002017-01-08T10:04:08.668-09:00I use ranch dressing with chicken. Rinse the chick...I use ranch dressing with chicken. Rinse the chicken, pat dry, dip into the dressing, coat with (homemade) bread crumbs, and bake for about 45 mins. My husband loves this! It's my go-to dip for fresh veggies, too. It's also great as a replacement for mayo on sandwiches. Debbie in the U.P.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-40974359846480570972017-01-08T08:55:20.518-09:002017-01-08T08:55:20.518-09:00Wow! Your Fred Meyer is awesome! I've asked at...Wow! Your Fred Meyer is awesome! I've asked at ours and they don't offer rainchecks on free items. Kinda stinks, but nothing to be done about it. They have offered me substitutions in the past, though which was nice. Thanks for the tip with the dressing. I'll definitely have to try that as we have some mashed potatoes that are REALLY bland around here.Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-3312847805632999752017-01-08T08:51:32.046-09:002017-01-08T08:51:32.046-09:00Thanks! I'll definitely check it out :).Thanks! I'll definitely check it out :).Erika, "The Make Do Homemaker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/09303208981550053539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-65528136523965294442017-01-08T06:33:53.521-09:002017-01-08T06:33:53.521-09:00Sounds like a great week, Erica! Re: the ranch dre...Sounds like a great week, Erica! Re: the ranch dressing, I use it in pasta salads, and it tastes great! I mix ranch dressing, cooked pasta (rotini or fusilli is great for this), crumbled feta (I'm sure shredded cheese would be just as nice), chopped red pepper and chopped blanched broccoli, and it super-delicious! Here's the official recipe: http://approachingfood.com/salads-i-have-known-and-loved-cafe-style-broccoli-and-feta-pasta-salad/Approaching Foodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758306507590214861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536514511090897212.post-80342680523132297592017-01-07T22:33:39.335-09:002017-01-07T22:33:39.335-09:00Hi Erika. I've been reading your blog for almo...Hi Erika. I've been reading your blog for almost a year now, I think, (the older I get, the more time gets jumbled in my head!) and I take so much inspiration from it! I saw you grabbed lite ranch because it was all they had back in stock. I'm not sure if all Fred Meyers have the same rules, but at mine if they fail to restock a Friday Freebie before it expires you can ask for a raincheck. I never knew this until a couple weeks ago when someone saw me scowling at the (still) empty shelf where Tim Tams are supposed to go. I was super happy to find this out, I looove my freebies! Just thought I'd pass it along in case you didn't know.<br /><br />p.s. I like using ranch to add some life to instant mashed potatoes. You don't need much though!<br /><br /><br />Meowmixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12318204016408918794noreply@blogger.com