Microwave: Mug O'Fettuccine

I had two remaining circles of spinach Fettuccine, so I decided to try to adapt a WW recipe to a mug recipe and after a second try, this recipe came out fairly well.

I had issues trying to boil the noodles, so I had to microwave the noodles one minute at a time. In my microwave, 2 minutes brings most liquids to a boil.

 

Microwave: Mug O’Fettuccine

(Adapted from: http://www.ww-recipes.net/2019/01/weightwatchers-)

 

Ingredients:

1 circle of Fettuccine

1 dab olive oil

Ground black pepper

3 TBspns canned mixed vegetables, drained

1-2 TBspns LO cooked chicken, diced

A dribble of Italian dressing

 

 

 Process:

Add circle of Fettuccine to mug.

Fill mug 3/4 with water.

Microwave in high 1-2 minutes at a time, depending on your microwave’s wattage.

Remove.

Add canned vegs.

Stir.

Fill mug 3/4 with water.

Add ground black pepper.

Stir.

Microwave 1-3 minutes in high.

Remove.

Drain, if necessary.

Add LO cooked chicken.

Stir well.

Add dressing.

Stir well.

Top with parm cheese.

 

 

DIY: Cardboard Earrings

DIY Cardboard earrings

Credit: https://youtu.be/f_UDijesb1A

I love the idea of making earrings from cardboard and Garlinda is so creative!

I jumped in.

My circles aren’t perfect but as I have learned, again, to learn a new task, it takes lots of practice and patience.

Garlinda’s idea of using a black magic marker to finish the edges of the discs was great.

Also, I need to remember to punch the hole in both earrings by holding them together.

Everything was going well until I got to making the punch hole and putting in the jump rings.

Then, my first pair of cardboard earrings project turned into a nightmare.

Like recipes, I never have all the ingredients or tools required. Use what you have is my approach.

I did not have a hole puncher. So, I used my wire twist earring-making tool as an awl.

While it worked well. Putting in two jump rings was almost impossible.

I have never been able to pry open a bit of a jump ring, easily, to add the earring hook. For this project, I had to find a way to pry open a jump ring enough to slip it through the hole, add another jump ring with the hook and then close it securely.

Before I partially accomplished this task, my floor was littered with jump rings that popped from my hands and I broke two fingernails. The rings are still not secure. I am going to look for an alternative solution, but I now have some beautiful cardboard earrings!

Microwave: Mug O'Chilaquiles

Good Morning!

Chilaquiles is a delicious Mexican dish.

Plus, you can use your leftover stale corn tortillas.

It's been a long time since I made a recipe that was perfect the first time around and often when I make the recipe again, it just never tastes as good as the first one.

My eye jumps to Mug recipes that scroll by on YouTube or Twitter, so I was thrilled to see a mug recipe for Chilaquiles.

As usual, I did not have all the ingredients the recipe called for, like sour cream, so I made my own.

 

Microwave: Mug O'Chilaquiles (Toast Topping)

(Adapted from: https://www.thedailymeal.com/recipes/coffee-cup-chilaquiles-recipe )

Pre-preparation:

Ingredients:

Leftover corn tortillas

Cream

Apple cider vinegar

1 slice of multi-grain bread

 

DIY Tortilla Chips

Use leftover corn tortillas.Spread tortillas over on a microwaveable plate.

Microwave on high 2 minutes.

Remove.

Turn tortillas over.

Return plate to microwave.

Microwave on high 1-2 minutes.

Remove.

When tortillas have cooled, break them into small pieces.

Save unused tortilla chips and pieces in a closed container.

DIY Sour Cream

In a refrigerator container with a lid, add 3 TBspns of cream.

Add 1 TBspn of apple cider vinegar to cream.

Stir cream and vinegar together.

Cover and store in frig for 10-30 minutes.

Make toast.

Ingredients:

 
1 egg
2 TBspns milk
Ground black pepper
3 Drops hot sauce
3 TBspns mozzarella or monetary jack cheese, shredded
1 Tspn Dry onion flakes
Handful of DIY tortilla chips, broken into small pieces.
3 TBspns canned salsa, drained
Toppings: Mayo, DIY Sour cream, Dry parsley or cilantro (optional)



Process:

 
In a microwave-safe mug:
Add egg.
Add milk.
Add black pepper.
Add hot sauce
Whip together with a fork.

Add cheese and onion flakes to the egg mixture.
Stir.

Add tortilla chips and salsa.
Stir.

Microwave on high for about 2 minutes, or until cooked through.

Spread mayo over toast.

Add egg mixture to top of toast and spread over surface of toast.

Garnish with about 2 TBspns of sour cream, and sprinkle with parsley or cilantro.

 

 

DIY: Flowers and Bangles from Waste Materials

When I look at the items I try to save and/or reuse, I find I saved lots of TP rolls, cans and jars, carryout containers, advertising phamplets, travel magazines, newspapers, milk and juice cartons, and more.

Once this DIY project began, the carry-out containers were great as a places to let a variety items dry in various stages of preparation, all around the salon.

The cans and jars helped sort the bits and pieces, including lots of bread bag twists.

Then, I started to look for projects to use these items.

I am not one of those people who has to look trendy, I tend to favor off-beat ideas. Many of the flower ideas were appealing and I like bangles, so, I will probably be making lots of these items.

I was amused. In just a few days, I went from struggling to make one newspaper roll to feeling like a pro.

Credit: Large newspaper flowers
https://youtu.be/mzmzk_q0LR4

Large Flowers

While the artist uses newspaper and watercolors, I did not have any watercolors, so I choose to use magazine paper, it is a bit heavier and has more color.

Used a TP roll to cut out front and back buttons. Cut bits of colored paper to color “button.” Used a bit of twisted bread bag tie to secure the front and back of the button.

Made 2 flowers and 1/3 of a jar of confetti for future party favor projects.

I really like these flowers! They are large, colorful, and easy to make.

Can you feel my confidence growing?

Bangles 

Credit: Newspaper Bangles
https://youtu.be/Xprt1Bnh5ac

Magazine Paper Bangles
https://youtu.be/G1jqHLYUfgY

After looking at so many DIY videos, I am not surprised, I confused two videos and adapted their ideas into my own creation.

Again, one artist uses decorative "wallpaper" to customize her bangles, and the other artist uses newspaper and ribbon to make bangles.

I choose to use two types of paper, one, magazine paper for the shape, and two, a glossy menu pamphlet from my “memorabilia” collection, from one of my trips, for a ribbon-like decoration.

I used one of my bangles in my search for a jar or container to use to shape the size of the bangle.

 

DIY: Garbage Bag Dispenser

Rolling along, got the idea from this video:

https://youtu.be/UPs-jBdYKPU 

I used an empty wax paper dispenser and taped over the “saw” edge. 

Then, I tried to determine where make the cuts in the back of the box by eyeballing it. I made the cuts, then after marking the top of the box to indicate where the holes were, I used the box to determine where to affix the hooks. 

Unfortunately, I had to glue the hooks to the wall, after affixing the adhesive backs alone, they fell off the wall in a few minutes. 

Glued the hooks and waited an hour then hung the box. 

Got to be gentle with the box when I pull out a bag.

 

DIY: Glitter Water Bottle

Credit: http://www.kidsomania.com/diy-magic-bottles-of-water-and-confetti/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCaI-5WVRlY&feature=youtu.be

I had fun making this.

My motto "Use What You Have" came into play, here.

The instructions called for colorful rubber bands. I happen to have a set of NPS special rubber bands in the shape of NPS symbols.

No glitter, so I cut up some aluminum coverings from empty pill packages, instead. I challenged myself to cut these little tabs into pieces as small as I could cut them.

No food dyes, I am still working on making some natural dyes. My spinach green was too light.

Used hand bacterial gel in place of glycerin. Also, I used more than I thought the original hack suggested.

 

I dropped in a variety of beads from my jewelry craft box.

My kitchen is a strange place now, part kitchen, part chemistry lab. I worry I might use the DIY jewelry cleaner as dressing.

 

 

DIY: iPhone Stand

There are dozens of iPhone stand / tripod hacks.

I chose the coffee carry-out cardboard cup method and it works pretty well.

Credit:  https://youtu.be/TTtJovKtujo

 

DIY: Bag Closure Clasp

When you shop these days, in my experience, and you find an item you like, you stock up because the item may not be restocked in the future.

I had bought a few bag closure clasps and really liked them. I do use them but they are too long for some bags and I had not seen any more bag closure clasps in the stores.

So when I saw a plastic straw bag closure clasp hack in a DIY Crafts/Hack YouTube video, I decided to give it a try.

I get a lot of ideas from "5 minute Crafts" videos, this idea may have come from one of their videos.

Basically, you slice the straw open by cutting one side.

Then, you fold the bag closed and slide the slit straw over the fold and store the package.

Because I was using a small straw, I struggled a bit sliding the straw into place.

DIY: Reuseable Coffee Filter

Well, I have found a passion, for awhile, in some wild DIY Crafts and Hacks YouTube videos and great How-to websites.

While looking over my endless to-do lists, I found a note to look for a reusable coffee filter.

While I have a French Press, they are messy and time-consuming to clean hence the search for a reusable coffee filter, so I could make a cup or two of real coffee.

I saw the note and thought, hmmm, I'll bet I could make one myself.

After a quick internet search, I found:

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Reusable-Coffee-Filter

Now, I do not recall the exact instructions. But, in my sewing crate, I found a sheet I had intended to mend. After looking at the various areas that needed mending, I decided to put the sheet to other uses.

I was in luck, the cotton sheet was a low-thread variety, so it would work for making a coffee filter.

As I followed the directions, I made a mistake. I was so proud that I used sidewalk chalk to mark the size of the funnel, I did not calculate that the filter would need to dip into the well of the funnel, so this filter would be too small.

I hemmed the diameter of the circle and realized I had a smaller funnel.

 

It fit it perfectly.

I made a cup of coffee and it worked great.

I saved the coffee grounds for plant fertilizer, washed the filter and hung it up to dry, ready for the next time.

It's Been a Week of Salvage Operations

This week, I attempted to salvage lettuce, sardine fishballs, and some papaya and pumpkin fruit.

On Saturday, I made two fishball recipes. Both were a flops. I had over 60 fishballs to salvage.

With some DIY Tartar sauce or a red sauce, they worked as appetizers.

Then, I got a craving for Tostadas. That required lettuce. So, I have been eating a lot of Tostadas this week to save the lettuce and fishballs.

On a store-bought tostada chip, I added a base of refried beans, a crumbled fish ball on top of a base, with a little red sauce or DIY Tartar sauce, shredded lettuce and parm cheese.

The red sauce and DIY Tartar sauce helped add flavor.

There was not much difference in taste between the two types of fish balls. Plus, there’s not much difference in the pictures, either. I am too embarrassed to show the assembly of ingredients.

I can not afford to throw out these fish balls, so I will continue to look for ways to salvage them.

While I enjoyed these fishball Tostadas, another savage operation was a great success. Chicken Soup with pasta and a crumbled fishball.

The base of the soup was made from a previous Chicken broth recipe. The pasta was precooked and flavored with olive oil and basil. I just added the pasta and crumbled fishball to the broth. The fishball was like a dumpling.

Then, I thought about that bit of papaya fruit and pumpkn puree I had in the freezer.

Let's see if I add some plain yogurt, could I make mousses? Yes, I can.

Over the last five days, I saved 60+ sardine fishballs (some are frozen, will see how they work after thawing), a 1/2 head of lettuce and some frozen fruits.

#GERD-friendly

Utterly Putterly - New Use for Insulated Beverage Container

It is the simple things in life that can make you happy.

I like cucumbers. I especially like to pickle them. But, occasionally, I'll keep one cucumber to make snacks and salads. But, one drawback is cucumbers don't keep long and you can't freeze them.

While I try storing them in the vegetable bin, it just seems they go bad too quickly.

On 5/28/20, I got a big beautiful cucumber (.415/kg, 43.50 / 18.05).

After a day or two, I made a small cucumber salad and some snacks.

Now, here I was with 3/4s of a cucumber I wanted to save for more snacks, salads or pickles. Could I find a way to make it last longer?

So, on 5/31/20, while I was washing dishes, I washed out a insulated souvenir beverage container. I sighed. Like many souvenir mugs or beverage containers, I did not often use this container. Do I give it away? No use keeping things you don't use.

Hmmm, would this hold the remaining cucumber? Would it help keep the cucumber fresh longer? Let's try it.

It works. So far, so good, been eating fresh cucumber snacks for two more days, now, and the remaining cucumber is still fresh.

I love the fact the container is compact and does not take up too much space in the frig.

Hotplate: 10+ Hours Pinto Bean Soup

Hotplate: 10+ Hours Pinto Bean Soup
(Adapted from: https://whatscookingamerica.net/soup/appalachian-soupbeans.htm)


Pre-Preparation:

Add 1 Cup of pinto beans, rinsed and drained into a medium pot.
Cover with water an inch higher than the beans.
Cover pot.
Leave on counter overnight.
If possible, check in a few hours to see if the beans need more water.


Ingredients:

1 Chicken bouillon cube
4 Cups water
A drizzle of vegetable oil
2 slices canned meat, cubed
5 dashes onion powder
5 dashes garlic powder
2 dashes hot sauce
1 TBspn Cilantro, dry (optional)
3 Grinds Black pepper
S/P to taste
Garnishes: shredded cheese, diced onions or scallions


Process:

In the morning, drain and rinse beans in a colander.
Set aside.
Add 1 chicken bouillon cube to 2 cups of water.
Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
Remove and stir to dissolve bouillon.
Set aside.
Add a dribble of veg oil to pot.
Add meat cubes to pot.
Add garlic and onion powders, hot sauce and black pepper.
Cook on medium-high, scald the meat quickly, then add 1/2 cup chicken stock.
Stir mixture.
Reduce heat to medium-low.
Cook for a few minutes.
Add beans to a pot.
Add remaining stock.
Stir.
Add 2 Cups Water.
Stir.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce to a simmer.
Stir.
Add cover but leave a small gap to let air circulate. It will help the beans soften.
Simmer 45 minutes.
Check mixture.
Stir.
Add more water if liquid is low.
Add salt to taste.
Stir.
Simmer for another 45 minutes.

 When serving, add garnishes of choice.

References:

Wikipedia, Pinto Beans
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinto_bean

#GERD-friendly
 

More Puttering Bliss

I fixed my first zipper.

Zippers are an interesting invention. But, if they break, they can be a bear to fix.

When the zipper "broke" on one of my backpacks, I put it in the sewing pile. 

I am always optimistic that I can fix things. Eventually, a lot of my "to be fixed" items go in the trash because I can't sew or repair much of anything.

Well, during the COVID19 Shelter-in-place, I had much more time on my hands. So, I decided to try and tackle fixing the zipper.

The top of the zipper had torn away from the base and the little zipper handle came off. The zipper teeth had fallen open.

So, using tweezers, I pushed and pulled the two ends of the zipper back into the handle into their respective slots. Then, when I pulled the handle down, the zipper teeth closed up.

I stitched the zipper base and the top of the zipper teeth tightly together so the zipper teeth would not separate, again.

I saved the knapsack!

Also, while I haven't learned how to make deodorant, yet, I did find a way to stretch a container of deodorant.

I buy men's deodorant because they come in larger quantities for about the same price as women's deodorant. You can find men's deodorant in pleasant scents.

But, I think deodorant containers are wasteful. They don't contain much deodorant and come in hard plastic containers that end up in the trash.

When I reached the end of a deodorant container, I decided I needed to figure out a way to extend the life of the deodorant, if I could.

So, I took the container and ran water over the top while I rotated the ball applicator. 

Then, I shook the container to slosh the water around, hoping to salvage some remaining deodorant.

It worked! I think I have almost as much deodorant as when it was new.

A Puttering Passion

I use a lot of yogurt.

Here in Mérida, yogurt comes in a variety of sizes from small snack cups, to the popular 8.5 oz drink size, and to larger container sizes.

(Popular brands in Mérida: Yoplait, Danone)

I had a persistent problem. Often, I do not use all the yogurt in the 8.5 oz bottle and want to restore it in the frig. The little aluminum cover often tears, so it doesn't not work as a lid.

I have been looking for lid alternatives for years.

 I found one, today.

I use a cough syrup that comes with a cap you use as a measuring cup for the syrup. It fits perfectly as a yogurt lid.

 Hurray, for Puttering Passion!

While I save lots of plastic containers, I am not advocating for a lid for this yogurt. If you ever watched the film, Albatross, it really makes one want to eliminate all plastics.

Uh Oh, just one search for yogurt brands in Mexico and down the rabbit hole I go.

It makes me think of Yogurt Wars, whose brand makes it to the store shelves?

Found a recipe for making Yogurt that I can try.

Converting Jack's Peach and Chickpea Curry into a Toast Topping

As you can see, if you preview my blog posts, I follow Jack Monroe https://cookingonabootstrap.com/.

I have also bought most of her books. Like Amy Dacyczyn, author of the Tightwad Gazette, Jack encourages people on a limited budget with limited cooking skills that they, too, can make great frugal meals.

Here is Jack's original Peach and Chickpea Curry:
https://cookingonabootstrap.com/2019/11/05/peach-chickpea-curry-recipe/.

While this post is not an actual recipe, you can go to Jack's website and try her recipe.

I was skeptical about trying to make this recipe for several reasons. Because I need to adapt recipes to make them GERD-friendly and according to available supplies, I wondered if I could actually achieve a curry.

Suffice it to say, adapting the recipe to make it GERD-friendly meant No onions, No garlic and No tomatoes. I tried to use a bit of onion and garlic powders. I tried to give it the tomato flavor by adding a few crumbles of tomato bouillon. If I use too much of any of these spices, my stomach rebels.

Well, it did not turn out the way I thought. So, I now I had a lot of peaches/chickpea mix left.

What could I do with this? First, I thought, I’d try to make the curry again by recooking a batch with additional spices. No, that won’t work, it would be too spicy.

Ok, let me sleep on it.

Then, I thought let’s see if it works as a toast topping. So, in the morning, I spread some cream cheese on a slice of toast and topped it with a 1 1/2 tablespoons of the peaches/chickpeas mix. It worked! It’s great. Hurray, another save!

#GERD-friendly

A Frugal Cup of Coffee

I have some ground coffee. I have a French Press but I only wanted to make one cup of coffee.

The ground coffee I have has a weak flavor, so what I did was use a tea-spoon (meant for loose tea) and grabbed a tea-spoon full of ground coffee, placed it in a cup and added boiling water.

Then, I stirred it and pulled the spoon out to let it drip and then stirred it some more etc.

Then, I added 1/2 teaspoon of instant coffee, stirred and got a good cup of coffee. Used the same grounds twice for another cup.

 

No Bake: Small Yogurt & Whipped Topping Pie

My recipes have devolved into small or single portion servings and minimalist ingredients.

While I don't have a sweet tooth, I do crave something sweet now and then. I made a version of this recipe, previously, but this one is simpler and more basic.


No Bake: Small Yogurt & Whipped Topping Pie
(Adapted from: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/12225/strawberry-yogurt-pie-i/)

 
Ingredients:

6oz Yogurt, flavored
6 Tbspns Whipped Topping
6-8 Cookies, crushed, use more if needed
Garnishes: Cookie crumbs and cinnamon


Process:

Put cookies in a plastic bag.
Smash cookies into crumbs with something hard like a can or a cutting board.
Conserve some cookie crumbs for garnish.

Layer the bottom of a small pie dish with the crushed cookie crumbs.
Use a spoon to level the cookie crumbs in the dish out to the edges.

In a small bowl, add yogurt and topping.
Stir and mix well until smooth.

Pour yogurt mixture over cookie crumbs in pie dish.
Use spoon to smooth mixture out to the edges.
Place in freezer for several hours to set.

When serving, garnish with additional cookie crumbs and cinnamon.

For a variation, see other blog post:

No Bake: Fruit & Yogurt Dessert
https://riastoneblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/no-bake-fruit-yogurt-dessert.html

#GERD-friendly - this is GERD-friendly for some but not all. Because I use lactose-free milk and dry milk, the use of other dairy products sparingly does not cause a problem. Be cautious.

Hotplate: COVID19 Chicken Broth with Additions

Breakfast today was a catch-all, Kitchen Sink Mug O'Something.

Lunch was a mug of COVID19 Chicken Broth with additions accompanied with several saltine crackers.


COVID19 Chicken Broth with Additions


Ingredients:

6 Cups water
1 Chicken Bouillon cube
1 Dollop vegetable oil
A sprinkle of onion powder
A sprinkle of garlic powder
Ground black powder
1-2 drops hot sauce
Additions: Use what you have.
Saltine crackers 


Process:

In 1 cup of water, add bouillon cube and microwave on high for two minutes.
Remove, stir to dissolve bouillon.
In a pot, add oil.
Add onion and garlic powders.
Add ground black pepper and hot sauce to taste (Optional).
Turn heat to high.
Stir the ingredients quickly.
Add bouillon water.
Stir.
Add 5 more cups of water.
Let this mixture heat up then remove from hotplate.

I added 6 ladlefuls of the broth to a large mug.
Then I add a ladleful of Rice, Chicken and Vegetable Stew to the broth.
Then, I stirred the mixture.
I microwaved the mixture for 2 minutes on high.

Be careful this broth will be hot!

Have some saltine crackers with the broth.


While I had a healthy frugal Breakfast and Lunch, the cafe next door has begun to offer door-to-door service. So, today, I got a Cafe-Carmelo Frappachino.