Shoe String Tuna Salad

My daughter and I like to experiment with recipes and lately we have been using recipes found in past Friend magazines.  The Shoestring Tuna Salad is sooo easy and delicious.  It's also another way to use (rotate) your food storage tuna.

Shoe String Tuna Salad (print recipe)

6 med. carrots

1/2 c. diced celery

3 sliced green onions

1 large can tuna in water, drained

1 cup mayonnaise

3 T. French dressing

2 T. sugar

2 c. shoestring potatoes

Combine first four ingredients in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl, mix together dressings and sugar.  Add dressing to salad mixture and toss until moistened.  Just before serving, add shoestring potatoes.  This is from the Friend magazine, July 1977.

Pantry Camp Stew

This week is my daughter's spring break, so I'm paying her to do all of my weekly chores while I concentrate on some personal projects.  She made Camp Stew tonight that is just like what my Grandma would always have cooking in a slow cooker to accompany all the other great food served at family gatherings.  Pantry camp stew makes a great food storage recipe because all of the ingredients below are easy to store.  I specified my preference for canned chicken and barbecue, but use your favorite brands or use fresh ingredients or a combination--whatever you have on hand will work!  Yankee Corn Sticks go great with this recipe.  

Pantry Camp Stew (Print)

1 med. onion, chopped (or dehydrated onion)
1 stalk of celery, diced

4 small russet potatoes (or 2, 15-oz. cans sliced potatoes, drained)

2 (14.5-oz.) cans diced tomatoes

1 (15-oz.) can cream-style corn

1-2 cups chopped, cooked chicken (or 1, 12.5-oz. can Hormel chicken breast in water)

1 (10-oz.) can Vietti Pork in BBQ sauce, (optional)

2 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 t. pepper

1-2 t. hot pepper sauce
lima beans, mostly drained

Stir all ingredients together in a Dutch oven; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, partially cover, and simmer 20-30 minutes, stirring often.  Add the lima beans about 15 minutes before serving.  Or place all of the ingredients in a slow cooker.

Here are some tips that might be helpful when making Camp Stew:

If you cut the ends off the onion first and discard, your eyes won't tear up while chopping!

When adding the chopped celery, I noticed that the remaining celery had gone limp.  Before returning the celery to the vegetable drawer in the fridge, I when ahead and prepped the last of the stalks and put them in a baggie with a tablespoon of cold water.  The celery will magically firm up again!

This recipe uses a lot of cans.  Here is a wonderful new tool I discovered recently!  The can opener takes the whole lid off so there are no sharp edges and it is pretty easy to do.  Just read the instructions on the back of the packaging.  I found mine at Walmart for less than $10.00.

Sustain Life, Not Lifestyle: Self-Reliance, part 1

Camping at the Beach

Preparing to give a fifth Sunday lesson on organizing food storage, I studied and was inspired by the 2009 Welfare Training found at lds.org.  Here can be found the essential information we all need to know.  Brother Robert D. Hales said that provident living means not coveting the things of this world.  It means using the resources of the earth wisely and not being wasteful, even in times of plenty.  Provident living means avoiding excessive debt and being content with what we have.  (Much of this is a synopsis of my notes from this training, particularly Hales and Beck's talks).

It is important to understand that self-reliance is a means to an end.  Our ultimate goal is to become like the Savior, and that goal is enhanced by our unselfish service to others.  Our ability to serve is increased or diminished by the level of our self-reliance.

President Marion G. Romney once said:  "Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves.  Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse.  Support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved.  Teaching cannot come from the unlearned.  And most important of all, spiritual guidance cannot come from the spiritually weak" (Ensign, Nov. 1982, 93).

If necessary, we should change our lifestyle--and possibly our place of residence--to live within our means.  We should willingly seek additional training and learn new skills, regardless of our age.  Maintain our health and stay close to our spouse and children.

The presiding bishop, H. David Burton also said:  "We use the little phrase, 'sustain life but not lifestyle.'  As we sustain life, Church assistance is designed to furnish food, clothing, and appropriate shelter as well as other assistance, as determined by the bishop, needed to help the individual become self-reliant."

Individuals are expected to use any assets they have for their support and in an orderly way downsize to accommodate budget restraints.

Our family has been through tough times where it seems everything went wrong financially all at the same time.  But what we learned from adjusting is priceless:  how to actually use food storage, how to use our garden's bounty, having fun with the family on a budget (picnics and camping), purchasing large ticket items, like a car, with prudence, etc.

Above all, we learned to be grateful.  We learned to express our gratitude in our prayers, especially when times our seriously tough.  Brother John Bytheway says that when you feel least like praying, that is when it is most essential.  During the financial stress our family endured, I suffered from painful hives for six months, (even though I had never been prone to this before).  I decided to immerse myself into the scriptures--The New Testament to be exact.  I gained a testimony that:
Heavenly Father loves me.  His Son has promised, "All these things shall give [me] experience, and shall be for [my] good" (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7).

Awesome Family Vacation Albums and Journaling!

Vacation Journal Prompts:
Who planned the details of your vacation?
What part of the vacation did you enjoy the most?
Where did you eat the best food?

It's best to keep to 6-8 photos per page so the page isn't too busy, but sometimes that's hard because you have so many great photos to choose from--especially vacation photos.  Here are more of my Family Vacation Layouts:

A Trip to Disney!

Reuse the Disney Park map and trace Mickey using an inexpensive light board (or a bright window).

A Trip to The Beach

A Trip to The Park

Here are two great layouts that can use a lot of your photos.  I have done the top layout for many different themes.  

designed by Lorene and Layne Kamalu

Create a 10 x 10 inch grid filled with 2.5 inch squares.  Crop photos to fill one or two squares.  Start placing photos on the scrapbook page in the upper left corner and continue to the right and down.  Included are some thought-provoking questions to help you better journal your pages.  The following is from an old Creative Memories Idea Book (no longer in circulation):

Creative Memories Scrapbook Page Design and Layout Ideas, Vol. VI, p. 68

Use silver and gold metallic pens to write on dark card stock.  Use a tearing tool to create the "waves effect" in the bottom left photo.  For more journaling how-to's see my post Organizing and Journaling Photos.

Active Meditation for Serious Relaxation

There are many ways to "Meditate upon the Word."  "Our grandmas may have been on to something.  Experts agree that knitting is a great way to relax because it's a form of "active" meditation.  As someone who finds it hard to sit idly without something to keep my hands busy very interesting and a little validating.

I've enjoyed cross-stitch for years, but now it requires too much concentration and I find it tiring.  Even though I'm only a novice, my favorite form of active meditation is knitting.  I have found that I enjoy knitting very simple projects.  I encouraged my daughters when they were growing up to knit by purchasing child-friendly knitting kits.  They were able to accomplish many useful projects.

Bev's Journeyings Blog has been a wonderful source of information about knitting, etc., especially as service projects.  I highly recommend it!  One of the two projects I'm sharing here are knitted hangers.  I love this simple project that I learned to do in Merrie Miss.  Actually, my mom taught us MM girls to knit.  

This pattern includes an adorable sachet.  I've already knitted a couple of these for my closet.  It might be difficult to find the wooden hangers pictured, so mine are slightly different.  "With this project, old hangers will find new life.  Fill the sachet with dried flowers, aromatic herbs, potpourri, or cedar shavings."

Info:

Binding off--BO

Casting on--CO

Knit 2 together--k2tog

Yarn over--yo

Hanger cover:  Approximately 16 inches

Sachet: 2-3/4 x 2-3/4 inches

Gauge: 21 stitches, 11 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch

Materials:

Yarn: 60 yards worsted weight yarn for hanger cover (yarn A); 20 yards coordinating yarn for sachet (yarn B)  

Yarn shown: Paton Grace (100% cotton) #60903 lavender (yarn A), 1 ball and #60005 snow (yarn B), 1 ball

Needles: US size 5

Notions: Size F/5 crochet hook; tapestry needle; sewing needle and white sewing thread; 1/2 inch decorative button

Miscellaneous: Straight wooden hanger with metal hook

Making the Sachet: 
Holding 2 strands of yarn B together as 1, cast on 15 stitches.  Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for about 5 inches.

Next row (eyelet buttonhole): Knit 6, knit 2 together, yarn over, knit 7.  Knit 5 more rows; bind off.  Fold piece in half, and weave sides together using mattress stitch.  Placing seam in middle of back, sew bottom together using mattress stitch.

Crochet Chain: Insert crochet hook into 1 side seam, just under top edge.  Using 2 strands of yarn B, work a crochet chain for 7 inches.  Cut yarn, leaving about 6 inch tail.  With threaded tapestry needle, attach chain to opposite side seam under the top edge and to the inside.  Weave yarn ends through several stitches on wrong side of work, and secure.  With sewing needle and thread, attach button in position on inside of sachet, opposite eyelet buttonhole.

Two Birds with One Swatch

For this project, you can use almost any medium-weight yarn.  Make the sachet first, and use this piece as your gauge swatch.  Measure how many stitches fit in 1 inch, and multiply that number by the  length of your hanger in inches.  That number is the total number of stitches to cast on for the hanger cover.

Making the Hanger Cover

Holding 2 strands of yarn A together as 1, cast on 80 stitches and work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 2-3/4 inches.  Bind off all stitches.  Cut yarn, leaving about 30 inch tail.

Find center of knit piece, and slip it over the metal hanger hook, taking care not to snag knitting.  Fold knit piece in half lengthwise over hanger.  Thread tapestry needle with yarn tail, and weave loose ends to wrong side to secure.  Pull yarn snugly to gather and tighten side edge and enclose it over hanger end.  Close other side in the same way.  Weave loose ends to wrong side and through a few stitches to secure.  Sew cast-on and bind-off edges together neatly.  Weave last remaining yarn tail to inside and secure.

Even though the following is found on Bev's blog, I felt that at some point they might not be and included them here as well.  The bandages are so easy once you get the hang of knitting with really small needles.  I have put several in my 72 hour emergency kit and first aid kit.  Keep this knitting nearby when you basically need something mindless to do with your hands (i.e. long car rides, waiting rooms, etc.)

Size:  approximately 3 inches by 4 inches wide and 4 feet long

Materials:  number 10 knit Cro-sheen, 100% mercerized cotton in white, cream or ecru.  (1 small ball 225 yards should make 1 knitted bandage)

Knitting needles:  US 2 = 2.75mm=UK size 12 or US 3 = 3.25mm=UK size 10

Do not use dyes/colors

When completed, roll bandages and secure with a large (2") safety pin.

Put in plastic bag, remove air, and seal.

Hand Knitted Bandage:  Use US size 2 knitting needles if you knit average or loosely or size 3 needles if you knit tightly.  Cast on 24 to 27 stitches so the bandage measures 3" - 4" across.  Knit every row until bandage is desired length of about 4 feet long, then bind off, leaving a 2-3 inch tail to weave in.  The edge looks neater if you slip the first stitch of each row instead of knitting it.  Secure tail by slipping thread through last stitch, tying a small knot, and weaving end back through stitches.

See Bev's Journeyings for more (crochet instructions).

Spirit Soothers
Scents that Soothe
Aromatherapy Bath Potpourri "Tea" Bags
Meditation Made Easy

Be Organized And Do Fast Pages

It really helps to go through your pages and plan them ahead. Sometimes I use sticky notes on my actual album pages to write notes to remind me what order, theme, idea I'm using from a publication, etc.  Then I put the stack of photos I'll be choosing from in a zip-lock baggy with those photo album pages.  I stack them just like they would be organized in the album, and then I place them in a photo box that's designed for photo album pages.  Everything's ready to go when I finally get a chance to settle down and start scrapping.  Also, it's so important to journal your album pages.  You might use a combination of the photojournaling suggestions, or stick to one, depending on your personality, available time, etc.  Digital cameras, the internet and computer have all revolutionized scrapbooking.  Now everything can be done by the click of a button.  This makes journaling a breeze!  

I used this information from Melinda Dye to get started back in 1995:

1. Collect all of your photos and memorabilia into one spot.  Look in old photo albums, drawers, hope chests, baby and wedding books and relative's homes.

2. Put photos in chronological order and/or events:  Weddings, baby books, high school years, special trips and growing-up phases.  Sort your photos by putting them in stacks that resemble years, then sort into months, seasons, events or outings.  Use envelopes from the developer, rubber bands and Ziploc bags to keep photos and memorabilia in order.  Slip in the memorabilia (cards, brochures, ticket stubs, etc.) where it belongs, or it will be forgotten.

3. Next, collect cropping tools (templates, trimmer, scissors, pen, etc.) into one place.  Crop all of the photos for several pages or for one time period, but keep them in order (this may seem risky but this is the key to doing it fast).  Lay out the photos by month or event.  Next, see if you want to do something special with them and how many pages you want to devote to the theme.

4. Collect supplies and tools into one spot (I set up a card table in  my living room where the kids play; they can see me, but don't need my full attention).  Sometimes it is helpful to put tools in a basket or large bowl for easy access.  You can separate colored paper in an accordion file folder and stickers can be divided by themes in Ziplock bags.  The key to getting lots done quickly is having easy access to photos and supplies.

5. Take every free minute during the day to work.  Get up early and stay up  late when there are fewer interruptions.  At the end of the work period, re-organize the work space and drape your table with a sheet to protect your photos.  Another time-saver option:  Complete every aspect of the page before moving to the next page (I write all captions, dates,  names, etc., before I do stickers).

6. Just like exercise, we have to set time aside to work on our albums.  Schedule album time into your  monthly calendar.  Attend workshops, schedule one full Saturday a month, work a few hours every Sunday afternoon or set up a work party with friends.  Set a goal to complete cute, simple and fast pages that have great memories preserved and enjoy your completed albums!  

Don't forget--working on your photo album is not a matter of time, it's a matter of commitment!

("Do It and Stick to It, Be Organized And Do Fast Pages," by Melinda Dye, Creative Memories)

Smokey Mountain Corn Chowder

Spread a picnic blanket on the floor and have a family picnic in front of the fireplace on a winter night.  Serve chowder with fresh-baked bread, and toast marshmallows for dessert.

Smokey Mountain Corn Chowder
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 cups milk
1, 17-ounce can whole corn, drained
4 smoked sausage links, sliced (6-ounce package)
1, 8-ounce can lima beans, drained (optional)
In a saucepan, saute (low heat) onion in butter until tender but not brown (onion will be see-through).  Stir in flour, salt and pepper.  Add milk all at once.  Bring to a boil, (continue on medium-low heat), stirring constantly until thick and bubbly, about 1 minute.  (Be careful not to scorch).  Stir in corn, sausage and lima beans.  Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes.  Yield: 6 servings.

From:  Once-a-Month Cooking, by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg, Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, Co.

Setting Organizational Goals: organization part 2

In a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord told us to "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God." (D&C 88:119) ("Organize Yourselves," Ensign, Nov. 1980).  To me this scripture from The Doctrine and Covenants states the essential purpose of every homemaker.  As homemakers we are to "establish a house."  Our house should have prayer, fasting, faith, learning, glory, order and God as the foundation.  The word establish is defined as:  "To set up; found.  To bring about; generate.  To place or settle in a secure position or condition; install.  To make firm or secure."

In my opinion, being disorganized is simply a matter of having developed bad habits.  I believe being organized can be developed just as any "gift."  Organization begins with the heads of the household.  We must honestly evaluate whether or not we're truly ready for the challenge of being an "organized person."  Just like any gift, the gift of organization requires consistent effort.  Prayer, research, and study are necessary.  

Hide not your talents, they for use were made.  What's a sun-dial in the shade? ~Benjamin Franklin

When I entered the Young Women program at age twelve, I was given a beautiful Personal Progress book. It was white, full-sized, with a picture of the ideal Latter-day Saint Young Woman on the cover.  Inside were six values and homemaking was one of them, as well as my favorite.  We were given excellent step-by-step instruction on how to plan goals.  By following these simple steps, becoming more organized as a goal can be successfully accomplished.

First Evaluate:  What do I want to have happen in my life now and in the future?  Then make a Plan by setting a date for the goal to be accomplished and how this goal will be accomplished.  By having a Target Date, the goal becomes more real.  The plan needs to be broken down into small steps.  It helps to have someone to Report to.  This can be Heavenly Father if the goal is very personal, or it can be to a family member, friend or recorded in a journal.  Last, begin the process again.  The ultimate goal of an organized household can be broken into smaller, achievable goals.

The noblest search is the search for excellence. ~Lyndon B. Johnson

Gordon B. Hinkley, former president of the LDS church said, "We will not become perfect in a day or a month or a year.  We will not accomplish it in a lifetime, but we can keep trying, starting with our more obvious weaknesses and gradually converting them to strengths as we go forward with our lives."

(The Quest for Excellence," Ensign Sep. 1999)

Becoming organized is a process as well.  It can be fun and even addictive (but in a good way).  You may find yourself organizing where ever you go.  Following the goal-setting process outlined in the old Young Women Manuals helped me to earn my Young Women Medallion twice!  And I have been pretty darn organized ever since.  This has brought me much joy.  I've also taught my own children this process and it has helped them to be successful students and earn their own recognitions at church, school and scouting.

Sometimes we can plan to have a goal accomplished by a certain time and devote a particular time to complete the goal (like cleaning out the shed), but it's also true that the best time to organize is when you catch the mood.  For quite some time I may research the best way to organize the shed, and make an inventory of what needs to be in the shed and what to donate, etc. before I actually feel like doing it.  Don't be upset if you have to change the target date.  When I'm "in the mood" to organize, I do a much better job.

80% of success is showing up. ~Woody Allen

Learning Homemaking Skills

Sister Barbara Winder, General Relief Society President in 1986 said:  “It is important for all of us to learn homemaking skills; whether she is married or single, every woman is a homemaker.

"I know a single woman, a widow, who prepares meals on Saturday to last her through the week because she must work long hours each day. At mealtimes, she always has a tablecloth or a place mat, a napkin, and a flower in a bud vase. Her home is artistically decorated and full of wonderful books and beautiful music.

"There is an art to being a homemaker. For ourselves and for our families, it is important that we have a sanctuary—a place of refuge away from the world where we feel comfortable and where, if others come, they, too, can feel comfortable.

"In Proverbs 31:10–31 [Prov. 31:10–31], we read, 'Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.' In those verses we are told that a virtuous woman weaves fabric, sells linen—her hands are not idle: 'She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.' (Prov. 31:27.) I think that is one of the keys. We should not be idle. We should be constantly using our gifts and talents to build up our families, the kingdom of God, and the community about us.”  (Barbara W. Winder, Ensign, March 1986, p. 20)

Being a homemaker requires developing organizational skills first and foremost.  We are required to set priorities for those homemaking skills we need to develop.  I remember the first time I went to the grocery store as a newly married young woman.  I had $25 for the week's groceries (1988).  I had no list, no menu, no clue what grocery items cost, nor did I have anything at home in the cupboards.  After about 30 minutes, I walked out of the store crying in frustration.  The first thing I needed to learn was how to stock my pantry and prepare meals on a very strict budget—this was a priority. 

Other homemaking skills included washing clothes properly.  I remember receiving so many towel sets as wedding gifts that I need not replace my towels for a good ten years!  However, right off the bat, my towels started showing signs of mildew.  This had to be addressed immediately.  I also learned that I couldn’t spend all day cleaning out a closet.  I had to learn to place a time-limit on tasks—maybe break a large task into smaller ones.

Gooseberry Patch Xmas Bk. 5, p. 99

I had received a couple of recipe books as wedding gifts and began to read them.  I found a list of essential pantry items and budgeted each week to buy these.  I asked more experienced homemakers about the mildew and learned to wash towels with vinegar.  Also, I learned to make sure no wet items were placed in the hamper!  I read articles and books on organizing closets and cabinets and donated many boxes of unnecessary items so that my cleaning didn’t take all day.

My favorite section of the library became home improvement, decorating, cooking, and cleaning.  (I look forward to Gooseberry Patch Christmas Books each year for more homemaking inspiration!)  Educating myself in my spare time was job #1.  Once essentials of homemaking were taken care of, then I was able to concentrate on more advanced skills such as cooking in large batches or giving a dinner party, as well as purchasing furniture, painting, and decorating a room.

Throughout the more than two decades of marriage, I have relied heavily on the homemaking training I have received from issues of the Ensign (old and new).  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ website lds.org, has a Gospel Library where you will find church magazines.  There you can choose the Ensign (also called the Liahona) and look up topics found in past issues by using the search engine.  I have used this for the last ten years since the Church first made past issues available in this way.  I am always recommending this site to other sisters at church who have concerns over marriage issues or questions about raising children, cooking, organizing, cleaning—you name it, it’s there!


Did You Know...
Some of the skills required for a homemaking career include:
1.  Managing time, energy, and resources (including money)
2.  Communicating effectively
3.  Housekeeping
4.  Cooking skills and nutrition
5.  Sewing, mending, and handicrafts
6.  Making wise decisions
7.  Keeping abreast of the times
8.  Applying first aid and sound health principles
9.  Making a home a place of beauty
10. Providing an atmosphere of learning, cultural refinement, recreation, service, and spirituality
11. Mothering, child care and guidance and
12. Becoming a responsive, supportive, and loving companion and wife. (I believe I got this a long time ago from one of my favorite websites www.christysclipart.com --you can also find Christy's Clipart on Facebook).


Hopefully this Homemaker's Journal will incorporate all of these.

For more on the subject: Resurgence of Homemaking in the Church

Zesty Tomato Soup

Just had this for dinner with a salad.  It is so good!  You will not believe how the Chili powder and Monterrey jack cheese changes the flavor of plain old tomato soup from a can.  I like to use only one can of milk so that it's thicker, and I only put a 1/2 teaspoon of Chili powder cause I'm a wimp when it comes to spicy foods.

Zesty Tomato Soup
2 (10-3/4oz.) cans condensed tomato soup
2-2/3 cups water (or you can use milk or combination)
1 teaspoon Chili powder (more or less as desired)
Garnish:  oyster crackers and shredded Monterrey Jack cheese, optional
In a saucepan, combine the first three ingredients; heat through.  Pour into individual serving bowls and garnish with crackers and cheese.  Yield: 4-5 servings.