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Thursday, April 5, 2012

THE ECONOMIST

Hello everyone!  First I'd like to thank all that left well wishes and offered prayers in the previous post.  In world were the news has become ever alarming, it is so good to know that there are kind and gentle-hearted people still on this Earth.  You'll never know how much it means to me.

Now to get to the gist of this post.  This week being Easter, eggs are the lost leaders in many grocery stores.  So now is the time to plan a few meals around them and to stock up.  Did you know that you can freeze eggs?  Just lightly beat them to break up the yolk and pour them into ice cube trays and freeze.  Defrost in the refrigerator.  They last for six months in the freezer.  Since I'm a vegan and rarely bake these days (although I love to), I take advantage of the low prices and buy low.

Which leads me to my next point.  Never berate yourself by calling yourself "only a housewife".  Besides being a caregiver, nurse, chef, decorator, bookkeeper and economist, you are also a commodities trader when you buy low, such as these eggs.  Only you don't sell high, you eat well, and the commodities you invest in are groceries and clothing rather than oil and precious metals! 

There's many ways to prepare eggs; deviled, in a quiche, in an omelet, made into sandwich filling, or how about a plain old meal of eggs?  One of my favorite meals used to be an egg, sunny-side up with a piece of toast and a side of sliced tomatoes fresh from the garden.  Now if you can get farm fresh eggs and a loaf of homemade bread, why it's a meal fit for a king!

Now I'd like to direct you to the picture in this post.  I love Christmas cacti.   They are so reliable.  Well, when I was in the garden center of the Wal-Mart dreaming about spring, I spied these spring cacti.  Had to have one!  As you can see, the regular old Christmas cactus is in bloom too.  They are make a home so cheerful and inexpensive too, especially if you buy them the day after Christmas.
I have to admit that Easter is not a holiday that I spend a lot of time planning for in a celebratory manner.  For me it is more of a time to turn introspective. I think about the sacrifices that our Lord had to make for us and it saddens me that we are not more appreciative.  Is that strange?  However I always manage to have guest expecting something nice for lunch.  My standby  thrifty Easter meal has always been scalloped potatoes with ham, a nice big tossed salad, rolls and a jello salad.  I used to make the jello salads in individual molds.  The boys got a kick out of them when they were small.  To this day, whenever I see those little molds, it always brings back happy memories of little boys and family gatherings.  We never could afford a whole ham back then even if they were on sale, hence the scalloped potatoes and ham.  It only takes one of those ham steaks to feed a crowd.  For dessert we either had lemon meringue pie or strawberry rhubarb if it was up far enough to harvest a few stalks.  One other thing we had was a coconut orange coffeecake from Hamilton's Bakery if we had the funds and the good fortune to purchase one before they were sold out.  Now that we no longer live near by we have to rely on these muffins to get our  orange/sweets fix:

Orange Nut Muffins

1 2/3 C. flour
1/2 C. sugar
1 tsp.  baking soda
1/8 tsp. baking powder
1 egg
1/2 C. buttermilk
1/3 C. frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/3 C. butter, melted
1/3 C. chopped nuts

Combine the dry ingredients.  In a separate bowl, combine the egg, buttermilk, concentrate, and butter.  Make a well into the center of the dry ingredients and add the egg/ buttermilk mixture.  Stir until just moistened.  Fold in the nuts.  Fill 12 muffin cups 2/3 full with batter.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.  Remove from pans.  Cool slightly and ice.

Icing

1/2 C. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. orange zest
orange juice

Combine powdered sugar. zest and enough orange juice to make a glaze of drizzling consistency.  Drizzle over muffins.

I hope that you will all have a blessed and restful Easter surrounded by loved ones!

Love, Jane

24 comments:

  1. This post is full of so much good advice! I too turn introspective during this time. Yet, gathering with family always turns into a party.

    Have a joy filled Easter.

    Blessings, Debbie

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    1. I know what you mean Debbie! Whenever my family gets together it's a party too! That's the joy of a big family!

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  2. Hi Jane! Very well written. I am visiting your blog today. Congrats on your new two grandchildren!! That will be exciting to look forward to, and your granddaughter's life will change too, welcoming in a sibling! I agree about planning for Easter...the decorations for sale have nothing to do with Easter really! It just seems so lame...I mean...it is nice to celebrate spring and there is a connection with new life, new life spiritually...but commercially it is non-religious. We will be busy going to church services each day. When my kids were little it was hard to dress them up and do all the laundry/ironing for each. Now I can reflect more on the spirituality! And I love scalloped potatoes and ham! We just buy those ham steaks too....less waste. I could just live on eggs though...even just boiled or fried...nothing fancy. For fanciness...I guess I'd throw in a potato though!
    love,andrea

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    1. I should have pre-planned like you Andrea! Now I have to play catch-up with the baby gifts. Whenever my mom was away from home for the day, my dad always made fried potatoes and eggs. I think it was the only thing he knew how to make. Yes, one of the nice things about having grown children is that you have more time to truly reflect on the religious holidays. It's really rather nice. That's why I try to get all the merry making and visiting out of the way early at Christmas.

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  3. Hi Jane! Congratulations on your wonderful news. I am so happy for you and your family! It is so wonderful when there is a new baby in the family and to have two at one time is going to be so much fun. My husband's uncle and his wife are expecting in July, and there were a few years there where one of his cousins was having a baby every 6 months or so. I was knitting up a storm. Your orange nut muffin recipe sounds delicious. I love jello molds too, pretty much anything with jello, especially cherry or orange flavor. When I was a kid jello salad or parfaits were a part of every big family gathering. I love the orange jello mixed with cool whip, cottage cheese and pineapple! Yum. Have a wonderful weekend Jane and again, congratulations on you good news and I will definitely keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. Delisa :)

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    1. Thank you Delisa! Looks like fall will be hectic that's for sure. I still like to have jello too. Because I'm constantly dieting, those little sugar-free cups really help me stave off the sweet tooth. As a matter of fact I had some while I watched the ball game today. Tigers won their opener. Yay! Thanks again for your prayers. And enjoy your spring weekend.

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  4. Just got back from the grocery with my $1. eggs! After a short rest, I am making those muffins! Sounds so yummy! I always consider my good food purchases as an investment in our health- priceless. Congrats on your 2 blessings! Our first grandchild is due in 4 weeks- I am so excited! Have a lovely Easter. Angela

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    1. Well congratulations Angela! Four weeks! Bet you can hardly contain the excitement. Erin sent me her ultrasound pictures today. They are over the moon with happiness! Looks like we have a lot to be thankful for. You have a lovely and peaceful Easter also, Angela!

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  5. Dear Jane,

    Your Christmas cacti make me miss mine (who are doing fine at my mother's in Idaho, she says). They never fail to bloom on Christmas and Easter, do they? We've been getting about 7 eggs a day lately, so we're eating more than normal (normal is none, wink wink). :)

    I've been reading some beautiful verses honoring Christ's atonement today, and trying to keep the "bunnies and chicks' as low-key as possible. It is a precious time to remember our great blessings!

    Love,

    Marqueta

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    1. Wink, wink back at you Marqueta! :) I try to be vegan and I am about 90% of the time, but there are some times when you need a bit of cheese on a salad or casserole (isn't the soy stuff awful?) or an egg is so good. I'm trying not to be distracted by Ran's hyperactivity and focus on the Christ's sacrifice this weekend. Fortunately a lot of his energy is focused on outside activities so I manage to squeeze in some quiet time for reflection.

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  6. Your Christmas and spring Cactus are very pretty, I love the colors! We go through lots of eggs around here, such a great economical way to add protein to meals. I love the idea of homemade bread, and a farm fresh egg, yum! Ham in scalloped potatoes sounds like a great Easter meal, I do buy a small ham for Easter, but stretch it for as many meals as possible, Easter dinner, then in Scalloped potatoes, ham and eggs, and more. Lemon Meringue Pie is my all time favorite, I love all citrus flavors, your orange muffins sound good too!

    Have a wonderful Easter!

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    1. When we finally could afford to buy a ham we always bought one with the bone in, April. A good meaty ham bone is a treasure. Makes the best soups, especially pea. Hope you and your family have a lovely Easter!

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  7. I read your post a few days ago, but didn't comment - shame on me! I loved what you said about being a Homemaker. Sometimes, I have to keep remembering that I do serve a purpose in this roll and calling. It can be difficult to forget sometimes.

    I pray that you and your family will enjoy Easter together peacefully and happily. :)

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    1. Thank you Mara. I was a young mother when society was telling women they were nobodies unless they had a career. I'm glad to see that the younger generation is starting to question this! Being a wife and mother is the most important job. And to do it well takes a lot of skills!

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  8. dear jane,
    your easter cactus have a wonderful colour.....i like this plant,too.
    great post!!!
    happy easter to you and your family,
    love regina

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    1. Thanks Regina! What have you been up to these days? Hope you are enjoying your Easter!

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  9. °º♫♫
    Páscoa é renascer.
    Feliz recomeçar!
    Feliz Páscoa!

    。°º..(
    。°º.(,)
    。°º|::::|.☆¸.¤ª“˜¨
    。°º|::::|)/¸.¤ª“˜¨˜“¨
    。°º|::¸.¤ª“˜¨¨˜“¨
    。˛º°%¤ª“˜¨¨
    °°º❊#ª“˜¨

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    1. Bem, eu sou um dia de atraso, Inez, mas o espírito da Páscoa ainda está queimando. Espero que você tenha um lindo dia! Eu não sei como você tem paciência para fazer os gráficos bonitinhos. Eles sempre me faz sorrir!

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  10. Joyeuses Pâques !

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    1. Je suis un jour de retard pour vous souhaiter de joyeuses Pâques, Christiane, donc je vais être le premier à vous souhaiter un jour de joie après Pâques! J'espère que vous avez eu une belle journée et yeasterday tous les jours!

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  11. I love your cactus (cacti?)! I have a Christmas cactus, but it has never bloomed! I hope I haven't killed it! I love love love eggs... definitely time to stock up, but I never have frozen eggs! I hope you have a wonderful Easter!

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    1. I think cacti benefit from benign neglect, Jane. They put out flowers when you forget to water them. Kind of like "Hey, pay attention to me!".

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  12. I have just found your blog today and have spent a happy hour reading through all your previous posts. I find your writing to be inspirational and look forward to being a regular visitor to your blog.
    Kay in UK

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    1. Why thank you Kay! You are just the ray of sunshine I needed today!

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