Nancy on the Home Front

Resolutions – Making My Blog The Best

The beginning of a new year is a good time to make resolutions and goals for the year ahead. Embracing the new patterns needed to accomplish your goals can be a challenge. Shaking old habits is not the easiest task.

I have been blogging for over three year and have written over 780 blog posts! I often find myself so busy that I don’t have time to think about where I am going or what I want to accomplish! As I enter into 2015 I am taking some time to think about the upcoming year. What do I want to achieve? What’s my goal as a blogger? Where do I need to make changes?

I would like to build more of a community with my readers. I need to communicate more with the other blogs I follow. I will leave 200 comments a month to help me reach this goal. I will maintain my current blogging schedule of posting five times a week and I will connect more with my readers and my fellow bloggers!

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I would like to increase my subscriber base by ten percent. Focusing on creating great content will help me reach this goal. I will also commit to adding more of my personality and personal story into my blog posts. Perhaps share some behind the scenes posts. Are you interested in seeing what my kitchen really looks like when I’m photographing for a blog post?

See if advertising makes $ense? Perhaps there is a way to turn some of my posts into profits? I would like to look into affiliate advertising and see if it is worthwhile. Is it possible to make an income from my blog? Do I want to monetize via advertisers, sponsored posts or affiliates? I need to look into this and decide what my strategy will be! Part of this goal will be developing a Media Kit. I want to develop a mission for my blog, gather my stats into one place and use my skills to create a splashy presentation to send perspective sponsors. I don’t want to clutter up my sidebar with ads but perhaps there is a way to include advertising while keeping a streamlined look.

Paying attention to my numbers! I look at my Google analytics each week but not in great detail. I want to pay attention to what posts have performed well. I also want to take a close look at where my traffic is coming from. If, for example, a lot of traffic is coming from StumbleUpon then I need to invest more time in that form of Social Media!

Most of all enjoy what I am doing! Right now I do love what I am doing. I have gotten to know a lot of other bloggers on line and I appreciate their support in my blog.

As I head into the New Year I want to commit to making my blog and the images on it the best they can possibly be! What are your goals for the New Year?

Linked to: WWHOP

Our Family Budget Planner Review

I am so excited; Jennifer from Godly Glimpses asked if I would review her new Family Budget Planner. I don’t know about you but I find the end of the year is always a good time to get organized and review your budget in preparation for the year ahead.

How can we stay organized and keep our finances in order? Jennifer’s Budget Planner is a great way to keep track of your bills and help you move toward the goal of debt free living!

This colorful, easy to use, fun planner has 40 pages to help you get organized. Since the pages aren’t dated you can use it from year to year.

Here are some of the pages included in the planner.

Full color cover sheet and divider pages for each section.
Spine labels for a 3 ring binder.
Bill Payment Checklist and Schedule
Printable monthly calendar pages
Gifts to Buy
Giving Plan

And much more.

This budget planer is on sale for only $3.99. You can pick yours up by clicking HERE and visiting Jennifer’s eStore. For my lucky readers I have a coupon for you which will make the planner only $1.99 for 30 days. Act now and get yourself organized. The code for my readers is $2OFFPL and is good until 1/31/15.

I know keeping a budget and staying organized is serious business but Jennifer’s fun and colorful planner is easy to use and I look forward tousing it to get myself more organized this New Year!

Amazing Overnight Waffles – Reposting

Sometimes a recipe is just so good you have to share it more than once! During the busy holiday season it’s nice to have a breakfast that you can mix up the night before.

waffles, maple syrup — Amazing Overnight Wafles

Today’s recipe is a family favorite. If you haven’t tried overnight waffles you’ve been missing an awesome treat! I love this simple recipe; you mix up the majority of the ingredients the night before. In the morning you add the butter and an egg and the mix is ready to be turned into delicious waffles. What better excuse to enjoy maple syrup. I enjoy using this recipe when we have company. It makes for a delicious, easy breakfast in the morning without much effort on your part.

Amazing Overnight Waffles

2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp yeast
1 Tbsp sugar
½ tsp salt
2 cups milk
6 Tbsp butter, melted
1 large egg
Nonstick spray
Butter for the waffle iron (op)
Waffle iron

Combine the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a medium size bowl.

breakfast, recipes, prudent living — Dry ingredients for waffles.

Add the milk and whisk until blended.

wafle batter, breakfast — Whisk until well blended.

Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let stand overnight at room temperature.

homemade waffles, breakfast — Cover with plastic wrap.

In the morning the batter will have all sorts of bubbles on the surface.

Preheat the waffle iron and melt the butter. Beat the egg in a small separate bowl and beat it into the batter along with the melted butter. The batter will be quite thin.

Lightly spray the hot waffle iron on all surfaces with the nonstick spray and rub on a little butter. Add just enough batter to cover the cooking surface. Cook for two to three minutes, depending on your waffle iron. Do not over bake, as you want it crisp and brown, but not too dark.

Serve with your favorite toppings. Recipe can be easily doubled or tripled!

Serves three to four. These waffles also freeze well. Any leftover waffles I let cool on a baking rack and then wrap and place in the freezer.

freezer cooking, breakfast — These waffles freeze well.

Linked To: WeekendPotluck, CleverChickBlogHop, MixItUpMonday, What’dYouDoThisWeekend, LinkUp#63, MunchingMonday, MotivationMonday, MerryMonday, TheFinalBarnHop, You’reGonnaLoveIt, HearthAndSoulHop, TotallyTalentedTuesday, FatTuesday, TheGatheringSpot, TuesdaysTable, WWHOP , #TastyTuesdays, TuesdaysWithATwist, RealFoodWednesday, WonderfulWednesday, WakeUpWednesday, HomesteadBlogHop, ThursdayFavoriteThings, CreateItThursday, FullPlateThursday, ThinkTankThursday

Why Have a Well Stocked Pantry?

My husband and I are now empty nesters! No longer am I busy trying to feed four children at every meal, instead I am only cooking for two. So why have a well stocked pantry?

First of all we live in a rural area and it is at least a twenty-minute drive to a small grocery store. To go to one of the large chain stores or even a “box store” like Costco or BJ’s is a forty-five minute drive. When you have a well-stocked pantry you never need to worry about making those unexpected trips to the grocery store.

Once you know your prices by keeping track of them in your price book you can begin to buy in bulk and work toward having a well-stocked pantry. Once you have a well-stocked pantry you will only need to stop at the store for produce, milk and the unbeatable sale that you can’t pass up. Stocking up saves money.

When planning to buy in bulk you must know the options for food buying in your area. Aside from the local grocery store there may be food co-ops, warehouse stores such as BJ’s or Sam’s or even local farmers. Be aware of the loss leader sale items, which appear on the front and back of sale flyers. These are meant to get you into the store and will usually beat any price in a wholesale store. Again, it is important to know your food prices so you can find the deals.

grocery store, bulk buying, prudent living — When buying in bulk, it is important to know your prices!

Bulk buying isn’t just for large families either; you just want to buy enough to get you to the next sale. Each family will buy according to their need. Be aware of expiration dates as well, no point in having a pantry stocked with items that are no longer good to eat! Buying in bulk will give you a well-stocked pantry. There are many reasons to have a well-stocked pantry.

We have learned the lesson of why you should have a well-stocked pantry several times! One year we had a houseful of company and we were hit with a terrible flood, all the roads were washed out and we couldn’t get to the store if we wanted to! We were blessed to have a well-stocked pantry. We ate well that week without having to worry about getting to the store.

Irene, flood damage, preparedness — Road damage limited travel.

Another time my husband was laid off from work and it was six months before he found another job. It was a good feeling to know that we could eat from our pantry and spend a minimum amount on groceries during that time of unemployment.

Make it your New Year’s resolution to stock up your pantry and be prepared for whatever 2015 has to bring!

Linked To: HomesteadBarnHop, WWHOP, TuesdaysWithATwist

On The Home Front Favorite Granola

I have personally been enjoying this recipe for years! Originally a neighbor shared the recipe with my mother and she continued to make it! When I left home I copied the recipe and have been making it myself ever since. The recipe is simple and you can make it as is or add more ingredients if you’d like.

I no longer add the brown sugar, finding it sweet enough with just the addition of honey. You can also replace the brown sugar with maple syrup. You can also vary the kind of nuts you use. I’ve made it with walnuts, pecans and slivered almonds. I think the almonds are the family favorite! Once the granola is cooled completely you can also add a variety of dried fruits; cherries, cranberries or raisins. This recipe is easy, inexpensive, very flexible and tastes much better than anything you can find in the supermarket. It also makes wonderful gifts. I usually make up a few bags with a custom label to give as Christmas gifts.

On the Home Front Homemade Granola

6 cups of quick or old fashioned oats, uncooked
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup flaked or shredded coconut
1/3 cup sesame seed
1 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey
1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

Heat oats in ungreased 9 x 13 pan in 350 degree oven for ten minutes. Combine oats, wheat germ, coconut, sesame seed and chopped nuts and stir. Combine brown sugar, vegetable oil, honey and vanilla. Pour over dry ingredients and stir until coated. Divide mixture in half. Bake half in an ungreased 9 x 13 pan at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring often to brown evenly. Cool. Repeat for other half, don’t let it get too brown or it will burn! Store in an airtight container.

granola, pantry, cereal, homemade — Store granola in an airtight container.

Linked To: FatTuesday, RealFoodWednesday

Gifts From The Kitchen: Cranberry Orange Marmalade

This is a wonderful recipe to make when cranberries are at their peak between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The scarlet cranberry lends a tartness to compliment the orange of this marmalade.

Cranberry Orange Marmalade

2 medium oranges
1 lemon
3 cups of water
2 cups of fresh (or frozen) cranberries
4 cups of sugar

Remove the thin outer rind of the oranges and lemon and cut into very fine strips, you can also use a zester.

Place the rind and water in a large stainless steel saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, cover and reduce the heat. Boil gently for 20 minutes. Remove and discard the remaining white rind and seeds from the oranges and the lemon.

Finely chop the pulp and the cranberries in a food processor and add to the saucepan.

Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce the heat and cover and boil gently for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Add the sugar to the fruit mixture. Return to a boil over high heat and boil rapidly uncovered until the mixture forms a gel, about 20 minutes. Stir frequently. Remove from the heat. Ladle into sterilized jars and process in your water bath canner for 15 minutes. Makes about 5 cups.

Isn’t it a beautiful color? It will look perfect in your Christmas gift baskets!

Linked To: WeekendRetreat, FoodieFriday, PinJunkiePinParty, FreedomFriday, #FoodieFriday, #WeekendBites, FromtheFarmHop, WhatToDoWeekends, WeekendPotluck, LHITS DIY, CelebrateIt, CleverChicksBlogHop, MixItUpMonday, HolidayBest, LinkUp#62, MunchingMondays, MotivationMonday, TheGatheringSpot, HomesteadBarnHop, You’reGonnaLoveIt, TotallyTalentedTuesdays, TuesdaysTable, #TastyTuesday, TastyTuesday, CreateItThursday

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

It looks like we’re going to have a white Christmas; I really don’t think all this snow will melt in the next week. At least I hope not. The snow has been beautiful, clinging to every twig and branch.I love the light in December, even an ordinary fence looks beautiful. December is also the Wassail Parade in our neighboring town of Woodstock.

This parade is all about horses and wonderful costumes! Riders on horses, horses pulling wagons and tiny, miniature horses and donkeys trying to keep up with the parade!

The logging continues on our property and the pile grows larger. Just when you think the pile can’t get any bigger a log truck will show up and take the logs away. Our chickens are finally laying again. We have a small flock right now, only six birds but we’ve been getting 3-4 eggs every day! What is December like where you are? Wherever you live I hope you are enjoying the Christmas season!Linked to: OutdoorWednesday, ThursdayFavoriteThings, SimpleLivesThursday, PintasticPinterestingParty

Apple Date Muffin Mix

Having a full pantry means having items on hand to make some wonderful gifts. Last year I made several jars of Soup Mix to give away as gifts. It was a great gift idea but the jars made quite a large pot of soup! This year I decided to mix up some mixes that made smaller batches. Perfect for smaller families or empty nesters!

When you make up this mix be sure to use a good quality of chopped dates so they aren’t too sticky!

Apple Date Muffin Mix in a Quart Jar

½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup sugar
1 cup dried apple slices, finely chopped
1/3 cup chopped dates
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
¾ cup chopped nuts
2 cups of flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Using a wide mouth quart canning jar, place brown sugar in jar first. Press into place. Add sugar to the jar next. Place your chopped apples in a small bowl, add the dates and spices and too well to coat. Press firmly into the jar. Add you chopped nuts in next.

If you don’t want the flour to sift into the nuts you can cut a circle of lightweight cardboard using the jar lid as a pattern. Place the cardboard on top of the nuts. Add the flour last.

Decorate the jar lid to make it look festive.

Copy and attach the recipe to your jar! Fill your gift basket with Muffin Mix and some tea!

Apple Date Muffins

Empty mix into a large bowl. Blend all the dry ingredients together.
Add ¾ cup milk, 1 egg and ¼ cup of oil. Mix until just blended.
Spray 16 – 18 muffin cups of use paper liners. Fill 2/3 full of batter.
Bake 15-18 minutes at 400 degrees.

Fettuccine with Goat Cheese and Tomatoes

I don’t know about you but I love quick, nutritious dinners. I like to know that the dinner I’m putting on the table not only tastes good but is good for us. If I can make such a dinner in under thirty minutes that’s even better! This Fettuccine with Goat Cheese, Arugula and Tomatoes fits the bill!If possible use fresh tomatoes right from the garden. These simple ingredients make an amazingly delicious dinner.

Fettuccine with Goat Cheese, Arugula and Tomatoes

Ingredients:

9 oz of fresh fettuccine
4 oz log of herb flavored goat cheese
5 oz bag of baby arugula
1 ½ cups of grape tomatoes, halved
1 tsp pepper

Directions:

Cook the fettuccine according to the package directions. When the pasta is cooked, drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water. Return the fettuccine to the pot with ½ cup of the cooking water and place over low heat. Add the cheese, arugula, tomatoes and pepper; toss until the cheese melts and the arugula just begins to wilt. Add more of the cooking water if the pasta is too dry. the end result should be a creamy and delicious meal. Serve with a piece of crusty bread.

Serve immediately.

Can You Retire Early?

Have you ever thought about what it would take to be able to retire early? The first thing to take a look at is how you would spend your retirement years. I’m sure you don’t want to spend all your time watching television or playing bingo! Perhaps you enjoy the structure of a 9-5 job and can’t imagine how you would fill your time. Or perhaps you’re like me and can’t imagine running out of things to do!

The first thing you want to do is take a look at your income and figure out what you’ll be earning for the next couple of years. You need to accumulate some money to set up an investment portfolio.

Next you want to take the steps necessary to cut your expenses and increase your savings.

Downsize! Do you really need to live in a large house? Are your children grown and moved out of your home and only occasionally come home? Downsizing may mean getting rid of excess stuff. Often you can find that you can live without much of the things you’ve accumulated over the years. One way to figure out what you really need is to pack up your stuff into moving boxes. Mark the boxes with the content and put a date on the box. Then rent a storage space or a friend’s garage and store your boxes there. If you need something from a box, take it out and change the date on the box. After 6-12 months it will become apparent what boxes you really need. The rest of it can be gotten rid of! Sell the items you no longer need on craigslist, eBay or on amazon. Put the extra cash into your savings fund.

Find a smaller home to live in that is close to your work and close to the stores. Find a location that is affordable, they say to find a place that is 10% of your income.

If there is public transportation you could even sell your car! When you really need a car you could rent one for long trips or to visit family. Think how much you could save by not having to spend it on gas, depreciation and insurance! We haven’t’ downsized yet but are in the transition stage where we are getting rid of clutter. We used to have two cars; one for myself and one for my husband. Since we both work at home we decided to try living with only one car. It takes s a bit of scheduling at times but we have saved quite a bit on gasoline and insurance by only having the one car.

I’ve mentioned this before but another way to save money is to learn to cook! If you can learn to cook from basic ingredients you will save money by not eating out all the time and you can watch what you eat and avoid health issues down the road.

Cancel your subscriptions. Think of all the various subscriptions you have to magazines, to cable television to the gym. Think of any non-essential subscriptions you have and cancel them!

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Find hobbies and things to do that do not cost money. Start thinking about what you will be doing once you retire and get good at it.

Learn to take care of your things. Make things last, learn to maintain and repair the things you own.

Talk to a financial advisor. Take that sizable amount of money that you now manage not to spend and put it in an investment account. Learn about investing so you can understand what your investment advisor is talking about. Watch your account grow!

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For inspiration, read accounts of other people who have retired extremely early. Perhaps you can be one of them!

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When do you plan to retire? What tips do you have for saving money?

Linked To: WWHOP, PennyPinchingParty