Easy Orange Rolls
Makes 11 rolls. Prep: 15min. Bake: 30min
Preheat oven to 375*
Beat 1/2 (8oz) package softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar, and 1 1/2 tsp orange zest at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Unroll 1 (11oz) can refrigerated French bread dough onto a lightly floured surface. Spread cream cheese mixture over dough, leaving a 1/4 inch border. Sprinkle with 2 tbsp granulated sugar. Gently roll up dough starting at 1 long side. Cut into 11 (1 1/4 inch) slices. Place slices in a lightly greased 8 inch round cake pan. Brush top of dough with 1 tbsp melted butter. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden. Stir together 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 tbsp orange juice in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle over hot rolls. Serve Immediatly.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Thrifty Tuesday
10 Nifty Tips for being Thrifty
Shop smart, cut waste to stretch your food dollar.
The biggest food budget buster isn't a $1 candy bar or $4 bag of grapes. It's waste, says Linda Larsen, author of "The Everything Meals on a Budget Cookbook" (Adams, 2008, $14.95). "Americans throw away as much as 45% of the food they buy, whether it's a head of lettuce that languishes in the fridge until it wilts, or steak imperfectly wrapped so it develops freezer burn," Larsen writes in her book. With food prices rising at the fastest pace in 17 years - eggs alone are up 69% over the past two years - many consumers are taking a closer look at lifestyle and spending habits formed during prosperous times. There are plenty of strategies for stretching food and making smart grocery buys. Some strategies are common sense - making (and sticking to) a shopping list, not shopping when you're hungry, using coupons and shopping the sales. Other strategies are less obvious, except to consumers who have always been thrifty because they had to, or made it a priority. Knowing what's in the fridge and freezer, and using up what you have before you buy more, is a good starting point. This means using up leftovers, and buying only what you need to prevent food from spoiling. Freezing what you can't use immediately also avoids spoilage. The biggest money saver, Larsen and others say, is cooking at home rather than eating out. Nearly half of the nation's food dollars - 48% - are spent on eating out, according to the National Restaurant Association's 2008 Pocket Factbook at www.restaurant.org. By cooking, you also can control nutrition, Larsen added in an interview. "It's not that hard to learn how to cook," she added. It's also not hard to grow your own herbs such as rosemary, oregano and thyme to inexpensively flavor home-cooked meals. Snip a branch or a few leaves for a recipe instead of buying a $2.50 pack at the store that will go to waste when you inevitably don't use it all.
Following are 10 more smart food-shopping and money-stretching tips from Larsen, the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (www.cccsatl.org) and Milwaukee Whole Foods concierge Emily Schnadt, who put together a "value tour" of tips to help customers of the upscale natural-food store spend their food dollars wisely:
1. Cut down on pricier ingredients, such as meat, by reducing the amount you use in recipes or substituting with less expensive ingredients. Add mushrooms, carrots and potatoes to fill in a recipe that calls for a large quantity of meat, Larsen suggested. A stew can provide a balanced meal for six people with a pound of inexpensive stew meat.
2. Make your own instead of buying canned or boxed items. That especially applies to foods prepared in a reasonable amount of time - from salsa and Alfredo sauce to mashed potatoes and piecrust, Larsen said.
3. Compare unit prices. "The price per ounce is the best indicator of value," Larsen writes. "Larger boxes, bottles and cans may not always be the better buy."
To figure out the price per ounce, simply divide the price by the number of ounces in the product. Compare unit prices across brands as well as sizes. Shop when the store is quiet so you can concentrate on comparing prices, the Consumer Credit Counseling Services advises.
"Some grocery stores put sale items out early in the morning, others do so in the evening. Watch for sale patterns. Sometimes you'll find day-old meat marked down between 50 cents and a few dollars."
4. Follow the actual serving size, Larsen said. You'll eat less, save money and possibly lose weight.
5. Think "minimally prepared or processed" for the best buys. Bone-in chicken pieces in family packs are cheaper per pound than boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Pre-formed hamburger patties can be 30% to 40% more expensive than bulk ground beef. Whole fruits, such as cantaloupe and pineapple, are less expensive than pre-cut fruits.
6. Consider store placement. Grocery stores are designed to tempt you, and to tempt your children. The most expensive items are usually at eye level. The best bargains typically are closer to the floor, notes the Consumer Credit Counseling Service. Expensive kid-friendly items are placed at their eye level. Items showcased at the end of aisles may be on sale, but they aren't necessarily on your shopping list.
7. Look for private labels. Many stores offer house brands or generics. Generic foods are typically processed in the same plant as the brand-name foods, but they're less expensive because they aren't supported by expensive advertising and fancy packaging.
8. Look for bulk discounts. Buy a case of any product at Whole Foods, for example, and you save 5%. Or buy bulk foods from bins at natural-food stores - and now some grocery stores - from dried beans to rice, oats and nuts. But buy only what you need.
9. BYO bags. Many food stores offer a small discount - 5 to 10 cents per bag - if you re-use bags to pack your groceries.
10. Avoid excessively packaged foods in general, Larsen suggested. "If there's shrink-wrap, a cardboard box, plastic dividers and more plastic wrap around food, not only is that wasting Earth's resources, but it costs you money to throw it away."
Instead of buying shredded or sliced cheese in plastic, shred or slice your own fresh from the wedge.
Forgo a package of convenient baby-cut carrots, and cut full-size carrots down to size.
Don't forget to check out this weeks Coupon Matchup at "Making Cents out of Coupons":
http://www.thecouponcents.blogspot.com/
Shop smart, cut waste to stretch your food dollar.
The biggest food budget buster isn't a $1 candy bar or $4 bag of grapes. It's waste, says Linda Larsen, author of "The Everything Meals on a Budget Cookbook" (Adams, 2008, $14.95). "Americans throw away as much as 45% of the food they buy, whether it's a head of lettuce that languishes in the fridge until it wilts, or steak imperfectly wrapped so it develops freezer burn," Larsen writes in her book. With food prices rising at the fastest pace in 17 years - eggs alone are up 69% over the past two years - many consumers are taking a closer look at lifestyle and spending habits formed during prosperous times. There are plenty of strategies for stretching food and making smart grocery buys. Some strategies are common sense - making (and sticking to) a shopping list, not shopping when you're hungry, using coupons and shopping the sales. Other strategies are less obvious, except to consumers who have always been thrifty because they had to, or made it a priority. Knowing what's in the fridge and freezer, and using up what you have before you buy more, is a good starting point. This means using up leftovers, and buying only what you need to prevent food from spoiling. Freezing what you can't use immediately also avoids spoilage. The biggest money saver, Larsen and others say, is cooking at home rather than eating out. Nearly half of the nation's food dollars - 48% - are spent on eating out, according to the National Restaurant Association's 2008 Pocket Factbook at www.restaurant.org. By cooking, you also can control nutrition, Larsen added in an interview. "It's not that hard to learn how to cook," she added. It's also not hard to grow your own herbs such as rosemary, oregano and thyme to inexpensively flavor home-cooked meals. Snip a branch or a few leaves for a recipe instead of buying a $2.50 pack at the store that will go to waste when you inevitably don't use it all.
Following are 10 more smart food-shopping and money-stretching tips from Larsen, the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (www.cccsatl.org) and Milwaukee Whole Foods concierge Emily Schnadt, who put together a "value tour" of tips to help customers of the upscale natural-food store spend their food dollars wisely:
1. Cut down on pricier ingredients, such as meat, by reducing the amount you use in recipes or substituting with less expensive ingredients. Add mushrooms, carrots and potatoes to fill in a recipe that calls for a large quantity of meat, Larsen suggested. A stew can provide a balanced meal for six people with a pound of inexpensive stew meat.
2. Make your own instead of buying canned or boxed items. That especially applies to foods prepared in a reasonable amount of time - from salsa and Alfredo sauce to mashed potatoes and piecrust, Larsen said.
3. Compare unit prices. "The price per ounce is the best indicator of value," Larsen writes. "Larger boxes, bottles and cans may not always be the better buy."
To figure out the price per ounce, simply divide the price by the number of ounces in the product. Compare unit prices across brands as well as sizes. Shop when the store is quiet so you can concentrate on comparing prices, the Consumer Credit Counseling Services advises.
"Some grocery stores put sale items out early in the morning, others do so in the evening. Watch for sale patterns. Sometimes you'll find day-old meat marked down between 50 cents and a few dollars."
4. Follow the actual serving size, Larsen said. You'll eat less, save money and possibly lose weight.
5. Think "minimally prepared or processed" for the best buys. Bone-in chicken pieces in family packs are cheaper per pound than boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Pre-formed hamburger patties can be 30% to 40% more expensive than bulk ground beef. Whole fruits, such as cantaloupe and pineapple, are less expensive than pre-cut fruits.
6. Consider store placement. Grocery stores are designed to tempt you, and to tempt your children. The most expensive items are usually at eye level. The best bargains typically are closer to the floor, notes the Consumer Credit Counseling Service. Expensive kid-friendly items are placed at their eye level. Items showcased at the end of aisles may be on sale, but they aren't necessarily on your shopping list.
7. Look for private labels. Many stores offer house brands or generics. Generic foods are typically processed in the same plant as the brand-name foods, but they're less expensive because they aren't supported by expensive advertising and fancy packaging.
8. Look for bulk discounts. Buy a case of any product at Whole Foods, for example, and you save 5%. Or buy bulk foods from bins at natural-food stores - and now some grocery stores - from dried beans to rice, oats and nuts. But buy only what you need.
9. BYO bags. Many food stores offer a small discount - 5 to 10 cents per bag - if you re-use bags to pack your groceries.
10. Avoid excessively packaged foods in general, Larsen suggested. "If there's shrink-wrap, a cardboard box, plastic dividers and more plastic wrap around food, not only is that wasting Earth's resources, but it costs you money to throw it away."
Instead of buying shredded or sliced cheese in plastic, shred or slice your own fresh from the wedge.
Forgo a package of convenient baby-cut carrots, and cut full-size carrots down to size.
Don't forget to check out this weeks Coupon Matchup at "Making Cents out of Coupons":
http://www.thecouponcents.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Thrifty Tuesday
Checklist: before you spend:
1. Tithe off the gross.
2. Live within your means.
3. Take care of what you have.
4. Wear it out.
5. Do it yourself.
6. Anticipate your needs.
7. Research value, quality, durability, and multiple use.
8. Make gifts.
9. Shop less.
10. Buy used.
11. Pay cash.
12. Do without.
Excerpt from "Life! Celebrate It" by Luci Swindoll
Also, don't forget to check out this weeks coupon matchup at Making Cents out of Coupons:
http://www.thecouponcents.blogspot.com/
1. Tithe off the gross.
2. Live within your means.
3. Take care of what you have.
4. Wear it out.
5. Do it yourself.
6. Anticipate your needs.
7. Research value, quality, durability, and multiple use.
8. Make gifts.
9. Shop less.
10. Buy used.
11. Pay cash.
12. Do without.
Excerpt from "Life! Celebrate It" by Luci Swindoll
Also, don't forget to check out this weeks coupon matchup at Making Cents out of Coupons:
http://www.thecouponcents.blogspot.com/
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Thoughtful Thursday
PRAYING GOD’S WORD
Beth Moore
Beth Moore
“ God has handed us two sticks of dynamite with which to demolish our stronghold: His Word and prayer. What is more powerful than two sticks of dynamite placed in separate locations? Two strapped together. Now, that’s what this book is all about: taking our two primary sticks of dynamite –prayer and the Word-strapping them together, and igniting them with faith in what God says He can do.”
“I have identified numerous Scriptures suggesting God’s thoughts on situations and reworded them into prayer. In praying scripture, I not only find myself in intimate communication with God, but my mind is being retrained, or renewed (Romans 12:2) to think His thought about my situation rather than mine”
These quotes are from the introduction to Beth Moore’s book Praying God’s Word. She list 14 strongholds and guides you through God’s word to pray scriptures and find freedom from theses strongholds.
We are currently in a sermon series on prayer. This is a book based on the Word to help guide us to pray God’s will for our lives.
Who's That Girl Wednesday
Tonya Bowers My interest in exercise started out as just a hobby. I had been a stay at home mom for several years and I just need something to do for myself. For Mother’s Day my husband bought me a gym membership at a local all women’s gym. I went everyday and spent a lot of time learning about exercise in its many forms. I took lots of aerobic classes and enjoyed it so much that I wanted to teach aerobics.
The instructor at the gym agreed to work with me and was willing to help me to become an instructor. With her assistance and encouragement I registered to take the Group Fitness Certification Course. When I passed I was able to begin teaching. I loved teaching at the gym and it gave me a lot of good experience. Then I set a goal to work at the RMH Wellness Center as an instructor. I thought that it would be more prestigious. If I would be able to teach there then I knew I was good. I applied and tried to get on there but was not successful. I did however go to a conference in Pennsylvania with a number of instructors from the Wellness Center. It was two days of non-stop classes of every exercise class imaginable. This opened up a whole new world to me. I was then hired by the wellness center as a Group Aerobics instructor. This led to being able to teach floor aerobics, step, water, sports conditioning, spinning and strength training. I loved it so much I wanted to pursue Personal Training. I studied and took the test for personal training and passed.
During my time at the Wellness Center, I went from Aerobics instructor to working on the strength and endurance floor to becoming Supervisor out on the floor, I became a trainer for a Live-Fit group working with them three times a week for weight loss. I led a group of women in a challenge program against other groups to see who could loose the most weight, inches, body fat overall as a group. My group won that challenge! I also began working at the Bridgewater Retirement Home in their gym. I truly loved teaching my class. They were always complimenting me and I became known as the Drill Instructor. I was well liked which for me was very confidence building and it really helped me come out of my shell and become someone that people admired and looked up to. I was getting quite the ego and really liked it.
Through all that though my most memorable and enjoyable experiences were working with the weight loss groups and working with individuals out on the floor. I truly loved being able to help people set goals, work towards those goals and accomplish their goals. To see where they started from and to watch the progress they made was unbelievable. It really touched me to see how I could help someone do that. To see their determination in some very tough workouts was a reward in itself. The other most memorable time was being on the floor working with the older adults. I made so many wonderful relationships with these individual. It made my day, to see them come in and I would just be an encourager, a listener, a supporter or whatever they needed. Each one of them was a very dear person to me.
Working in this kind of atmosphere though can be very dangerous. I was quickly falling into the trap of self-centeredness and pride. I wanted to be the best, look the best and fit into the lifestyle of fellow co-workers. They were all about having a good time. I was enjoying the attention that I was getting. I spent close to ten hours or more a day at the gym between all my duties and my own work out regiment. When I didn’t have to be there, I was still there. Needless to say things went from bad to worse. I was living a lie. I was completely blinded by my obsession and I was acting out in ways that a mother and wife should not act. I was tearing my family apart. I didn’t care about my family, actually only myself. I had unrealistic deceptive thoughts of becoming young and single again and having no responsibilities. During this time when it got really bad, I know God planted a couple from our church at the gym. Not knowing anything about what was going on they felt the strong need to pray for my husband and me.
Things finally came to a point where I needed and had to leave my job because of my actions in my personal life. This was extremely hard to do because I loved what I was doing. Deep down I loved helping people and being able to help make a difference in their lives. I stopped teaching and working out totally. I missed it very badly but finally came to realize that what I loved to do was over. I had always deep down hoped that maybe someday I could do it again. However I knew it could not be at the wellness center or any place like it. I did not want to put myself into that kind of atmosphere again.
About five years ago there was the idea of teaching an exercise class at the church. I can’t tell you how excited I was about the possibility of teaching again. I immediately jumped into this and began meeting with Anne Whitehouse about planning the class. We really tried to get this into action bit it never happened. I was very disappointed and finally decided to give up on the possibility of ever being able to teach again. I believed because of my previous actions that I deserved this…to never teach again. I put it out of my mind and didn’t think about it again.
About six months ago Dawn Hite sent me an email asking what I thought about teaching an exercise class at Church. The WOG Committee wanted to start an exercise class and wanted me to consider teaching the class. The excitement that I felt at that moment is indescribable. I immediately called Dawn and said Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!!! Praises to God I have been allowed to teach at church twice a week. I have my dedicated group of ladies who have such drive and determination and will power that it blesses me beyond belief. To be able to work with them has meant so much to me. Each of them has made amazing progress and I am so proud of them. I am so very thankful that I have been given this opportunity to work with them. God knew the timing wasn’t right before. He had these ladies hand picked for this specific time and my motives and desires this time are right before God.
My heart is to bless other women with the gift that I have been given by God. I want to offer a safe Godly place and atmosphere for women who need and want to do something for themselves and are intimidated or turned off by the idea of gyms. I want to provide a place where women can come and be themselves. Where they can do something they didn’t think they could do. I didn’t want the class to be a burden financially on anyone and didn’t want that to be a reason to keep some women from participating. I truly want to do this at no cost just to bless women. So I invite you to come and give it a try and be blessed with an amazing opportunity to help yourself physically, mentally and spiritually.
God has allowed my hope and dream to come alive. I have been given a second chance to do what I love. Thank you God for new beginnings and thank you God for bringing me to where I am today. Thank you God for knowing our hopes and dreams.
Thrifty Tuesday
FROZEN ISN'T ALWAYS CHEAPER When produce is in season, buying fresh is often a better deal.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING Many people get paid on the first of the month, so that's when the name-brand items go on sale. Prices on private-label and store brands drop at the end of the month when people have less cash to spend.
BUYING MIXES MAY BUST YOUR BUDGET They contain simple ingredients, so it's often easier to make baked goods from scratch.
BUY IN BULK don't just buy a pound of meat for a meat loaf- go for the less expensive family size. Us the extra meat loaf mixture to make meatballs, which you can freeze and you've got a cheap second meal.
From Save with Sandra
Ladies Home Journal June 2009
Don't forget to check out this weeks coupon matchup at The Coupon Cents:
http://www.thecouponcents.blogspot.com/
TIMING IS EVERYTHING Many people get paid on the first of the month, so that's when the name-brand items go on sale. Prices on private-label and store brands drop at the end of the month when people have less cash to spend.
BUYING MIXES MAY BUST YOUR BUDGET They contain simple ingredients, so it's often easier to make baked goods from scratch.
BUY IN BULK don't just buy a pound of meat for a meat loaf- go for the less expensive family size. Us the extra meat loaf mixture to make meatballs, which you can freeze and you've got a cheap second meal.
From Save with Sandra
Ladies Home Journal June 2009
Don't forget to check out this weeks coupon matchup at The Coupon Cents:
http://www.thecouponcents.blogspot.com/
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Women of Grace Fall Bible Study
SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER 2009
TUESDAYS (9/15/09 – 10/20/09)
10:00 am – 12:00 pm (Room 111/112)
THURSDAYS (9/17/09 – 10/22/09)
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm (Room 111/112)
SUNDAYS (every other) (9/20-11/29/09)
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm (Room 111/112)
"Anointed, Transformed & Redeemed”
featuring Kay Arthur, Beth Moore & Priscilla Shirer
Taped at the 2007 Deeper Still event, “Anointed, Transformed & Redeemed” explores the life of David. The messages are divided into three segments, two lessons each. Each segment focuses on the life of David at a different stage of his life: as a young man (by Priscilla Shirer), as a middle-aged man (by Beth Moore), and as a man facing the final third of his life (by Kay Arthur). You’ll laugh with them cry with them, and learn to love God with them.
Workbooks -$16.00 May be purchased at the Bible study or in the church office.
Thanks!
Robin Milstead
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