Rendering your own Lard

I know some will turn up there nose at this.  But Lard doesn't have transfats.

I always boil down bones from meats to make my own stock/broth.  I have always had fat left over.  What do you do with it.  Yesterday I had used pork stock, and the left over fat.  I used the fat instead of shortening in my biscuits.  My Goodness those were the best biscuits I have ever had.  My middle child asked if I had gone and got Popeye's biscuits for breakfast.  Well they didn't exactly taste like Popeyes but they were soft flakey and so yummy.  So I started thinking, maybe I can make my own lard because whole generations use lard.  Well, I decided to look online this morning and see what I could find.  And low and behold I found something.  How to render and can your own lard.  Yippee!  I read it and decided this needed to be shared.

http://www.howtobaker.com/techniques/insane-foodie-projects/how-to-render-and-can-your-own-lard/comment-page-1/#comment-41660

Also on the site, How to make your own sea salt and How to make Cream cheese without starter cultures.  This guy is Brilliant.  I have set this site as a favorite and I think those like minded will too.

Remember real fat from meats are okay it is transfat that is bad.  And Lard is 100% natural, pig fat and water are the ingredients.  Gee can you get more natural?

Antibacterial Everything Validation

You might remember back in May I blogged about soaps all being Antibacterial.  Well Yesterday a report came out that says that these soaps and agents are damaging.  The report says it messes with hormone levels, and is contributing to Antibiotic resistant strains of Bacteria.  An other thing the report states that I didn't even think about is that these antibacterial agents are laced with pesticides and we all know that is not a good thing for our bodies.  Gee I hate being right but I was.  

Since I still have a problem finding liquid hand soap that is not Antibacterial, Here is my recipe for homemade liquid Hand soap.

http://houkreativehomestead.blogspot.com/2013/05/antibacteral-everything-really.html

Homeschool lesson Budgeting.

I know a bunch of Public schools don't teach certain skills any longer due to teaching to the "No Child Left Behind" test and Common Core.  In my opinion not teaching these skills leave children ilequipped for the real world, and that is part of the problem with the economy.  This country has a negetive savings rate and our leaders have no clue how to do a budget and live by it.  Seriously this is a problem for our future.  So today I sat down and created a great (well I think it is great) worksheet for kids for Homeschooling.  I am sharing it below.  Now tomorrow, we are tackling Interest rates, Savings and Credit rates. I am including essay type questions with these.  And when you look at this, Yes it is a very tight budget with some hard choices for a reason.  

Monthly Budget Worksheet.

rent 450 

Car payment 
ins 150
cable/internet 50
phone 75
electric 150
Car gas 150
Savings
Food 250
Extras

Pay check



1. You are paid $8.50 an hour. You work 40 hours a week.
What is your gross pay before Taxes?___ a week. _____ a month. ___ a year.
2. Your tax rate is 10%. How much is Taken out a week ___? A month____? A Year_____?
3. You should save 10% of your take home pay every paycheck. How much should you save a month? _______
4. How much money have you saved at the end of the year? ______
5. What Percent of your paycheck goes to rent?_____
6. How much money do you have left over at the end of the month?______
7. You need to get a car. Can you afford it?_________ If yes how much of a payment can you afford a month?__________
8. The movies cost $10.25. Can you afford to go to the movies this month?_________
9. Your mom gave you $40 in grocery coupons. What are you going to use the extra money for? And Why?

If you can think of other questions to add leave me a comment.  We will be doing this lesson with different variables over and over again.

Antibacterial everything a revisit...

A while back I posted a blog about everything being antibacterial. Well I just saw this article this morning and it reinforced what my gut had told me.  I wanted to share it with you.  Please read and make your decisions for your family.

http://foods4thoughtblog.wordpress.com/2013/01/27/9-reasons-you-want-to-avoid-hand-sanitizers/

By the way, we don't use antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers at home, And Little Miss S is getting over her 4th cold ever and she turns 5 in a month and only one ever stomach bug and no flu ever.  How many families can say that of their almost 5 year old?

Chili didn't stretch as far.

So I wanted to see if I could stretch chili like I did the pot roast.  Well, it didn't work out that well.  We had Frito Chili pie 3 times, and then I made enchiladas and that lasted for 2 meals.  But that still leaves 5 meals for less than $20 for a family of 5. I am still happy with my results.  I haven't decided whether it will be roasted Chicken or pork roast this week.

Savings Match Up

There is a new service out there for those of you that want to coupon and save as much money as you can on groceries but are short on time or know how.  Savings Match Up will search out the best prices to price match and coupons for you for a small fee.

https://www.facebook.com/SavingsMatchUp
 or email at
savingsmatchup@gmail.com

The essence of Frugality. 8 meals out of one.

If you know me I am truly a tightwad.  I refuse to pay full price for anything at the grocery store or any store.  Since moving to the big city, I have found so many more places to price match for Walmart.  This is awesome since the cost of living is more expensive here.  I am going to explain here how I got the absolute more out of a deal. 

A couple of weeks ago, I found a sale on meat.  I ended up getting a beef roast for $1.49/lb.  That on its own is a really good deal but I stretched that roast out into 8 meals and not just left over pot roast.  

1. On Tuesday, I made pot roast and fresh homemade yeast rolls. 
2. Wednesday morning I packed Mr. J's lunch with Roast beef sliders using the left over yeast rolls. 
3. Wednesday night, for dinner we had Beef Stew. I used the left over broth from cooking the pot roast that I didn't use for Gravy and added red beans, split peas, frozen mixed veggies, cut the left over roast up into bit size pieces, rice, and barley, then added the left over gravy, carrots, potatoes, and peas from the pot roast served with homemade cornbread.  
4. Thursday night for dinner, I took the some of the stew from the night before and put it in a cast iron skillet topped with homemade biscuits for a rustic beef pot pie
5. Friday lunch, I had the the left over rustic pot pie, and J had a bowl of stew and left over cornbread.
6. Saturday Dinner, I made actual pie crust from scratch and made a real pot pie out of the left over stew, and 2 mini pot pies out of the left over crust and 2 ladles of the stew for J to take for lunch next week which would be meals 7 and 8.  

Price break down:

• 3.65lb Round roast             $6.89
• 4 russet potatoes                $0.40         (from a 10lb bag at 2.98)
• 1 lb carrots                        $0.50
• 1/2 package of frozen peas  $0.50
• 3 mushrooms                     $0.10          (from a package that I got for .69)
• various seasonings              $0.50 
• 1/4 bag red beans                $0.25
• 1/4 bag split peas                 $0.25
• 1 bag mixed veggies frozen   $1.00
• 1/2 c rice                             $0.25
• 1/4c pearled barley                $0.13
• Cornbread  ingredients           $0.20 ( equivalent of 2 jiffy mixes)
• Biscuit ingredients                 $0.15(equivalent of 1 bisquick mix)
• Pie crust ingredients              $0.35 
• Fresh yeast rolls ingredients   $1.75

Eight meals for $13.22.  And it is healthy with plenty of veggies.  This week I will see what I can do with Chili!  Enjoy!!!

Baked bean Casserole and Apple betty for dinner.

Good morning to you all.  Last night for dinner I made a dinner that is a favorite in my house.  Baked bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and for dessert Apple betty.  My bunch with the exception on M loves baked bean casserole.  He doesn't  like beans.  Both are easy recipes and they are below.  Mashed potato recipe isn't because just about everybody has their own recipe for that.

Baked bean Casserole
( family of 5)

• 1 lb hamburger meat
• 32 oz pork n beans (canned or fresh made) 
• 10 splashes of  worchestershire sauce
• 3 tbsp of minced onion
• 1/4 c brown sugar

Brown the hamburger meat in a large cast iron skillet,  then add the pork n beans with all the juice,  Worchestershire sauce, onions, and brown sugar stir and throw in the oven for about 20 minutes at 350.  

 Apple betty

• 1 quart of Apple pie filling (I use my canned apple pie filling if using store bought pie filling 2 cans)
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 c sugar
• 1/4 c brown sugar
• 1 tbsp  cinnamon 
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 stick of butter softened

Pour in your pie filling  then mix the other ingredients in another bowl then pour on top and bake at 350 for 45 minutes until the filling is bubbling up and the crust is browned.

Education fun!

Our middle child E(10) is having trouble with place values in math.  We just found this to make it fun to learn. This blog has some great ideas and links to printables to help.

http://eisforexplore.blogspot.com/2013/07/place-value-battleship.html

Moving your Preps.

Unexpectedly Mr. J got an awesome job offer for a job where he could be at home more often.  This by the way would be awesome, because for the last 9 years we have been parted for the majority of the year.  Well, there was one downside to the job.  We have to move to a big city.  There are 3 things that bother me about this.  We have to rent for the first year because of timing issues and the second living in a big city, and the third worry for me, I have to move my preps, stockpiles, and container garden.  OH MY!  Well, we will make it work, we always do.  So in case you find our self in a similar situation, here are a few tips to keep your business to your self, what others call OP SEC.

1. Label your boxes so you know what is in them and which room they go in with out giving away exactly what is in there.  I labeled all my boxes either kitchen or food.  Bathroom or towels for first aid and TP.

2. Find lots sturdy boxes. A local grocery store has been so nice and gives me boxes everyday.  These are great boxes, they are giving me boxes that the 1 gallon milk and water jugs go into.

3. Pack smart, while you want to get as much in a box as you can, it doesn't do you any good if you can't carry it out to the truck. And you really don't want to hurt your back.

4. Pack the truck sensibly.  The things you need first like Kitchen and Bathroom go in the truck last to you can get them off the truck for lunch and potty needs.   If you still have things in your deep freezer and refrigerator then they are the last things on the truck.

5. If you are moving your deep freezer and Refrigerator with food in them, Fill several 2 liter bottles of water and put them in the freezer.  They make huge chunks of ice to help keep things cold in the freezer and Fridge.  If the grid goes down later you can keep things cold for a little while with this trick and then you can drink the water. (By the way, 20 oz bottles filled with water and frozen are great for bug out bags too.  And you can use them in lunch boxes and coolers)

6. Remember not to stress to much.  And try to help the kids transition easier too.

Unusual supplies for first aid.

Whether you are a prepper or just a parent the need for a well stocked first aid kit is critical.  Case in point.  My daughter just fell off a barstool and jammed her index finger and bruised her cheek up.  So first things first I pulled a frozen sponge out of the freezer, and grabbed the first aid kit.  In my first aid kit I have unusual items.  Like craft sticks the wide tongue depressor type and the Popsicle type.  I buy them at the craft store because they are cheap there. I can use them for a wide variety of uses, like splinting fingers and toes, as well as a tongue depressor.  I have duct tape and white first aid I also have steri strips but that doesn't really apply here.  For my daughter's jammed finger I broke the wide craft stick in half and cover it in white first aid tape to prevent splinters and it pads it too. Then I taped her finger to it.  

Back to the sponge.  I take a cheap kitchen sponge, soak it in water and a little rubbing alcohol and put it in a freezer bag then into the freezer. It stays pliable and it doesn't leak.  It is a cleaner than a bag of peas or ice.  The alcohol makes it stay cold and pliable.  It works great for all kinds of ouchies.

Hot days and a portable AC

How many of you live in a hot area.  Here it was 90 degrees before 10am.  I also have a daughter that when she gets too hot her Blood Glucose skyrockets.  I worry about her if the power is out and it is summer.  This may be an option for her.   I don't usually like posting others work but this is worth it because this is genius!
How to Make your own cheap portable AC unit.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Cheap-Air-Conditioner/

First Aid kit

What is in your first aid kit.  Whether or not you are prepping or not, you should have a first aid kit at your home for emergencies.  And if you have kids, you will need it.  I was recently (this morning asked what my master list is.  Well here it is.

Band-Aids Eye Drops Eye pads Eye patch

Potassium iodine

Gloves

Alcohol Wipes

baby wipes

Pads

Tampons

Alcohol

Hydrogen peroxide

Witch hazel

Epson salt

bengay

blue emu

bar soap

anti bacterial soap

super glue

lemon drops

anise candy

Horehound

Mask

preparation H wipes

preparation H ointment

Hand warmers

Heat pad

hot water bottle

cold compresses

mentolatum (Vicks vapor rub)

Camphor oil

Lice shampoo

hand sanitizer

duct tape

First aid tape

Butterflies

Skin stapler

stapler remover

Staples

Raw honey

Solocaine

Whiskey

Vodka

Candles

Ace bandages

Othro boot

knee brace

ankle brace

wrist brace

popsicle sticks

tongue depressors

Gauze

Tefla pads

gauze pads

Qtips

Calamine lotion

Neosporin

Bractrim

Iodine

meat tenderizer

Tylenol

Aspirin Ibporphin

Scissors Lotramin Monistat Hydrocortisone Anti fungal Bandana Bottled water Sharpie Clean wash rags Some pennies Crutches Glucose meter Strips Glucose tablets Peppermint candy Ginger root tablets Motion sickness bracelets Peppermint tea Yarrow tea Chamomile tea Lavender Smelling salts Benedryl Allergy meds Epipen Scalpel Sutures Tweezers Hemostats Candle Oil lamp Flashlights Batteries Cotton Balls Baster Basting syringe Prescriptions for family Snake bite kit Tobacco Baking soda Olive oil I have been asked about the  meat tenderizer. Spider bites, bug bites ect.

Dilly beans (pickled green beans)

Last weekend at the farmers market, I picked up a bushel or so of green beans.  Miss S and I sat down and snapped them.  She loves snapping and shelling beans. She is such a little country girl.  Then it comes down to what are you going to make.  Well I have put up, 13 pints and a quart of green beans the regular way by cold packing and pressure canning, had a meal of green beans and potatoes from my garden, then I turned to dilly beans.  A friend turn me on to these a few years ago.  They are delish and easy for even a beginner as they are done by water bath canning.   You can water bath these because they are done in vinegar which the acid will prevent bacterial growth.  I looked through my canning books and recipes online out of curiosity.  There are tons of recipes listed but they are all the same and none of them are the same recipe I have so I thought I would share. They are a delicious little treat to eat just like pickles.

There are 2 recipes I have 1 for regular dilly beans and one for spicy.  I am posting both.  I hope you enjoy as much as we do.

 Dilly beans

• enough fresh green beans to fill a pint jar (snapped and washed) 
• 1 1/2 c vinegar 
• 1/4 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tbsp dill weed
• 1/4 tsp dill seed
• 1/4 tsp tumerac
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes

Put your vinegar in a large sauce pan to boil.  Boil your jar/s to sterilize them.  Then pack raw fresh snapped green beans in the jar.  And in the clove of garlic and all the seasonings.  Then carefully poor the vinegar in the jars leaving 1 inch of head space.  Lid and boil for 15 minutes in a water bath canner.
Leave sitting for at least a week to let the flavor develop properly.

Spicy Dilly beans

• enough fresh green beans to fill a pint jar (snapped and washed) 
• Half of a fresh japeleno pepper ( no seeds for a milder burn seeds for good burn)
• 1 1/2 c vinegar 
• 1/4 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tbsp dill weed
• 1/4 tsp dill seed
• 1/4 tsp tumerac
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tbsp red pepper flakes

Put your vinegar in a large sauce pan to boil.  Boil your jar/s to sterilize them.  Then pack raw fresh snapped green beans in the jar.  And in the clove of garlic and all the seasonings.  Then carefully poor the vinegar in the jars leaving 1 inch of head space.  Lid and boil for 15 minutes in a water bath canner.
Leave sitting for at least a week to let the flavor develop properly.  

I hope you like these dilly beans.  They are so Yummy! 

Oh Betty is looking good today!

So after the post yesterday, I made some strawberry pie filling.  Then this morning I made some strawberry betty.  Oh betty is so good.

Isn't she lovely?  And you know what, She is YUMMY!  Wanna know how to make it?  Well I guess I will share my recipe. If you twist my arm.

Strawberry Pie filling http://www.pickyourown.org/strawberrypiefilling.htm

To make it to Betty.

1/2 c sugar

3/4 c brown sugar

tsp salt

1/2 cup (2 sticks) butter

1 tbsp cinnimon

Mix and put over the top of your favorite pie filling.  bake 350 for 25 minutes

NOM NOM NOM

Would be delish with homemade vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!!

Warning Yummieness ahead.

I just put up a batch of Blackberry pie filling.  I put it up (canned it) instead of just making the cobbler I have  planned for it, because at our house momma's rule is, 1 dessert at a time.  I still have devils food cake with cream cheese frosting in the fridge.  Which reminds me, I want a piece of cake.  Hang on back in a few....

Okay I am back and happy.  That was good. But I digress.  I put up a quart of blackberry pie filling so I can make blackberry cobbler.  It is not necessarily my favorite cobbler, peach is my favorite.  But Hubby loves black berry and the kids love blackberries.  Well to be perfectly honest cobbler isn't exactly my favorite anyway.  I am a brown betty nut.  I may have to make this into blackberry brown betty instead.  I have taken my ex mother in-laws recipe for apple brown betty and created others like peach betty, pear betty,  and so on.  Blackberry betty might just be the ticket.

The recipe I used for my pie filling isn't mine so I don't have the recipe for you but I do have a link for you.  This is the recipe I used.

http://canningusasupplystore.com/recipes/index.php/making-and-canning-blackberry-pie-filling

And I bought my berries from a local farmer at the farmers market.  They are so juicy and yummy.  When I decide what I end up making I will post pictures and tell you how yummy it is.

Busy Busy Busy

Sorry about being absent.  I have been busy.  You know the end of school year and all.  And this morning I have been busy busy busy.  I have the canner going and the dehydrator as well as bottling up MRCs.  Now I am uber hungry for beans.  I guess beans and fried squash and cornbreadd for dinner tonight.  Yummy.  I will be back on with new recipes this week I have been working on a few new ones.

Antibacteral everything? Really!?

Watching the news recently, you may have noticed all the talk about super bugs and resistant strains of bacteria.  I don't know about you but that scares me.  There is a general agreement to the cause.  Over use of antibiotics is the cause of bacterial resistance.  Well Duh!  But in my humble opinion, over use of antibiotics are not the only cause.  Look around your house, how many products are "antibacterial"? Everything from hand sanitizer to dish soap and floor cleaner to laundry soap.   Really if you clean on a regular basis you don't need these products.  Also think about how many times one of your kids  gets a little cut or scrap and you run to the antibiotic ointment like Neosporin.  I am not saying never use Neosporin, but for a paper cut or a skinned knee soap and water are fine.  Seriously, think about what I  am saying.

I went looking at the store today for liquid hand soap.  I didn't like what I found.  Everything is antibacterial.  I don't want that, just washing hands is enough.  So I am embarking on a venture of making my own liquid hand soap.

Update:

I worked. and with 2 ingredients, and a nice low cost of about $0.50 a bottle.

Home made liquid hand soap

• 6 bars of soap of your choice
• 1 gallon of water

You will also need pump bottles and a gallon jug.

Shred the two bars of soap while the water is coming to a boil.  Then add the soap shreds to the  water.  Stir frequently and make sure it doesn't bottle over.  When all the soap has melted turn the heat down and let simmer for about 5 minutes.  Then let cool about 10 minutes before pouring in the gallon jug.  Then refill you hand soap bottles as needed.

If you make your own bars of soap they will work too as long as they aren't chunky.

4 Quick fix MRCs

I have 4 new recipes for long term storage for you.  Some quicker fix MRCs (meals ready to cook) from 3 pounds of Hamburger meat( the cheap 73%) and 2 lbs frozen vegetables with a few seasonings and noodles or rice thrown in.  These are great for the budget minded prepper/homesteader.  Meals for 6 at around $1.25 each.

I got my frozen vegetables on sale at a 10 for $10 sale at the local grocery store.  I get at least 10 when they have these sales.  Then I dehydrate the frozen vegetables for soups and meal mixes.  It is easy if you have a dehydrator, you just spread them out while still frozen in a single layer.  And run it until all vegetables are dry enough to pop when you crush them in your fingers or with a spoon.

To make hamburger rocks (dehydrate hamburger meat)

http://www.endtimesreport.com/hamburger_rocks.html

To make Cream of anything soup mix:

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/cream-of-anything-soup-mix.htm

The first one will remind you of an everyday staple of broke parents everyday.  SOS, ____ on a Shingle.  Well I made it have veggies and pasta and rice for the shingle.  I also added a bit of ranch flavor to it to help the taste.

Ranch SOS

• 1 cup Hamburger rocks (dehydrated hamburger meat)
• 3/4 c dehydrated mixed vegetables
• 1/4 c cream of anything soup mix
• 1 tbsp dried minced onion
• 1 tbsp dried parsley
• 1/3 c mini alphabet noodles (any small pasta will work)
• 1/2 c rice
• 1 tsp salt (can be omitted for diet)
• 1 tsp pepper (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp garlic
• 1 tbsp ranch dressing mix
• 1 tsp beef boullion

Layer ingredients in a bottle, mason jar, or mylar bag. Don't forget an oxygen absorber.
To make:
Bring 4-5 cups of water to a boil and dump ingredients in stir until done.

Vegetable Beef stoup

• 3/4 c hamburger rocks
• 1 cup dehydrated mixed vegetables
• 1/4 c minced onion
• 3/4 c mini alphabet noodles
• 1 tbsp parsley
• 1 tsp tomato boullion
• 1 tbsp beef boullion
• salt and pepper to taste (about a tsp each)

Layer ingredients in a bottle, mason jar, or mylar bag. Don't forget an oxygen absorber.
To make:
Bring 4-5 cups of water to a boil and dump ingredients in stir until done.

Creamy vegetable beef stoup

• 3/4 c hamburger rocks
• 1 cup dehydrated mixed vegetables
• 1/4 c minced onion
• 3/4 c mini alphabet noodles
• 1 tbsp parsley
• 1/4 c cream of anything soup
• 1 tbsp beef boullion
• salt and pepper to taste (about a tsp each)

Layer ingredients in a bottle, mason jar, or mylar bag. Don't forget an oxygen absorber.
To make:
Bring 4-5 cups of water to a boil and dump ingredients in stir until done.



Chicken Vegetable soup

• 1 1/4 cup dehydrated mixed vegetables
• 1/4 c minced onion
• 3/4 c mini alphabet noodles
• 1/4 c  parsley
• 1 tbsp Chicken boullion
• 1 tsp poultry seasoning
• 1/2 tsp sage
• salt and pepper to taste (about a tsp each)

Layer ingredients in a bottle, mason jar, or mylar bag. Don't forget an oxygen absorber.
To make:
Bring 4-5 cups of water to a boil and dump ingredients in stir until done.

These are easy, hearty, lower carb when divided up in to 5 or more servings, and good for you.

3 MRCs (meals ready to cook) with Potato flakes

When I find real potato flakes (pearls or buds) on sale I stock up.  I know I can repackage them for Long term storage.   Potatoes are a great hearty filling meal or side dish.  My family with the exception of Miss S loves them in all shapes and forms.  Miss S who can't really do with a bunch of potatoes to begin with hates them in all form.  She doesn't even like french fries.  Yep a little odd for a 4 yr old.  She would rather have fresh carrots and ranch dressing.  I am not complaining, at least she takes a healthy substitute right?  I thought I would share 3 of my recipes for long term storage MRCs.  

First:
Hearty Ranch Potatoes 

1 1/2 cup dried mashed potatoes
2 tablespoon Ranch dressing mix

1/2 cup Dry evaporated milk

2 tbsp dried chives

In a 20 oz bottle or a mason jarl, layer above ingredients.

to make

Hearty Ranch Potato Mix
1 cup  water
2 tablespoon butter or margarine

cheese 

bacon bits

In small saucepan over medium heat, place water and butter. Bring to a low simmer and pour over ingredients in mug. Mix well, cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff lightly with fork.

Second:

Fiesta Ranch Potatoes

1 1/2 cup dried mashed potatoes
1 package of Fiesta Ranch mix 

1/2 cup Dry evaporated milk

In a 20 oz bottle or a mason jarl, layer above ingredients.

to make

Fiesta Potato Mix
1 cup  water
2 tablespoon butter or margarine

Cheddar cheese 

In small saucepan over medium heat, place water and butter. Bring to a low simmer and pour over ingredients in mug. Mix well, cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff lightly with fork.

Third:

Hearty Potato Soup

1-3/4 cups instant potato flakes
1-1/2 cups dry milk powder
2 tablespoons chicken broth powder
2 teaspoons dried minced onion
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon turmeric
1-1/2 teaspoons seasoning salt (like Lawry’s)

Combine all ingredients, mixing well to make sure everything is combined.  A quart canning jar with a screw top lid makes a good storage container.

To use:  Put a 1/2 cup of the mix in a soup bowl.  Add 1 cup boiling water and stir to mix.

All 3 are simple and all 3 are yummy.