February 01, 2006
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In this Issue:
Featured Articles:Cre.dit Card Payment Increases
Are they pushing people into ba.nkruptcy? - by Cheryl Johnson
Recipes
Ground Beef and Rice (Rice-a-Roni style)
Homemade Onion Soup Mix
Homemade Seasoned Salt
Saving tips
- Grocery Savings Tips
- Home Decorating Tips
- Cleaning and Laundry Tips
- Reader's Tips
Quotable Quote
Economy is half the battle of life. It is not so hard to earn mon.ey as to spend it well. - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
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Featured Articles
Cre.dit Card Payment Increases
While I believe that the new credit card payment guidelines are a step forward in getting consumer d.ebt under control, I wonder if it isn't too little, too late.
For years credit card companies have bombarded consumers with introductory offers, balance transfer specials, and numerous other "helpful" credit options. They have made it easier and easier for the sub-prime borrower to acquire credit. Keeping minimum payments low, made credit advances achievable to many families who in previous years would have no chance of acquiring substantial credit limits.
In effect, they have misled many consumers into believing they had the financial means to manage credit. Many in fact, did not actually have the means to pay off the high balances that these companies entrusted them with. Now, when consumer debt is out of control, the government and credit card companies "come to the rescue" with bankruptcy reform and new payment guidelines. While the new laws and new payment guidelines may be a great prevention tool for future debtors, it is doubtful that it will "rescue" current debtors who have gotten in way over their financial means. It may just be the last straw for many....
-- Read the Entire Article Including, my own experience when I called a bank for "help."
Recipes
Ground Beef and Rice (Rice-A-Roni-style)
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup rice
8 ounces spaghetti, broken into1-inch pieces
4 Tablespoons margarine*
4 cups broth, or water and bouillon
salt and pepper
Brown beef and onion in a large skillet.
Drain (and rinse if desired).
Brown rice and spaghetti in margarine. Add in beef,Onion, rice, and broth. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, or until rice and spaghetti are fully cooked. Season with salt and pepper.
*You can use no-stick spray and reduce the margarine, or substitute olive oil.
Substituting your own homemade mixes is another great way to stretch your food dollars. Shop around for best prices on spices and keep a good supply on hand to make your favorite spice blends, seasonings, and soup mixes.
Onion Soup Mix
3/4 cup instant minced onion
4 teaspoons onion powder
1/3 cup beef-flavored bouillon powder
1/4 teaspoon celery seed, crushed
1/4 teaspoon sugar
Mix all ingredients, and store in an airtight container. To use, add 2 Tablespoons mix to 1 cup boiling water. Or, 2 Tablespoons for 1 package called for in other recipes. (Stronger than store bought mixes, so you use less)
Seasoned Salt
8 Tablespoons Salt
3 Tablespoons Pepper
2 Tablespoons Paprika
1/2 Tablespoon Onion Powder
1/2 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
Mix all ingredients in a bowl, and store in an airtight container (recycle an empty store bought spice shaker) -
Need ideas for dinner?
The Supreme Bean Recipe Booklet
Egg Recipes
E-Cookbooks Library
Money Saving Tips
Send in Your Readers Tips
Grocery Savings
Brown beef over medium heat. If the recipe calls for them, you can also add onion or garlic at this time. Then use a slotted spoon to place the beef "crumbles" on a large plate lined with three layers of paper towel. Blot the top of the beef with a paper towel. Let sit one minute, blotting with an additional paper towel. (..the Beef Council advises you to use paper towels that are white and nonrecycled.)
Then, place the beef in a strainer or colander and pour about 1 quart of hot tap water over it, stirring while the water pours. Drain for five minutes and use in recipe.
The fat reduction accomplished by this method is impressive. A 3-ounce cooked portion of 70% lean ground beef has 18 grams of fat when fried in the form of a patty. But the same portion, fried into crumbles and then blotted and rinsed, has just 6.1 grams of fat.
The Beef Council reports that less than 10 percent of the meat's protein, iron, vitamin B12, and zinc are lost in the process. - Minnesota Beef Council as cited by Amy Dacyczyn (The Complete Tightwad Gazette)
Remember that it doesn't take much ground beef to make a satisfying addition to a casserole.
Home Decorating
Cleaning and Laundry Tips
Reader's Tips
Lisa - Los Angeles,Cal
Sabrina - Arlington, Texas
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