Favorites: The Complete Tightwad

Posted on Wednesday 6 September 2006 at 8:33 AM in Household Projects - Post Comment

A blast from the past, this post was originally posted last year on September 7, 2005 on my old blog.  Our financial situation did change...for the better PRAISE GOD!  God is so faithful...our God is an AWESOME God!

"And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine." Genesis 41:35-36

Our financial situation may be changing in the next 6 months, not for the better. As keeper of my home I am stepping up to the plate to tighten our belts and make sure we are prepared for whatever happens. My husband likened our situation to the story of Joseph, and now much like Joseph I'm getting ready to store up during the good months so that we will not be struggling through our impending "famine" months.

I've pulled out The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn to re-read. It's the best $5 I've ever spent on Ebay. :) While all the tips she presents in her book may not apply, the book itself can be a good read to give you ideas and put you into the frugal mind set. Even though it's not a Christian-based book, it's one of the books I think every good home keeper should have.

So I'll pray about our situation, trusting that the Lord's plan for our life is much better than anything we can come up with. And I will start preparing my household for the potential famine.

Here is a recipe from The Complete Tightwad Gazette for Bean-Bacon Chowder:

6 slices bacon, cut up
1 cup chopped onion
2 tbsp flour
3 cups milk
2 medium potatoes, peeled
1/4 tsp crushed dried thyme
1 22-oz jar of baked beans or substitue homemade
1/4 cup snipped parsley

Cook bacon and onion in a saucepan until bacon is lightly browned and onion is tender. Blend in flour. Add milk; cook and stir until bubbly. Dice potatoes; add with thyme, 1 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp. pepper. Cover and simmer 12 to 15 minutes or till the potatoes are done. Stir in beans and heat through. Top with parsley. Serves six.