Tuesday, April 30, 2019

How to Save Time in the Kitchen

Want to save time in the kitchen? In this podcast episode, Lisa Burns shares her tried and true tips for feeding your family yummy meals without spending a lot of time in the kitchen. Missed previous episodes of The Crystal Paine show? You can listen ...

Intentional finance. Intentional family. Intentional business.

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How to Save Time in the Kitchen

Want to save time in the kitchen? In this podcast episode, Lisa Burns shares her tried and true tips for feeding your family yummy meals without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

Missed previous episodes of The Crystal Paine show? You can listen to them here.


(Listen to the episode for the story behind this photo!)

Today’s episode of The Crystal Paine show not only includes details on our whirlwind trip to Kansas, my thoughts on buying markdowns, a book I loved recently, a new book Jesse is reading, but it also includes a very practical interview with Lisa Burns from This Pilgrim Life.

Lisa Burns Cookbook

I first connected with today’s guest, Lisa Burns, when she signed up for my four-week blog coaching class. It’s been so fun to watch her blog and social media take off since that class — and she’s now known as an Instant Pot expert and she has a cookbook coming out in May!

As she admits in our conversation, she didn’t know how to cook until after she got married (and didn’t even eat vegetables as a child). As a busy mom of five herself, she’s full of wisdom and tips for getting delicious meals on the table even when your schedule is packed.

We talk about menu-planning, why an Instant Pot might change your life, her favorite quick and easy recipes, some fascinating behind-the-scenes details of her cookbook photo shoot (including how she make 76 recipes in a few days in her Instant Pots!!) Plus, of course, two books she’s reading and what’s saving her life.

In This Podcast Episode:

[03:20] – Jesse and I are in the middle of a kind of packed travel season. We just got back from a quick trip to visit family in Kansas for Easter. While we were in Kansas, we took the kids to Spangles.

[06:01] – This episode might have a LOT of food talk… maybe it was because Jesse and I were both hungry when we recorded it! We talk about how Kroger markdowns save us so much money and provide an endless stream of variety in our diet.

[08:58] – Jesse finished his book and started a new one!! Tune in to listen to what he started reading + a book I finished last week.

[13:14] – Lisa talks about her family and her journey through learning to cook from scratch and how she didn’t even know how to cook when she got married.

[17:19] – I ask Lisa to share some of her best strategies for menu-planning and cooking from scratch when her schedule is packed.

[21:51] – Lisa chats about why she’s so passionate about the Instant Pot, even though she calls herself a “kitchen minimalist.” She also tells us about some of her favorite recipes from her cookbook and blog — yum! (By the way, if you think the Instant Pot is just for cooking soup or rice or main dishes, guess again. Lisa makes cake, bread dough, yogurt and more in her Instant Pot!)

[26:22] – How many Instant Pots does Lisa have, and how many did she use when making 76 recipes in just a few days for the photo shoot for her cookbook?

[27:37] – Lisa shares about two books she’s reading and finding insightful + she shares what’s saving her life right now.

Podcast Links and Resources:

How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show

The podcast is available on iTunesAndroidStitcher, and Spotify. You can listen online through the direct player we’ll include in the show notes of each episode. OR, a much easier way to listen is by subscribing to the podcast through a free podcast app on your phone. (Find instructions for how to subscribe to a podcast here.)

Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission — at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

    
 

   
   
   

Monday, April 29, 2019

Generous Giving on a Tight Budget and more...

Do you have a heart for generous giving but you're on a really tight budget? These are some really creative ways to give generously — even when you're barely squeaking by financially! {Looking for more ways to give generously? Check out these Five ...

Intentional finance. Intentional family. Intentional business.

Generous Giving on a Tight Budget

Do you have a heart for generous giving but you’re on a really tight budget? These are some really creative ways to give generously — even when you’re barely squeaking by financially!

{Looking for more ways to give generously? Check out these Five Ways to Give on a Budget, How to Give Generously Through Couponing, and our 31 Days of Giving series!}

Generous Giving on a Tight Budget

The following reader tip was submitted from Krystal of Rebel With A Good Cause

Generous giving is a value my husband and I are intentional about making a priority — but sometimes our budget feels like the biggest road block to embracing this value.

We’ve had to get creative about giving within the restraints of our budget. If you can relate to this struggle, here are 3 tips that allow us to give generously without breaking the bank.

1. Take an extra dish to a potluck.

I learned this from an elderly lady in our church as a fun way to be anonymously generous.

It’s always nice when there are extra dishes to choose from at potluck dinners. And if you want to reach out and invite someone else to join your meal, you can easily show that you have them covered. It can be as easy as a small box of brownies.

2. Share a meal.

It always cost less to make a little more food than to go out to eat.

This has been a great option with my parents as they have helped us in many ways over the years but they would not consider excepting any payment.

3. Hand Me Down Clothes.

Having been a recipient of this gift, I can not tell you how grateful I was to receive these clothes for my kids. These freebie clothes helped us save money and time.

Hand-me-down clothing are a great way to give to others without spending anything extra.

There are so many ways to be generous. These are just a few of the ways we can give a little bit more without noticing any extra strain on our budget.

What are YOUR favorite ways to give more on a tight budget?

Krystal is a mother, wife, nurse and blogger at Rebel With A Good Cause.

photo source

    
 

Gretchen’s $73 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

Dillons #1

1 box Baby Rice Rusks – Marked down to $1.69

1 bag YumEarth Organic Pops – Marked down to $1.49

1 box Simple Truth Cheddar Kangaroos – Marked down to $1.89

3 boxes Kellogg’s Fruit Snacks – $1.99 each, used 3 $1/1 e-coupons AND 3 $0.50/1 Ibotta rebates – $0.49 each after coupons and rebates

2 Kroger Peanut Butter – $1.49 each, used 2 $0.50/1 e-coupons – $0.99 each after e-coupons

1 box Yoplait Go-Gurt – Marked down to $2.39

Total after rebates: $10.91

Dillons #2

1 tub Raisins – Marked down to $1.49

1 Kroger Ice Cream – $2.50

5 pkg Kroger Cheese – $0.99 each with e-coupon (no longer available)

1 pkg Psst Crackers – $0.79

1 Romaine Lettuce – $1.69

1 pkg Flour – $1.59

1 pkg Red Grapes – $1.75

3 bags Produce – Marked down to $0.99 each

2.11 lbs Bananas – $1.03

Total: $18.76

Aldi

2 Half & Half – $1.59 each

1 pkg Monterey Jack Cheese – $1.99

2 pkg Flour Tortillas – $1.19 each

3 pkg Frozen Veggies – $0.79 each

1 gallon Milk – $1.49

1 pkg Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99

1 Cantaloupe – $0.99

1 pint Grape Tomatoes – $1.29

1 BBQ Sauce – $0.95

1 Ketchup – $1.25

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup – $0.49

1 Applesauce – $1.89

1 lb Butter – $2.88

1 lb Oven Roasted Turkey Breast – $3.99

1 bag Tortilla Chips – $1.69

2 Cucumbers – $0.99 each

1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.99

1 pkg Crackers – $1.49

1 Yeast Packets – $0.89

1 pkg Cream Cheese – $1.29

1 box Granola Bars – $1.59

2 dozen Eggs – $0.58 each

Total: $43.60

Not pictured: My mom also gave us several pounds of ground beef and steak.

Total for all groceries: $73.27

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cereal, Eggs, Toast, Fruit

Lunches

Turkey Sandwiches, Cheese Quesadillas, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Fruit/Cheese/Crackers, Tossed Salad, Leftovers

Dinners

Grilled Steaks (from my mom), Bread, Steamed Peas

Company for dinner (They are bringing Sanchos & Rice and I’m providing chips and salsa and also making an Apple Crisp.)

Pancakes, Eggs, Fruit Salad

Lifegroup potluck dinner (I’m bringing Chicken Taquitos and Chocolate Chip Cookies.)

Chicken & Veggies in the Crockpot, Rolls

Taco Bar

Cheese Pizza, Breaksticks, Tossed Salad