Cucumber Raita Sauce

This is a versetile dish that could be used with many other dishes.

We used it in our Shrimp Curry dish and our Chicken Gyro lettuce wraps.

(Recipes to come)

I would recommend it for any spicy dishes or maybe a hearty soup.

What you will need:

1 Cup Plain Thick Greek Yogurt

1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Cucumber (peeled and deseeded)

1/2 Clove Garlic Minced

2 teaspoons Lemon Juice

1/2 teaspoon Salt

Mince a 1/2 a clove of garlic

Peel & deseed your cucumber

Finely chop 1/2 a cup

(Optional Step)

Place finely chopped cucumber between two paper towels

Press down to release liquid from cucumber

You might have to use your knife to scrap the bits of cucumber off the towel.

2 Teaspoons fresh squeezed lemon juice

Make sure you purchase GREEK Yogurt! Any brand will do,

but it MUST be Greek Yogurt or it will not taste right.

Mix the cucumber, garlic, salt and yogurt until well blended.

Of course take a small taste to make sure it wont poison anyone. :o)

The Finished Product - Refrigerate at least 1 hour or longer before serving.

We like to make it the day before and let the flavors blend

and rest overnight in the frig.

If you try this recipe please let me know. I would love to know your thoughts and how you used it in your dish. :o)

My Saturday Shopping Spree

I had a itching to go to a old farm auction and find lots of prim goodies like the good old days when lived in western PA. Although driving 6 hours to attend a good farm auction was out of the question. So I searched auctionzip.com and found zero in auctions around here for this weekend, which was not surprising in the least.

Hubby was not in the mood to go Thrifting with me so I decided to go alone which was a first for me. Although I had wished all day I had someone to go with me, I still enjoyed myself.

First off I got lost to a prim shop called Gathered Treasures I had never been too. I finally found it, but I was very disappointed with high prices. I bought a couple small things for crafting that was in the 50% of bin. Then made my way to Habitat for Humanity Restore Shop.

I found a rusty old rake handle and a brand new bag of moss. I was near my house so I stopped for lunch rather then eating out, so I could have more to spend later on of course. :)

I then stopped at 2 over prices garage sales without buying anything, then I spotted a new Junk shop. Wow was it filled with goodies. I wish I had money to buy them all. For those of you wondering about a junk shop. It is where the owner has so much stuff packed into a space, you have to dig and sort through things on your own to find your treasures. I assure you these are full of treasures, you just have to find them. I had my favorite junk shop in a small town in PA ran by a 80year old man that I swear had been collecting things all of his 80 years. Oh the goodies I had found in there.

Alright back to my thrifting expedition, at my new junk shop I found a cute child chair painted red and all weathered and prim. So darn cute for $4 I could not pass it up.

Then I headed to 2 thrift stores where I hit the jackpot. I left each thrift store with a cart load of goodies. I was hoping to find some items to redo and make up. But I ended up even better finding items that were good just as they were or items that needed only a little extras or prim accents added to them.

The second store is directly across from the 1st. I think people thought I was nuts when I eyed 2 ladder back chairs and about ran through the store to get them. lol

I was in heaven when the pair, yes the pair was $5.00 Woo Hoo!

I of course loaded them bad boys into my cart with all of my other small treasures.

I had a very large shelf that I had to hold in one hand while I pushed my overflowing cart to the front with the other hand. It was a sight to see. lol

I ended the day spending less then $50.

Alright here are all my goodies.

Also if anyone knows how to get permanent marker off painted metal please let me know.

One thift store is known for marking their items with what I thought was a grease pen.

Today I found it is actually permanent marker. I need to find a remedy to remove it otherwise return it for a refund since it is right on the front.

This shelf needs cleaned up, but is already distressed and ready to hang.

I could not resist this welcome sign. I had hubby hang it by the garage entrance.

Here is my darling little childs chair.

It might join my kids sleigh and ice skates for Christmas.

This Happy Spring sign still had its original price tag.

Going to grunge and prim this up for spring.

Very creative person made this, I am not sure how it ended up a thrift store.

This twig tree needs some extra grapevine

added to it and some white lights and it will be perfect.

Blue basket and rusty tin snowman candle holder.

One of my favorites, a mini buttock basket

Frugal Friday

For those that know me, know that I am about as frugal as they come. I am proud to say that I learned how to pinch two pennies together and make a quarter from my grandpa Dave. Oh how I love that man, and will never forget all that he taught me. (Rest in peace papa dave)

So I thought that it would start a weekly thread about being frugal, and how I am stretching my dollar or pennies as it is most of the time. Somethings I am sure some things are common knowledge but a refresher course is always nice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Before we get to my frugal friday post, I have to tell you I am as happy as a dog with two sticks.

I have lost 7lb in 2 weeks!

My dh and I have completely changed our lives two weeks ago. We have cut out all

complex carbs, fast food, fats (olive oil, butter, etc) and raised our protein levels.

I have to say it has not been a easy task, but we are doing it.

Do not confuse this with the atkins diet, as that is a loose some pounds quick

so you can fit into that slimming dress next month diet while eating all the bacon you want.

What we are doing is a LIFE change! I did not realize how much CRAP was put into all the processed and boxed foods that we buy. We make everything from scratch, eat fruit & veggies, Use coconut oil for cooking, and make some very yummy dishes.

It must be working, since I have lost 7lbs in the last 2 weeks, without exercising.

Dont worry I am not trying to sell you some weight loss program, there is none. haha

Just changing our life by what we eat and how we cook it.

I will share some tested and tried, yum factor recipes with you all in the future.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Frugal Friday

Being tight on money like everyone else these days, I seem to find it harder and harder to even afford birthday cards and gifts. So I went rummaging through my closet and found a cute brand new candle in a little jar that I picked up at garage sale for .05cents this summer.

Then I rummaged through my scrapbook paper scraps and stamp sets

and other crafting items. Mind you I was doing this at 2am, so it did not turn out as good as I had hoped for, but here is the little card and candle set I made for my best friend for her Birthday yesterday. Cost me less then $2 for supplies to make.

Disclaimer: Please do not do craft projects at 2am, otherwise you will make a big oops mistake like mine and write upside down on the inside of the card like I did.

I used the same stamp from a set of 4 stamps I purchased a while back to make this,

as well as the other Birthday cards in a earlier post.

Stamps are a great way to maximize your dollar since you can use them over and over again.

Be sure to check our your local dollar store art supply isle, that is where I have found several cute stamps in the past.