FAJITAS TO DIE FOR.......ALMOST

I love Mexican food!!!
But I can't always go to Los Margaritas for the best Mexican food in the world area. Limited funds prevent me from eating out much any more.

But I have found an alternative that will do for now.  Home made fajitas...YUM

The seasoning mix I found on the internet (Chickens in the Road) is very good, has low sodium and is good in lots of other dishes. I made the mix and stored it in a recycled jar and I never measure, I just dump some in until the color is good. Taste....then dump some more if needed.( Dump is truly a Southern term to be used in moderation.) Great on chicken, steak or ground beef.

I would really love to add peppers to the mix, but alas, no one in my family likes peppers but me. So I have to wait until I go to Los Margaritas for truly peppery, oniony fajitas.

Here is what you need to make awesome fajitas.

FAJITA MIX
2 Tbs cornstarch
4 tsp chili powder
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp sugar (optional, I don't add any)
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper(or more if you like HOT)
1/2 tsp cumin
Mix everything together with a fork in a glass bowl. Store in a baggie, jar or spice bottle.

This little jar holds the fajita mix X 3.

Average use is about 2 Tbs of mix. Use according to your taste.

Tonight I had a pack of thin cut round steak (on sale for $1.57) that I cut into 1/8 inch diameter strips and cut each strip about 1 1/2 inch long. Toss those in your skillet with a pinch of olive oil and as many onions as you like. And I wish I could toss in peppers now, but no one will eat them. Grrrrr.... Stir fry until meat and onions are done, about 7 to 8 minutes.

While the meat/onions are cooking chop up some lettuce, get out the tortillas, sour cream, cheese, salsa and anything else you like on your fajitas.

Almost ready

Warm up your tortillas and fill to the brim. Sometimes I make homemade tortillas, but I was in a hurry today and used store bought. I know, I gave myself 3 demerits for that.

Dig in.....I can have this cooked and ready to eat in less than 30 minutes. Not bad for a quick Mexican fix. Just as good with chicken as beef.

MAKING IT CONVENIENT

After working for almost 20 years at the same job and then losing it (in more ways than one) and having to find a new direction in life, I am all about fast and easy.

After several years in school to get some learnin' I have finally found a job(not THE perfect job, but A job). My work hours are much more stringent than when I was in school and I need to come up with something to eat FAST when I get home. Most of my days are 12pm to 6pm. But I never get to leave on time because after the last patient leaves there are still things to do to close up for the day.

Sometimes I get really energetic and make a casserole for dinner that my SweetiePie can pop it in the oven and it will be done when I get home. But, I am not a big fan of casseroles and I don't rely on that route more than once a week. Now, SweetiePie loves HamburgerHelper. Me, I can't stand that stuff. All preservatives and pasta and meat. I like the pasta but could do without the preservatives and meat.

I had been looking for an alternative for the Stuff when I came across a recipe from Chickens in the Road and tried it out. It turned out better than the original and I have used it to mix up lots of sauce packets to have on hand for a quick meal. I have even tried it with TVP and it came out just as good. My SweetiePie does not like TVP, will not eat TVP and will refuse to try anything with TVP. But, what he doesn't know will not hurt him. So, I have been slowly adding less meat and a dash or two of TVP. He hasn't commented on the dish any time I have use TVP. Since he is supposed to be on a low cholesterol diet, it couldn't hurt to cut back on red meat!!

SweetiePie has never asked what is in the one jar in my pantry that is not labeled. I'm not telling.

I have a stash of 5 different seasoning packets in my pantry that help make it convenient. I can mix all 5 up in a matter of minutes and I always have some kind of pasta on hand to finish up the recipe.

I mixed up the first batch of seasoning packets following the recipe exactly. After trying each one out I gradually added more or deleted some of the spices to better suit our tastes. The box in the back that you can't read is Corn Starch. A staple in most prepared mixes. These are much cheaper, taste better and are more healthy than prepared mixes.

So, if you are a Harried Housewife, like I am sometimes, try these mixes and see if you get to put your tired feet up a little sooner.

CHALLENGE UPDATE

OK folks I have to go it alone on this one.

Is ANYONE taking the challenge seriously?

Am I crazy to think that I am the only one concerned about our local economy? Look at all of the things that are made or grown locally and see if you can't help out our neighbors. We are all suffering, believe me, and we need to help thy neighbor.

I confessed to my transgressions at IKEA, and truly it made me feel better. Time for all of you to confess. I promise I won't hold it against you.

I have managed to avoid any foreign purchases at the $store. I have been to the $store but I have read the labels and found alternatives. Did you know that most of the bagged candy, the pre-wrapped hard candy, from the $store is made in Argentina, China and Canada? I had a scratchy throat and wanted some hard candy to keep in my pocket at work and I dashed into the $store. I could not find ANY hard candy that was made in USA.

I know kids love the toys from the $store, but in my experience the ones that my grandkids get just end up at the bottom of the toy bucket and are played with for about 10 minutes in the car on the way home. Well, except for the bugs and dinosaurs....they are perfect pocket size or perfect to slip under the pillow for a good scare.

Has my challenge made you rethink your purchases? I know it has me. I am trying to be very aware of everything I buy. Like everyone else, I need to make my dollar go as far as possible.

It would be nice to hear from some of you and maybe you could share tips. If you are from another country, that's ok too. You need to support YOUR own economy.

Is anyone willing to share tips?

HOW TO AVOID STICKER SHOCK......

Been to a big box store lately? Me neither. My heart can't take the sticker shock.

I have found that after shopping at various thrift stores for a number of years that I get the "dazed, deer in the headlights" look when I actually shop in a "real"store. How about you?

For example, at Wal-mart, you can get a pair of jeans, pants or shorts for the reasonable price of $19.99 and up.At Target, Kohls and other stores they start at about $24.99 and go up. Am I crazy because I don't want to spend $25 for a t-shirt?

At the thrift store you can get a pair of jeans or pants for $3.49 and shorts are $1.39. And as I have stated before, everything in both stores have touched someone else's bum. Learn how to use the washing machine people!! The previously stated prices are for our local Goodwill and some local  TS have prices lower than that. Sometimes I find pants for $3.49 and they are buy one get one free. Sometimes I find shorts and t-shirts 4 for $1.00.And TS are just like big box stores, they have something for everyone from high-end stuff to just plain junk. You just have to look.

I must admit that I have trouble finding clothing at a TS in my size. I don't like clothes that are tight and I don't really want polyester. So I have the option of finding something that I kinda like and can live with or going to the mall and spending my entire paycheck on one pair of pants and still kinda like them.

I had to update my wardrobe recently and had to spend ....gasp...retail because I needed scrubs that were a certain color and they needed to look professional. Not faded and worn, like jeans. Still, at retail price I searched for bargains. 

I have never been the type person that got rid of all of their clothes each season just because they were last years "look". But I am grateful to those of you out there that must renew your wardrobe each year. Please be kind and take it to my local Goodwill or TS and save me some money. I'll call with the address if you want.

Oh, and while you are donating please be sure to grab some of your gold jewelry, vintage collectables and high end kitchen gadgets. I just love a bargain and the prices on ebay have gone up so much that I need to buy some cheap stuff to sell.

Thank you ...thank you very much.(best Elvis voice)

THRIFTY TREASURES---?

Went on a road trip this week and somehow the car just kept stopping at thrift stores. Must be that pesky GPS....it has a mind of its own.

Charlotte is in a different Goodwill district than Raleigh and they do things different. The first difference is that there are rest rooms in the stores. I'm sure that all the moms with little kids appreciate that. My kids are all grown up but I remember what a pain it was to go to Goodwill and then have to leave to go to the bathroom.

Charlotte also has a Goodwill outlet where everything is $1.59 a pound and they have Value Village.

I have never seen grown ups act like they did at the Goodwill outlet. Every few minutes they bring out a new bin of things to grab. And I do mean grab. These bins are about four feet wide and10-12 feet long and piled high with all sorts of stuff. The bins are put in an area marked by a blue line on the floor. Toes must stay behind the blue line until the employee "releases" the bin. (Probably to save his life, because those women looked mean.) The staff tries to divide the clothes and household items but when everyone is grabbing anything and everything you can't tell what is going on. My daughter, Smarta**, said, "reminds me of feeding the chickens" and she is right on the money. Hey folks, act like civilized adults!!!

Value Village is a great place. They mark things down to sell and they have "grab bags" filled with all sorts of small stuff. Looks like they throw all the little stuff in a big tub and then just fill bags at random with things. The two Value Villages we visited were clean with wide aisles and lots of things to pick through. And....they mark stuff down. There are usually two color tags that are 50% and 75% off. Their grab bags are from 80 cents to $1.80 and filled to the brim. And did I mention, unlike the Goodwill in our area, Value Village marks stuff down.

Here are a few things I found

These toys were less than a dollar each.

This was a bag of Fisher Price Little People, a calf, a Weebles Wocking Horse and a Fisher Price Poodle. Love the poodle hair.

I think these are part of a playschool set. I need to research. The two horses are Beyer. Love the carrots and wheel barrow. Look at those cute little mice.

This was my favorite find of the week. A cassette carousel holder from the 70's. In perfect condition and every speck of dirt from the 70's until now is still covering the holder.

Three Ralph Marlin ties and silk and leather suspenders or braces. Somehow I don't see wearing a tie shaped like a fish.......but I guess there is a proper time for it.

And this set of Young Folks Library stories. I have nine and Myths and Legends are missing, to make a complete set of 10. Even if I don't find the missing volume the graphics are fantastic, from the early 50's. The price was right.

A Wilton Barbie Doll cake pan, never used not in box. A Chinese tea cup with lid. A beautiful deep orange, burnt sienna. And a hotsling, size three.

And finally, my only jewelry purchase. One is real, one is not.  The turquoise is fake and the gold leaf and pearl are real. I am a sucker for turquoise and I knew it wasn't real. I didn't find any markings on the gold leaf, but he pearl is real.

Hope everyone had good thrifting karma this weekend.

I am linking to Apron Thrift Girl's Monday Thrift Share.

A CHALLENGE TEST

I have the next few days free, as in no hours at work, lots of stuff to do and stressed to my eyeballs and beyond.

Daughter and I are headed to Charlotte tomorrow. She wants to go to IKEA and I am along for the ride. How can I not purchase anything at IKEA? It's such a cool place. I have the absolute best drying rack ever that I purchased at IKEA last year. It will hold a whole load of undies, including socks with room to spare and folds up so nice and neat. I use it in the winter when I can't put things on the line and we are at the bottom of the undies stack.

I will try to be good and not purchase anything that I can't live without. I mean, how can you go to IKEA and not purchase something?

If you ever get the chance to go to yuppie central, I mean IKEA, it will amaze you. Most of the things I just enjoy looking at, but they have some neat stuff.

And what is with all caps IKEA? Even the sign at the exit to IKEA, IKEA is all in caps. And of course IKEA is on IKEA Blvd.

My mantra is Made in the USA, Made in the USA...(Do you hear the Boss?)

****UPDATE****

Just returned from our little treck to IKEA.  Had great time and tried not to spend much money. That wasn't hard since I don't have much to spend.

First, I promised my daughter, Smarta**, that I would set the record straight. Yes, dear I know that IKEA is an anagram. For what I don't know. And yes, dear daughter, the road sign is not all in caps. Ikea Blvd. I was wrong, you were right. There, I have eaten my crow.


I ended up only purchasing three things:  dinnerware for the little Princess for Christmas, paper cupcake liners and NEW clothes pins.  I'm such an exciting person.....NOT.

 Where was all of this wonderfulness made? I really fell off the wagon this time. The children's dinner ware is made in Vietnam, the clothes pins are made in India and the cup cake liners are made in Japan.

If you need me I'll be sitting in the corner with my head down. I hurt it when I fell off the wagon.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

No, it's not my anniversary. It is my parents, or it would have been their 77th anniversary today.

I don't know how they did it. I guess they were from the era where you made things work and just lived with it. I never saw my parents fight, but they did have a few serious discussions with strong voices. Mom was the strong one and Dad was the quiet one, at least most of the time. Sometimes they reversed their roles, and somehow they knew just when it would work.

Dad has been gone since 1986 and Mom has been gone since 2005. I miss them every day. Mom called Dad Doodle sometimes and I never heard Dad call Mom anything but by her given name. I know they are back together, forever.

I just hope I can make things work like they did. And yes SweetiePie and I very rarely fight, but we do have lots of those serious discussions with strong voices.