3 Ways To Work From Home In Your Spare Time

 It seems like the economy is on everyone's mind. The world wide struggle to make ends meet is constant.  Pandemic recovery and wars raging in foreign lands are breeding inflation, food shortages and fuel issues. The fear of being able to afford to make it through a long hard winter is real and can really get you down.

  There are ways to give your income a boost and help you get through. These 3 income makers can be added to your 9 to 5 job easily.

1.  Crafting. I have been doing a lot of this myself. Yes, money is tight, but making things from scrap wood has been getting me a few extra bucks to finish out the end of the month. Working with wood and paint has been a little like therapy for me and it allows me to release my creative side. It is something you can do in your spare time at your own pace where the only deadline is the one that you make. It doesn't have to be woodworking, it can be sewing, painting, drawing, etc. Create and keep it or open up an Etsy shop or Facebook sell it.

2. Cooking or Baking. This can also be therapeutic.  Some people enjoy a home cooked meal but simply don't have time. Hire out your helping hands, recipes and ingredients.  Ready made meals that are home-cooked beat store bought anytime. If you are making food for yourself, make an extra and offer it to someone who seems to be working nonstop and has no time to cook, for a small fee.

 

3. Find a small online or phone job that you can do in your off time. There are many small companies looking for people to handle their social media accounts or phone customer service. Do you like to talk? There are a lot of those jobs too!

Yeah, I know these don’t sound like much, but sometimes all you need is just a little extra for a little while. Give them a try, see if you like them. Who knows? You might be able to make a decent go of it. Or you may be able to get rid of some stress and help someone else out at the same time.

From My Kitchen: Vegan Brownies (Microwavable)

From My Kitchen: Vegan Brownies (Microwavable)

It’s that time of year when we start to look for ways to warm up when we come in from a blustery cold day. I like to warm up from the inside out. Okay, that sounds a little strange but hear me out. My favorite way is baking! What better way to warm up than by filling your home with the comforting sweet aroma of baked goods and the cozy chocolate taste of a nice hot brownie, or maybe an entire plate of brownies.

Yes, I’m a chocolate addict but even if I wasn’t my 15 year son would most certainly be willing to fill that role.  Brownies are a classic any time of the year but when the temps start to fall, my attention turns to those hot homemade treats fresh from the oven. In my case, my oven is on the fritz, so I have to turn to the microwave for my baking comforts.

In our household, we have switched to a more Plant-Based way of eating. This, however, does not stop us from indulging in the goodies occasionally. Brownies can be made with no animal products, thank goodness, and still turn out just as deliciously satisfying as the non plant-based version. So, without further ado, lets get to the baking.

It’s really very simple. In a small bowl, put 2 tablespoons of ground flax and 6 tablespoons of water. Stir them together and set them aside. In a mixing bowl, mix the dry ingredients, making sure to blend them together well. Next, add the wet ingredients and blend till smooth. Pour the mixture into a lightly sprayed microwave safe baking dish and microwave. Easy, huh? Okay, here is the full recipe.

Vegan Brownies (Microwavable)

1 1/2 Cups of All Purpose Flour

1/2 Cup of Cocoa Powder

1 teaspoon of Baking Powder

3/4 Cup of Sugar (I use Organic Raw Sugar)

2 Flax Eggs (See above preparation instructions)

1 Stick (or 1/2 cup) of a Plant-Based Butter melted (I used Country Crock)

1 Cup of Unsweetened Soy Milk

Lightly Sprinkle With Powdered Sugar (Optional)

In a small bowl, put 2 tablespoons of ground flax and 6 tablespoons of water. Stir them together and set them aside. In a mixing bowls, add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and sugar. Blend these together thoroughly. While on the lowest electric mixer speed, add flax egg mixture, milk, and melted butter. Mix till the batter is smooth. Spray the baking dish with a fine coat of cooking spray. Pour the mixture into the baking dish, making sure to spread it evenly. Microwave on high for 10 to 12 minutes or until firm. Do the toothpick or fork test if you would like. They should come out clean. Let cool for at least 5 minutes. Sprinkle with a light dusting of Powdered Sugar before serving.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. I know we did. Check back for more Plant-Based recipes coming soon.

A Quick Lunch For Those Hungry Kids

The kids are home for their summer vacation and you are running out of ideas for lunch! Relax, I got your back. Give this a try.

Tuna Melts

2 cans of Chunk Light Tuna in Water (drained)

5 tablespoons of Mayonnaise

3/4 cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

1 teaspoon Dill Weed

Salt and Pepper to taste

6 slices of Bread (White or Wheat)

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. In a bowl, combine Tuna (drained), Mayonnaise, Cheese, Dill Weed, Salt, and Pepper. Make sure that it is all thoroughly mixed together. Lay out Bread slices on an un-greased baking sheet. Spread a generous amount of the mixture on each slice so that the slice is covered. Bake in oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

My son loves these!

8 Tips To Keep Your Home Warm That Hardly Anyone Thinks Of

Here are 8 tips to conserve heat in your home.

1. Close your cupboards. Believe it or not, the cupboards underneath your sink may leak a lot of cold air. This is because they are not heated, usually up against outer walls, and may not be insulated very well. So keep them cupboards closed as much as possible.
2. Along with keeping your cupboards closed comes keeping unused areas in your home closed that don't have heating vents or have closed heating vents. Close your shower door. It is a space that does not need to be heated unless you are using it.
3. Open your curtains in the morning. Take advantage of the sun while it is up on those sunny days. Any amount of heat you can let in that is free is a good thing.
4. If you have an enclosed porch, don't forget to seal those windows as well. Lessening the amount of cold air that comes into the door when you open it saves a lot on your bills.
5. Plastic plugs for your outlets. Chances are that you have outlets in your home that you are not using. Plug them, especially true when your outlets are on walls that are on the outer frame of your home. Get the little plastic plug covers, they work great.
6. Finally, consider baking and when you are finished, turn off the oven but leave the door partially open. Let that heat out. (watch your little ones though). Also, consider using your Crock-Pot, it throws off quite a bit of heat and is on for a good portion of the day if you put it on low to cook a meal. It also takes up less electricity than your oven and furnace.
7. Put something at the bottom of your doors to stop drafts from coming in. Doors and windows are top cold air leak areas in your home. Even if it is just a rolled up rug or towel, after you close your doors tightly, overlap a rug on the bottom of the door. It can make a huge difference.
8. Use your deadbolts. A lot of times when you use the deadbolt locks on your outside doors, the door is pulled closer to the frame and seals better.

Try these tips out. I hope they save you some cash and keep you warmer in your home.