Recycling Old Books

I have spent the last couple of weeks thinking about new craft ideas, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money. So I looked no further than my bookshelf, where I had amassed a large collection of antique volumes that have never been read. I found a few that were not in very good shape, or had been colored on the inside by one of my sons (I have an awesome copy of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar that is now streaked with green crayon).

Using twine from the dollar store and some Native American style ribbon from the craft store, I made a cute little trinket for book lovers. I even glued a few ornaments on the front and spine. I absolutely love the end result.

Crock Pot Cash Saver: Sausage and Potato Soup

I've been budgeting a lot lately, and at the same time, trying to reprogram myself to eat at home. So I've been getting a little experimental lately, mostly to the chagrin of my husband and sons. But tonight's dinner was a pretty big hit.

I've always been a fan of the potato and sausage soups at the Italian restaurants, so I made my own, quick version, out of things I already had in the cabinet.

1 pound of breakfast sausage
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 can of cream of celery soup
2 cans of diced or sliced potatoes
1 can of veggie mix (carrot, peas, celery, potatoes)
1 purple onion
teaspoon of real minced garlic
1 chicken broth cube
2 tablespoons of butter
1 cup of milk
4 cups of water

First I sauteed the sausage and purple onion together. While it was cooking, I added the rest of the ingredients into the Crockpot. Then I added the sausage. Finally I turned the soup on high for two hours.