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I got married 21 years ago and it never ceases to amaze me at how different families celebrate the same holiday so differently.  When I was growing up presents were handed out and then we just tore into them (as my son says) like a pack of rottweilers.  Ripping, tearing and throwing paper everywhere.  Boxes, bows and ribbons strewn all over the floor.  People all talking at once, holding up their new sweater or shirt.  Kids running up to parents and grandparents, aunt or uncle to say thank you for the one thing they got that they really wanted!  In other words complete and udder chaos.  I loved it!!!!
Now let’s compare my husband’s family.  Everyone sits on a chair and another person hands out the presents.  You are to wait until everyone has their presents.  Then when everyone has their presents you wait and open them one person at a time.  It was such a shock to be told when I was handed a package “Don’t open it until its your turn, and oh yeah put your paper in here.”
After so many years of marriage I do have to say that I still like my families way the best but when we are with his family we do it their way.  The holidays are about compromise,  sharing traditions no matter how different they may be from the way you were raised and creating new traditions.
So what are your traditions in your family?

Some people turn their nose up at Facebook, saying that its too anonymous and puts another level between people meeting face to face.  Well, I beg to differ.  I’ve only been on Facebook for about a year but have met some amazing people even though at first its not face to face.
But through playing Facebook games and chatting online you get to know someone and its a bonus when you get to meet them in person.  That’s just what happened with us the other night.  The Christmas season is a great time for a get together and that’s what one of our Facebook/Farmville friends did.  We felt so welcomed in their warm and beautifully decorated home where we chatted and drank and ate.  So, thanks Dale and Jim for extending your hand to us!  It was great to meet you (face to face) and I feel like we have made friends for a long time to come.
And to those you are less than enthusiastic about Facebook and the virtual world, maybe you should extend your hand to those you “see” everyday and make them feel welcomed and share real time with them.  As for my Facebook friends: Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and I’ll keep up with you via your status updates!

The other night we decided to go out to eat — the whole family.  So the one place I thought of that where everyone can get what they want is Shirley’s.  Shirley’s is in Saratoga Springs near the West Side.  Its a small, hole in the wall but has a good variety on the menu and the prices are reasonable.
I always like to get roast turkey when I go to a diner and Shirley’s offers their dinners in two sizes.  The mini size is perfect for lunch but since we were there for dinner I decided to get the larger portion, which came with salad, rolls and then a huge platter of turkey, choice of potato (I got mashed with gravy) and vegetable.  A lot of food for the money and delicious!
My husband got roast pork also with dressing, potato and salad.  Our son got meatloaf — a huge plate with two large pieces, salad and he also chose mashed potatoes.  Our daughter got chicken strips with applesauce and her choice of potato was also mashed although she could have gotten fries or baked potato. My mother in law decided on the fish and chips but substituted mac an cheese.  She enjoyed the fish, it was light and fried just right. The mac and cheese she said was delicious and rich.
My husband and his mom each topped their meal off with one of Shirley’s many homemade pies.
The meal was hot and served quickly.  Although Shirley’s isn’t a fancy place its homey and comfortable and the wait staff is always friendly and accommodating.
If you’re looking for a hearty, inexpensive meal — either lunch or dinner (they serve breakfast too!) give Shirley’s a try.
Next time:
Packing tips!

This is my first post for my blog.  I wanted to create a blog where I could write about things that are important to me — like product reviews,  stretching a buck, restaurant reviews and maybe some other money saving tips; day trips and other travel ideas and really anything else that be happen in my life.  I had a blog about a year ago on saratoga.com that dealt with day trips and hidden gems in the Saratoga Springs area of Upstate NY.  I enjoyed writing the blog but it was very limiting.  This blog will have more of an expanded scope and will deal with a wider array of issues and thoughts and opinions.  So I hope that you will read it, like it and comment on it.  You can even comment if you don’t like it!
Here goes the first attempt:  A recipe that stretches a buck.
After a recent trip to the grocery store and noticing that food prices have gone up yet again I came up with this recipe that takes one roll of breakfast sausage and stretches it into 2 meals.
The first recipe is a breakfast that will make 4 servings.
Biscuits and Gravy
Ingredients:
1/2 roll of breakfast sausage
2 cups of milk
2 tablespoons of flour
extra oil if the sausage is lean
1 roll of ready to bake biscuits
Heat oven to 350 degrees to bake off biscuits
To make gravy:  Brown 1/2 of the roll of sausage in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Break the meat up as it cooks into very small pieces.  Cook until the meat is cooked through and brown.  If the sausage is especially lean add a little oil.  Once the meat is throughly cooked sprinkle in the flour and let it cook for about a minute or so.  Then add the milk and season with salt and pepper.  Let the gravy cook until thick.  Serve over warm biscuits.  To make this a more complete breakfast, scramble a couple eggs per person.

The next recipe is a dinner recipe that makes 6 servings.
Sausage and Penne Pasta

1/2 roll of breakfast sausage
olive oil
small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
Dried red pepper flakes to taste
1 large can of crushed tomatoes with basil, oregano and garlic
1 pound penne pasta
Heat a large pot of water to cook the pasta in.  Once the water boils season it with salt.  In a large skillet cook the 1/2 roll of sausage from the previous recipe.  Add chopped onion and cook until onion is soft, about 5 minutes.  Then add garlic and seasonings, cooking another few minutes.  Add tomatoes and let the sauce simmer while the pasta cooks.  Once the pasta is done then drain and toss it with the sauce.
Serve this with a simple salad and some garlic bread.

There you have it!  2 meals from one roll of breakfast sausage.  Economical since the sausage cost $2.68 instead of spending $4.68 for one package of Italian sausage.  So give it a try. I think you will be happy!