When I checked in with Collin this week, he reported that things were going well, he as plenty of food and not going hungry – LOL. He does want to experiment with some new recipes etc. but doesn’t want to take too many chances and have to throw food away. He has decided that he can live on simple foods as described here for six months. By then he will have paid his one and only school loan in full and will have a bit more margin in his budget. This is what it’s about my friends! His goal is to be totally debt free, and be generous with his resources for others. His current job is a living donation – working for a small private christian college.  Below is how he is reaching out to others, sharing life, and blessing despite his tight budget.

My friends have been coming over, and always want something more than water. Most drinks are too expensive, and they want something sweet that will compliment what they have been eating. So here are two drinks that I have come up with that can be made fairly quickly and in bulk:

Sweet Tea – about $0.50 per Gallon

10 Normal Black Tea Bags

1 Gallon of Water

1 Cup of Sugar

1 Large pot (holds more than a gallon)

1 Gallon-sized drink container (easy to pour in helps)

Bring water to boil, then add sugar and hang tea bags from the side of the pot. Stir gently till sugar is dissolved, and let sit for 20-30 min, depending on taste preference. Remove tea bags and pour into drink container. Let cool before serving.

Arnold Palmer (Half Sweet Tea/Half Lemonade) – About $0.60 per Gallon

1 Cup Powdered Lemonade mix

Same as above, except add lemonade mix after tea has brewed for 20-30 min. Stir till dissolved, then remove tea bags, pour into container and chill. Shake before serving.

These guys always want snacks too, so I am thinking about making a snack corner for them. I will take my old mini fridge and fill it with cleaned plastic water bottles that I have cleaned (Jeff only drinks bottled water, so I have a ton of empty water bottles). I did a blind taste test with some of the guys, and they all said mine tasted better than the Arizona Arnold Palmer Tea. l would put a box on top with Ramen Noodles and popcorn and possibly chips.

All of these guys except for one are students, and they call me Daddy Collin, and if I can offer a place where they can relax and eat and cook on a fire, I should make sure that happens. They aren’t home for the summer, so I can easily use my apartment as a home for them where they can hang out as a group.

I also plan on buying a large pot, a medium pot, a larger skillet, dry measuring cups, a liquid measuring cup, and a wooden stir spoon this weekend. I will hit up thrift stores first, then see what I can get at WalMart. I also will price different storage container options.

Place roast in slow roasting pot. Add one jar of leftover pickle juice and two garlic cloves. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Remove meat from pot and allow to cool. Shred beef, and mix with chili sauce or barbecue sauce.  Serve on a bun. Any leftovers can be frozen for up to three months.

Next week we will discuss local farmer’s market possibilities as well as his shopping spree for cooking utensils.