A Minute With Molly and Midge!
GARDENING
March 15, 2012
In This Issue
From the Blog
Saving in the Garden
Molly Members
Grilled Cheese Sands
Garden Art
The Coupon Craze
Meet Cousin Midge!
Our Sponsors
Magazines


















Hi friends, 
   
Not too many days have passed since good ol'e Punxsutawney Phil looked out among the waiting crowd gathered before him, then looked down and saw . . . his shadow! Six more weeks of winter. So what do winter and gardening have to do with each other? Planning. Now is the perfect time to plan your spring garden.

While the days are still cold, Mr. Green and I sit by the fire with notebooks in hand and sketch out a garden design. Mr. Green loves to have each area planned out, with plants positioned where the sun shines just right. He even knows which vegetables grow well together. Like our home, I make it pretty; he makes it prosper.

I hope that while the days are still a bit cold and you have the luxury of being stuck indoors, you will join us in preparing for an abundant spring harvest. It will be here before we know it!


From the Blog

Econobusters is up and running. If you missed some posts, hop over and check them out. Here are a few samples just from the last week.

And this is just the last few days' worth of posts. Be sure to scroll back and get all caught up!
Saving in the Garden
Molly Members

 

Wow! My nap sure did me good. It is so beneficial to sit back and rest every once in a while, and there is no time like the cold days of winter to snuggle by the fire and dream. And dream I did.  

 

I am so glad I wrote it all down to bring to you over the next year. I am so excited about Molly Green Magazine, and I know you will be too! I cannot wait to get you started on your new subscription. You can read all about our new Member Program here. I can't wait to have you join us! 

 

molly member banner   
Super Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

 All this garden talk has me hungry for tomatoes. One of the best places to put tomato slices is in between the cheese and bread on my Super Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Mr. Green loves it, too. We hope you do!    

 

Ingredients:  

8 slices multi-grain bread  

8 slices Cheddar cheese  

1 large tomato, cut into 8 slices  

2 roasted red peppers, halved  

12 large leaves fresh basil (if available--try growing a plant indoors!)  

 

Directions:  

1. Coat both sides of the bread with whatever cooking spray you have on hand, or brush with oil.

 

2. Heat a large skillet to medium heat. Cook the bread on one side for about two minutes or until lightly toasted. You will need to do this in batches.   

 

3. Place four of the slices toasted side up on a serving platter. Assemble sandwiches with cheese, tomatoes, peppers, and basil. Place the other four slices toasted side down on top of the ingredients.  

 

4. Carefully place the sandwiches in the heated skillet and brown each side. Serve with a side salad.  

Serves 4.  

 

You can find this and many more delicious recipes in my cookbook In the Kitchen With Molly at the  Schoolhouse Store

Garden Art

 

One of my favorite things to do is to sit outside in the early morning hours and watch the birds as they wake up and start their day. This year, while Mr. Green is tilling the garden, I am going to make tea cup bird feeders for the birds that so brighten my day. I think they will be a great addition to the butterfly garden we are planning for the side of the house. Though we're still having some wet and windy days, in my heart spring has sprung!  

The Coupon Craze

 

Knowing how to play the coupon game can save you big on the things you use the most. But is it for you? Boy, have I got a treat for you! Molly Green Magazine launches in April. This inaugural issue is filled with couponing strategies and money-saving tips. 

  • Repurpose a cork board into "Coupon Central."
  • Feed a family of four to six for less than $20.
  • Teach your children to coupon.  
  • Create your own in-home spa.  
  • Discover home pet care for less.  
  • Learn how to shop the big-box stores.
  • And so much more!  

Here's a quote from a reader who got a sneak peek of the not-quite-finished version of my April Magazine, which will be in your member pages on April 1. 

 

"Molly Green Magazine is a great magazine for moms and families. After years of getting frustrated making hard boiled eggs, I finally know how to cool them to perfection.  The recipes look great (and really easy!). I can't wait to try them out with my family. But, I think my favorite part of Molly Green is the monthly to-do list. That will be a tremendous help to keep my house tidy, especially the parts of the house I don't clean day-to-day. We live in an older home, so I'm very excited to start the inspection schedule as well. Hopefully, it will help us stop any problems before they start!" ~Kayla

 

 
Cousin Midge

 

April also brings a new addition to the Molly family: Cousin Midge.  

 

Meet Molly's well-intentioned but often misguided cousin Midge as she tries to learn to play the coupon game. Misplaced and misused coupons are mangling Midge's modest efforts to save her family finances. But, Molly is here giving her sound advice sure to shoo Midge right on through the check out lane--that is, if she can avoid all the attention again!  

You can get to know Midge better right now through her weekly blog posts, every Thursday, and next week, she'll be joining us with her own newsletter column as well.

 

Happy saving!