I must sound like a giddy child, LOL! I am still so excited about having our groceries delivered. I did really great this time! All food, paper goods, toiletries, diapers and cleaning supplies for $230. Food was $150 of that and I won't shop again for 2 more weeks.
Tonight I made a beef stir fry for dinner. My 5 yo loves vegetables (praise God!). I made the sauce myself, it was really good.
Stir Fry Teriyaki Sauce
1/4 c. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. corn starch
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp rice wine vinegar
dash black pepper
Combine all ingredients. Stir fry lean beef or chicken strips in small amount of oil. Add frozen Japanese Mixture vegetables. Pour in sauce and cover a few moments to allow vegetables to steam. Serve over rice.
Jul 16, 2005
Jul 9, 2005
Menus
I made menus for the next pay period, now just need to make grocery list and assess costs.
Menus as follows...
July 16 - tostadas, refried beans, spanish rice
July 17 - spaghetti, broccoli-cauliflower
July 18 - butter beans, corn bread, greens
July 19 - chili and mac and cheese
July 20 - leftovers
July 21 - bbq chicken, broiled potatos, broccoli mix
July 22 - curry chicken and rice, broccoli
July 23 - pepper steak and rice, mixed vegetables
July 24 - pinto beans, corn bread, rice
July 25 - leftovers
July 26 - enchiladas, refried beans, spanish rice
July 27 - baked beans, hot dogs, mac and cheese
July 28 - northern beans, rice, corn bread
July 29 - leftovers
July 30 - ground beef and rice casserole, vegetables
July 31 - soba noodles with beef and vegetables, rice
Menus as follows...
July 16 - tostadas, refried beans, spanish rice
July 17 - spaghetti, broccoli-cauliflower
July 18 - butter beans, corn bread, greens
July 19 - chili and mac and cheese
July 20 - leftovers
July 21 - bbq chicken, broiled potatos, broccoli mix
July 22 - curry chicken and rice, broccoli
July 23 - pepper steak and rice, mixed vegetables
July 24 - pinto beans, corn bread, rice
July 25 - leftovers
July 26 - enchiladas, refried beans, spanish rice
July 27 - baked beans, hot dogs, mac and cheese
July 28 - northern beans, rice, corn bread
July 29 - leftovers
July 30 - ground beef and rice casserole, vegetables
July 31 - soba noodles with beef and vegetables, rice
Yummy!
The sherbet recipe came out great! I made a couple changes and updated the entry from yesterday to reflect the changes. Now I'm going to work on a new grocery list. I'm starting to realize that the kids drink more juice and milk than they used to, so I am going to have to make some adjustments for that this time around. This two week period I should be ahead by two days as far as dinners are concerned. So the money I save on those meals will be spend on "stock-ups". Whatever is on sale that we use regularly I will buy. More to follow...
Jul 8, 2005
Dinner and recipe ideas
Tonight's dinner came out really well. I made a hash with gravy, a pretty basic recipe I came up with but one of my family's favorites.
Hash With Gravy
6 potatoes, cubes
1 lb. ground beef
1 bell pepper, diced
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp seasoned salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
for the gravy
2 c. water
1 1/2 Tbsp. corn starch
2 tsp. beef bullion granules
1/2 tsp browning sauce
1/2 tsp Worshteshire sauce
Brown potatoes, ground beef, bell pepper and spices in a skillet over medium-high heat. Turn down to medium and cover so potatoes will fully soften. While meal cooks, prepare gravy. In a saucepan add water and corn starch. DO NOT TURN ON HEAT YET. Whisk well until corn starch dissolves. Add remaining ingredients and whisk well. Turn heat on to high. Whisk constantly until gravy starts to bubble thicken. Remove from heat and stir well.
Check potatoes and ground beef and stir often until fully cooked. When done remove from heat and stir in gravy.
I wanted to make ice cream for the kids tomorrow but don't really have all the ingredients needed. So, as not to make another trip to the grocery store I thought I'd improvise and create a sherbet recipe. I feel this one will work well although I have not tried it yet. I made it up based on several recipes I looked at. Will see how it turns out.
Fruity Sherbet
1 c. sugar
1 c. milk
1 can evaporated milk
1 pkg. Kool-Aid (lemon, mango, orange, tangerine, strawberry)
1/3 pkg. gelatin
1 large can crushed pineapple
Blend ingredients in blender then transfer to ice cream freezer and freeze as directed.
Hash With Gravy
6 potatoes, cubes
1 lb. ground beef
1 bell pepper, diced
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp seasoned salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
for the gravy
2 c. water
1 1/2 Tbsp. corn starch
2 tsp. beef bullion granules
1/2 tsp browning sauce
1/2 tsp Worshteshire sauce
Brown potatoes, ground beef, bell pepper and spices in a skillet over medium-high heat. Turn down to medium and cover so potatoes will fully soften. While meal cooks, prepare gravy. In a saucepan add water and corn starch. DO NOT TURN ON HEAT YET. Whisk well until corn starch dissolves. Add remaining ingredients and whisk well. Turn heat on to high. Whisk constantly until gravy starts to bubble thicken. Remove from heat and stir well.
Check potatoes and ground beef and stir often until fully cooked. When done remove from heat and stir in gravy.
I wanted to make ice cream for the kids tomorrow but don't really have all the ingredients needed. So, as not to make another trip to the grocery store I thought I'd improvise and create a sherbet recipe. I feel this one will work well although I have not tried it yet. I made it up based on several recipes I looked at. Will see how it turns out.
Fruity Sherbet
1 c. sugar
1 c. milk
1 can evaporated milk
1 pkg. Kool-Aid (lemon, mango, orange, tangerine, strawberry)
1/3 pkg. gelatin
1 large can crushed pineapple
Blend ingredients in blender then transfer to ice cream freezer and freeze as directed.
Jul 6, 2005
How Do You Do It???
Whenever I tell people I can buy a months worth of groceries for $300 (or $200 in a pinch) they ask HOW do you do THAT?? Well, it's really not as hard as it sounds. The key is organization and planning. Here are a few tips for newbies to the world of frugal grocery shopping.
Stock up! Your first grocery trip on your road to saving is actually to spend a little more than you are used to. Items that are staples in your pantry should be purchased in large quantity if possible. These include items such as flour, sugar, pasta, dry beans, rice, oatmeal, canned goods, etc.
Stock up! Your first grocery trip on your road to saving is actually to spend a little more than you are used to. Items that are staples in your pantry should be purchased in large quantity if possible. These include items such as flour, sugar, pasta, dry beans, rice, oatmeal, canned goods, etc.
Plan your menus. Before you head off to the grocery store, make a list of the meals you plan to prepare. If you shop every two weeks make a list of two weeks worth of meals. Take a look at what you have on hand and what is on sale in the weekly circulars from the grocery stores before you plan your meals.
Use Coupons. If there is a particular item you always purchase look for coupons. If an item is on sale and you have a coupon then buy that item. Don't use a coupon just because something is new or trendy, only use coupons if they will save you money.
Buy Store Brands. It's true that all the ads on TV and in magazines make the name brand items look much more glamorous, but often times the store brands are just as good if not better. Actually, many store brands are manufactured by the same name brand companies we all know and recognize.
Shop on sale days. Our local grocer offers specials every Thursday. They range from a one day meat sale to a Pillsbury brand sale. No matter what the theme is for the week, the prices are always great!
Don't buy convenience foods. It's so easy to load up a grocery cart with frozen meals, instant boxed dinners, individual serving sized juices, pre-packaged lunches and junk food. However, not only do these items offer little nutritional value for your family, they are a huge waste of money. Which is why I almost always...
Cook from scratch! The more you can prepare meals from scratch, the more money you will save. Home cooked meals are also higher in nutrition and you know exactly what you are eating, unlike many pre-made meals. From scratch doesn't have to mean a lot of time and clean up. A simple meal like baked or grilled chicken, steamed vegetables and rice can be prepared in under 30 minutes with minimal clean up.
Freeze Things. I always try to prepare a double batch any time I cook anything. It saves me time and effort for future meals and on days that things get really hectic I don't have to worry about what is for dinner. I also freeze bread ends to make my own bread crumbs (which I store in the freezer), leftovers to use for future lunches, bananas for breads and muffins and anything else that might otherwise get thrown out and wasted.
Keep a Price Book. When you shop take a few moments to jot down what you buy and how much it costs. Make a master list of items and the prices (include prices from each store that you shop). When you take the time to do this you will know if it's worth it to go to a different store to stock up on a sale item. It is also a great way to calculate how much you will spend before you get to the grocery store. I actually use a software called Home Cookin to keep my Price Book.
Only take what you plan to spend. If you use a debit card, take your draw from the ATM in the amount you plan to spend for groceries. Then leave your card AT HOME. That way you won't be tempted to spend more than you have budgeted.
Eat Your Leftovers. Have beans leftover, make refried beans. Stale bread can be made into bread pudding. Chicken from last night's dinner becomes chicken salad. Leftover pasta sauce can top a pizza. Don't prepare a new meal until all the leftovers are gone.
Forget the junk food. My theory is if you don't buy it then you can't eat it. We RARELY buy sodas, chips, cookies, ice cream, pastries or any other junk food. I give my kids healthy snacks and we drink a lot of water. I do make them Kool Aid, lemonade and tea but they don't miss the junk food because they are not used to having it.
By following these simple guidelines I have been able to keep our budget down and our nutrition level optimum. It's really not that difficult once you give it a try!
Jul 5, 2005
Small Appliances
With the warm weather I have been really making use of all my kitchen gadgets. Anything to keep the heat outdoors! My favorite items to make use of for the summer are my crock pot, contact roaster and steamer. Often times the items my family wants to eat require stove top cooking which of course lets off quite a bit of heat. I'm also always looking for new recipes to make with these gadgets. I have a Rival 5-Quart Crock Pot, a George Foreman Contact Cooker
and a Black & Decker Flavor Scenter Steamer and Rice Cooker.
I find the contact roaster to be very versatile. When I first saw it on an infomercial, I thought it would be great to prepare meats in. Now I find it works for much more than that. I do wish I had purchased the larger model. This particular one will fit a 4-5 lb. chicken. It can be used to roast any meat including beef roast, whole or cut up chicken, a breast of turkey, etc. I did a little research on-line and found that the roaster temperature is 350 degrees. I got to thinking that anything that I could cook in my stove at 350 could probably be cooked in the roaster. I used the pan that came with it to make brownies, coffee cakes and corn bread. I also use it to roast potatoes and to steam hot dogs. It's a great little machine to have in the kitchen.
My absolute favorite way to cook any time of year, especially in the summer, is in the crock pot. I love barbecue sandwiches but since we don't have a grill I prepare barbecued meats like brisket, hot dogs and chicken in the crock pot. I've been experimenting with baking in the crock pot and have made a pudding cake, rice pudding and banana bread. The all turned out moist and delicious.
I got a steamer for Christmas from my sister after the one I had quit working. This new one is great! It has two tiers so I can make meats and vegetables at the same time. Steamers also work great for cooking tamales or steamed breads or puddings, you just have to do a little trial and error to figure out how long to cook them. I always make my Spanish Rice or Rice Pilaf in the steamer as well.
and a Black & Decker Flavor Scenter Steamer and Rice Cooker.I find the contact roaster to be very versatile. When I first saw it on an infomercial, I thought it would be great to prepare meats in. Now I find it works for much more than that. I do wish I had purchased the larger model. This particular one will fit a 4-5 lb. chicken. It can be used to roast any meat including beef roast, whole or cut up chicken, a breast of turkey, etc. I did a little research on-line and found that the roaster temperature is 350 degrees. I got to thinking that anything that I could cook in my stove at 350 could probably be cooked in the roaster. I used the pan that came with it to make brownies, coffee cakes and corn bread. I also use it to roast potatoes and to steam hot dogs. It's a great little machine to have in the kitchen.
My absolute favorite way to cook any time of year, especially in the summer, is in the crock pot. I love barbecue sandwiches but since we don't have a grill I prepare barbecued meats like brisket, hot dogs and chicken in the crock pot. I've been experimenting with baking in the crock pot and have made a pudding cake, rice pudding and banana bread. The all turned out moist and delicious.
I got a steamer for Christmas from my sister after the one I had quit working. This new one is great! It has two tiers so I can make meats and vegetables at the same time. Steamers also work great for cooking tamales or steamed breads or puddings, you just have to do a little trial and error to figure out how long to cook them. I always make my Spanish Rice or Rice Pilaf in the steamer as well.
Jul 4, 2005
Soul Food
Tonight we're having pinto beans, collard greens and corn bread. This is one of my husband's favorite meals.
Pinto Beans
2 lbs dry pinto beans
4 slices turkey bacon
Sort and rinse beans. You can soak them overnight and then drain them. Put beans in a large pot. Cover with water to about 2 inches above the beans. (If you don't have time to soak them just rinse them well and put them directly in the pot, add water and bring to a boil and allow to boil for 10 minutes then turn down to a simmer.) Allow to cook on medium with cover on for about two hours. Check every so often to make sure there's enough water in the pot and give a quick stir. When the beans are soft enough to mash with a spoon add about 2 Tbsp. salt. Stir well and taste to make sure they are salted to your liking, if not add more salt. Allow to simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes to allow the juices to thicken.
Collard Greens
3-4 bunches collard greens
3 slices turkey bacon or a smoked turkey wing
2 c. water
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
pinch of red pepper flakes
vinegar (for serving)
Wash greens well in cold water. Drain water and one at a time, cut the stem from each leaf. Also cut off any discolored or shriveled areas of the leaf itself. roll a few leaves together and cut into about 2 inch pieces. Press greens down into a cooking pot and add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil then turn down to a simmer. Cover and allow to cook about 1 hour. You will need to check them often and stir because the greens will wilt. Drizzle with a little vinegar before serving.
Corn Bread
1 c. flour
1 c. corn meal (yellow or white)
1 Tbsp. baking powder
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
3 Tbsp. cooking oil
1 c. buttermilk (or regular milk)
whisk together dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and mix well. Pour into a 8 x 8 in. pan. bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
There are lots more great soul food recipes on one of my favorite websites from the movie Soul Food.
Jul 3, 2005
Stocking Up
Today on the way home from church we had to stop by the grocery store to buy some diapers. When I walked in I heard someone from the meat department on the intercom saying there were whole chickens on sale for 49 cents/lb. Of course I couldn't pass up that deal! I am way ahead on the grocery budget so I figured I'd use the remainder to hold back for a great "stock up" deal such as this. I grabbed a chicken and two packages of ground beef that were also on sale for $1.99/lb. At home I stuck the chicken in the freezer for later and made meatballs from the ground beef. I'd say we will get 3 - 4 meals out of those. I had about 2 1/2 lbs. of meat. My meatball recipe is a simple one and freezes well.
Meatballs
2 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 c. onion, minced
1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
2/3 c. bread crumbs
2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 stalks celery, minced
2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp. Parsley
squeeze of lemon juice
Mix all ingredients well with your hands. Using a cookie scooper or soup spoon, scoop out equal amounts of meat mixture. Form into balls with your hands or on a work surface. When finished shaping, roll lightly in flour. Bake in a lightly greased pan for 30 - 35 minutes at 375 degrees. Drain off fat before serving. These can be frozen then thawed and baked as directed.
Tomorrow since were having beans, greens and con bread I'll make an extra pan of corn bread for the freezer. I'm also going to make pancakes for breakfast and will do a double batch so I can freeze leftovers for breakfast later this week. Pancakes are so easy to make from scratch and the kids love them!
Pancakes
1 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. mace
1 1/2 c. milk
1 egg
1/4 c. oil
Whisk together all dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and whisk until well blended. Add oil to a griddle or skillet and heat to medium-high. Pour 1/3 c. batter per pancake, cooking one at a time unless you have a large griddle. When the middle looks bubbly and the edges are dry looking it's time to flip them. Stack cooked pancakes on a plate in the stove or microwave to keep them warm until time to sit down to eat.
Meatballs
2 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 c. onion, minced
1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
2/3 c. bread crumbs
2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 stalks celery, minced
2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp. Parsley
squeeze of lemon juice
Mix all ingredients well with your hands. Using a cookie scooper or soup spoon, scoop out equal amounts of meat mixture. Form into balls with your hands or on a work surface. When finished shaping, roll lightly in flour. Bake in a lightly greased pan for 30 - 35 minutes at 375 degrees. Drain off fat before serving. These can be frozen then thawed and baked as directed.
Tomorrow since were having beans, greens and con bread I'll make an extra pan of corn bread for the freezer. I'm also going to make pancakes for breakfast and will do a double batch so I can freeze leftovers for breakfast later this week. Pancakes are so easy to make from scratch and the kids love them!
Pancakes
1 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. mace
1 1/2 c. milk
1 egg
1/4 c. oil
Whisk together all dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and whisk until well blended. Add oil to a griddle or skillet and heat to medium-high. Pour 1/3 c. batter per pancake, cooking one at a time unless you have a large griddle. When the middle looks bubbly and the edges are dry looking it's time to flip them. Stack cooked pancakes on a plate in the stove or microwave to keep them warm until time to sit down to eat.
Jul 2, 2005
Deals and Dinner
The Safeway experience went well! Everything was delivered in a timely manner and there were even a couple freebies thrown in for the kids. I will be watching for coupons and ordering from them again as soon as I find a coupon for a free delivery. I did have to pick up a few things at our local market as well. There were several great deals there this weekend. I got three packages of margarine (the soft kind with two little tubs in a pack) for 50 cents each. Oscar Meyer hot dogs are normally around $4.25 per package and those were on sale for $2. I also got a family package of boneless skinless chicken breasts that was normally $14.50 for $5. That was a great deal!
Tonight for dinner we had spaghetti. I had planned to use a sauce I found on sale but my hubby insisted in Ragu so now I have an extra jar of sauce. I might just make a pizza for the kids next week. This is my recipe for pizza crust, it's really easy and good and you don't have to let it rise forever!
Pizza Crust
1 cup warm water
pinch sugar
1 package dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups flour
Stir hot water, sugar and dry yeast until blended. Add oil, salt and flour. (I use a food processor). Stir until mixture forms a soft ball. Let rest 5 minutes. Roll out on a pizza stone or cookie sheet sprinkled with corn meal. Top with your favorite pizza sauce and toppings. Bake 450* 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
I've really been trying to find a good source for organic foods. I know that the processed things we eat are not that good for us, but the prices of organic are just too high for our budget. I found a great website, Wellness Grocer which looks like it has some good prices. I plan to order some things in the near future. I also found a great source for imported foods with prices lower than many grocery stores - Parthenon.com. Lots of great sites out there, it just takes time to find them :)
Tonight for dinner we had spaghetti. I had planned to use a sauce I found on sale but my hubby insisted in Ragu so now I have an extra jar of sauce. I might just make a pizza for the kids next week. This is my recipe for pizza crust, it's really easy and good and you don't have to let it rise forever!
Pizza Crust
1 cup warm water
pinch sugar
1 package dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups flour
Stir hot water, sugar and dry yeast until blended. Add oil, salt and flour. (I use a food processor). Stir until mixture forms a soft ball. Let rest 5 minutes. Roll out on a pizza stone or cookie sheet sprinkled with corn meal. Top with your favorite pizza sauce and toppings. Bake 450* 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
I've really been trying to find a good source for organic foods. I know that the processed things we eat are not that good for us, but the prices of organic are just too high for our budget. I found a great website, Wellness Grocer which looks like it has some good prices. I plan to order some things in the near future. I also found a great source for imported foods with prices lower than many grocery stores - Parthenon.com. Lots of great sites out there, it just takes time to find them :)
Jul 1, 2005
Woo Hoo!
I called the Safeway hotline to confirm and they DO deliver in our area! So tomorrow morning our groceries will arrive without any trips out into the heat. What a blessing! My total was around $70 and I have about $30 worth of items to buy at our neighborhood store (lower prices) so it looks like this two week period will be around $100 total for us for groceries.
I found a great site that lists all sorts of on-line coupon codes - Coupon Craze. To top off my day of great deals, I called Penzey's to see if I would receive the discount I was expecting from a recent catalog promotion they offered. They said yes, $6.50 has been credited to my account so now I am going to do a little shopping for some spices I really need.
Speaking of great deals, have you seen the sale amazon.com is having on cookware? They have some of the really nice, high end cookware for about 50-60% off! I am going to buy a nice sauce panI have really been needing. It's $17.99 right now and normally sells for $101.00. What a steal!
I'm working on a cookbook right now. I have so many great recipes that I have created I decided to compile them all. I am planning to have it done before the end of the summer.
I'm going to cook a big crock pot of beans this weekend to freeze. I found a great article on how to do it at Frugal-Folks-Life (about half way down the page).
I'm really focusing on getting ahead right now. Today I plan to make 2 quiche to freeze. I had some Swiss cheese left from sandwiches we had last week so I will pull that out of the freezer and with some turkey bacon should make two nice quiche. Here's the recipe I use:
Quiche
1 uncooked pie crust (homemade or frozen or refrigerated)
4 eggs
1 and 1/2 c. milk or creme
1 c. shredded cheese (cheddar, Swiss or similar type)
1/2 lb. meat (bacon or ham works well)
1/4 c. diced onion or scallions
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
dash nutmeg
Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Into pie crust put cheese, meat and onions. Pour in egg mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to one hour or until golden and center is set. (You can test the center by using a wooden skewer or a sharp knife).
I found a great site that lists all sorts of on-line coupon codes - Coupon Craze. To top off my day of great deals, I called Penzey's to see if I would receive the discount I was expecting from a recent catalog promotion they offered. They said yes, $6.50 has been credited to my account so now I am going to do a little shopping for some spices I really need.
Speaking of great deals, have you seen the sale amazon.com is having on cookware? They have some of the really nice, high end cookware for about 50-60% off! I am going to buy a nice sauce pan
I have really been needing. It's $17.99 right now and normally sells for $101.00. What a steal!I'm working on a cookbook right now. I have so many great recipes that I have created I decided to compile them all. I am planning to have it done before the end of the summer.
I'm going to cook a big crock pot of beans this weekend to freeze. I found a great article on how to do it at Frugal-Folks-Life (about half way down the page).
I'm really focusing on getting ahead right now. Today I plan to make 2 quiche to freeze. I had some Swiss cheese left from sandwiches we had last week so I will pull that out of the freezer and with some turkey bacon should make two nice quiche. Here's the recipe I use:
Quiche
1 uncooked pie crust (homemade or frozen or refrigerated)
4 eggs
1 and 1/2 c. milk or creme
1 c. shredded cheese (cheddar, Swiss or similar type)
1/2 lb. meat (bacon or ham works well)
1/4 c. diced onion or scallions
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
dash nutmeg
Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Into pie crust put cheese, meat and onions. Pour in egg mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to one hour or until golden and center is set. (You can test the center by using a wooden skewer or a sharp knife).
Jun 30, 2005
Making The Most of What You Have
With all the great sales on meat right now (4th of July weekend), I have really got to thinking about freezer cooking. Although I already have menus planned for the next two weeks, I am always planning ahead and gathering ideas. One strategy I used to use quite a bit is to cook extra of whatever I am making and freeze it. Granted, some foods don't freeze well. Some things I find work great for the freezer are:
cornbread
muffins
meatballs
cooked ground beef
cooked chicken
beans
bananas (freeze them whole, still in the skin) - to use for smoothies, pancakes, muffins, bread, cake, etc.
There's a really great book about freezer cooking called Cook Once, Eat for a Week
Besides freezing, I also enjoy making my own spice blends and mixes. This is a HUGE money saver. I have found some of my best recipes in the book The Complete Tightwad Gazette
Cream Soup Mix
Hot Cocoa Mix
Ranch Dressing
Another great spice mix I created is for Jamaican Jerk Seasoning. I love Jerk Chicken but it's normally too spicy for me so I made up a seasoning that is a bit milder than the usual Jerk seasoning but with all the flavor. This is great on any kind of meat and great for the grill!
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
1 Tbsp. ground allspice
1 Tbsp. thyme
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamom
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. sugar
Combine all in an airtight container and mix well. Store away from heat and light. This makes enough for 1 recipe of Jerk Chicken (with the following recipe) or you can use it as a sprinkle or rub for any meats you'd like.
Jerk Chicken
4 chicken breasts, trimmed of fat
1 recipe Jerk Seasoning
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. soy sauce
3/4 c. white vinegar
1/2 c. orange juice
juice of 1 lime
1 c. chopped white onion
3 scallions, minced
Place chicken in a shallow baking dish. Combine rest of ingredients and pour over chicken. Marinade at least one hour. Cook on grill. Or if you prefer, you can bake, crock pot or broil.
Jun 29, 2005
Special Delivery!
What a cool offer I found. If you sign up at Safeway.com you can actually order your groceries and have them delivered to your home. AND, your first delivery order is FREE (minimum $50 order)! I think this offer is only available in certain areas of the country but it's worth a look to see if you are in the delivery area. The prices are not the best but for the things you DO find that are on sale or of average price it would be well worth it to place an order. Our weather has been averaging 110 degrees lately and with 116 expected today I will certainly be making use of the offer this once. I think the normal delivery charge is around $8 so depending on how much gas it costs you to get to the local grocer it may be a good deal on a normal basis. You can even use your in-store savings card for your on-line purchase, how cool is that?
Speaking of having things delivered... I have found one of the more economical ways to buy herbs and spices is by mail order. My favorite company to buy from is Penzey's. They have a very wide selection, great prices (products comparable to grocery store higher end brands with much lower prices) and the shipping costs are very reasonable. They also have several retail locations around the country. I recently visited the one closest to me and the aromas of the freshly ground spices is just wonderful! There is a jar of each herb and spice offered just for customers to open and sniff.
If you're looking for a wide variety of flavorings for baking, another great site to order from is Spices Etc.
Speaking of having things delivered... I have found one of the more economical ways to buy herbs and spices is by mail order. My favorite company to buy from is Penzey's. They have a very wide selection, great prices (products comparable to grocery store higher end brands with much lower prices) and the shipping costs are very reasonable. They also have several retail locations around the country. I recently visited the one closest to me and the aromas of the freshly ground spices is just wonderful! There is a jar of each herb and spice offered just for customers to open and sniff.
If you're looking for a wide variety of flavorings for baking, another great site to order from is Spices Etc.
Jun 28, 2005
What would you make out of...?
... a package of corn tortillas, a half head of cabbage and some leftover Great Northern Beans. Tostadas of course!
Actually, I had no idea of what to make for lunch today. I figured I'd mash the leftover beans with a little cheese, fry the tortillas and that would make a nice light lunch. My 5 year old asked if we had lettuce to put on top and I said, no but I do have cabbage... and some cilantro. She loved that! So, Viola! Add a few packages of Taco Bell sauce from our last fast food trip and we have tostadas. They were really good and I think from now on I will use cabbage instead of lettuce for Mexican food, it adds more substance and I know it must contain a lot more nutrition than lettuce.
The Taco Soup is in the crock pot right now, it smells great!
Actually, I had no idea of what to make for lunch today. I figured I'd mash the leftover beans with a little cheese, fry the tortillas and that would make a nice light lunch. My 5 year old asked if we had lettuce to put on top and I said, no but I do have cabbage... and some cilantro. She loved that! So, Viola! Add a few packages of Taco Bell sauce from our last fast food trip and we have tostadas. They were really good and I think from now on I will use cabbage instead of lettuce for Mexican food, it adds more substance and I know it must contain a lot more nutrition than lettuce.
The Taco Soup is in the crock pot right now, it smells great!
Jun 27, 2005
Late Night Ramblings
I really need a smaller crock pot! I want to prepare side dishes along with main dishes while I'm away from home. I signed up with a Freecycle group in my area so hoping a crock will turn up soon. The one I have is a 5 quart and I'd like a 3 quart one to go along with it.
I'm going to call the local food bank tomorrow. Not only do they help those in need, they also offer a great food co-op where you can purchase groceries at a discount. buying from the co-op is going to be one of my on-going shopping strategies. I read that this program is for low income families but since there are 5 of us we qualify though our income is not that low. This is a great deal for us!
I'm thinking I should buy the Mastercook software for our computer. I've been using this great little program called Home Cookin for making grocery lists. It's an upgradeable download that you can use for free. I love it for groceries but it's not the format I'd like for recipes. Mastercook is more the style I would prefer.
Ah well... off to sleep now. Think I'll make a list tomorrow of things I'd like to buy for my cooking adventures.
I'm going to call the local food bank tomorrow. Not only do they help those in need, they also offer a great food co-op where you can purchase groceries at a discount. buying from the co-op is going to be one of my on-going shopping strategies. I read that this program is for low income families but since there are 5 of us we qualify though our income is not that low. This is a great deal for us!
I'm thinking I should buy the Mastercook
software for our computer. I've been using this great little program called Home Cookin for making grocery lists. It's an upgradeable download that you can use for free. I love it for groceries but it's not the format I'd like for recipes. Mastercook is more the style I would prefer.Ah well... off to sleep now. Think I'll make a list tomorrow of things I'd like to buy for my cooking adventures.
Under $150
Well, the pasta was a hit! The kiddos complained about the tomatoes of course, but that's to be expected :)
I just finished working on our next grocery list and it looks like we will be able to get everything for under $150 for the next two weeks. Our dinner menu for the next two weeks is as follows (breakfast and lunch are not specifically planned in advance).
Dinner Menus
Northern Beans, Rice, Corn Bread, Hot Dogs (leftovers from yesterday)
Aztec Stew
Turkey Casserole with broccoli (made with leftover turkey)
Pinto Beans, Corn Bread, Rice
Salisbury Steak, Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans
Spaghetti, Broccoli/Cauliflower
Butter Beans, Corn Bread, Hot Dogs
Leftovers
Hash, Mixed Vegetables, Homemade Rolls
Pinto Beans, Corn Bread, Rice
Tostadas, Refried Beans (made with leftover Pinto Beans), Spanish Rice
Teriyaki Stir Fry, Basmati Rice
Northern Beans, Corn Bread, Collard Greens
Leftovers
Baked Chicken, Macaroni & Cheese (homemade), Green Beans
Chili, Corn Bread
Leftovers
Beef Stew, Biscuits
Leftovers
As you can see we eats beans a lot! Besides the fact that they are my husband's absolute favorite, they are inexpensive as well as nutritious.
I found a great site that offers some great ideas for ingredient substitutions. This one is a big help while working on a grocery list, it helps you use what you have on hand instead of having to buy more ingredients for recipes.
Tonight we're having leftovers but tomorrow I'm going to make Aztec Stew in the crock pot. It's a recipe I created myself for several I compared in the Fix It and Forget It Cookbookand the Fix It and Forget It Lightly Cookbook. These are two of my favorites because they offer great crock pot ideas and have such a wide variety of recipes. Here's my recipe:
Aztec Stew
1 lb. cooked shredded chicken
1 Envelope Taco Seasoning
1 small can tomato sauce
2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/2 c. frozen corn
1 small can black beans (drained)
1 onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 c. hominy, drained
1 can green chilies, drained
2 c. chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in a large pot or crock pot and cook until vegetables are tender. Serve topped with shredded cheese, sour creme and tortilla chips.
I just finished working on our next grocery list and it looks like we will be able to get everything for under $150 for the next two weeks. Our dinner menu for the next two weeks is as follows (breakfast and lunch are not specifically planned in advance).
Dinner Menus
Northern Beans, Rice, Corn Bread, Hot Dogs (leftovers from yesterday)
Aztec Stew
Turkey Casserole with broccoli (made with leftover turkey)
Pinto Beans, Corn Bread, Rice
Salisbury Steak, Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans
Spaghetti, Broccoli/Cauliflower
Butter Beans, Corn Bread, Hot Dogs
Leftovers
Hash, Mixed Vegetables, Homemade Rolls
Pinto Beans, Corn Bread, Rice
Tostadas, Refried Beans (made with leftover Pinto Beans), Spanish Rice
Teriyaki Stir Fry, Basmati Rice
Northern Beans, Corn Bread, Collard Greens
Leftovers
Baked Chicken, Macaroni & Cheese (homemade), Green Beans
Chili, Corn Bread
Leftovers
Beef Stew, Biscuits
Leftovers
As you can see we eats beans a lot! Besides the fact that they are my husband's absolute favorite, they are inexpensive as well as nutritious.
I found a great site that offers some great ideas for ingredient substitutions. This one is a big help while working on a grocery list, it helps you use what you have on hand instead of having to buy more ingredients for recipes.
Tonight we're having leftovers but tomorrow I'm going to make Aztec Stew in the crock pot. It's a recipe I created myself for several I compared in the Fix It and Forget It Cookbook
and the Fix It and Forget It Lightly Cookbook. These are two of my favorites because they offer great crock pot ideas and have such a wide variety of recipes. Here's my recipe:Aztec Stew
1 lb. cooked shredded chicken
1 Envelope Taco Seasoning
1 small can tomato sauce
2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/2 c. frozen corn
1 small can black beans (drained)
1 onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 c. hominy, drained
1 can green chilies, drained
2 c. chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in a large pot or crock pot and cook until vegetables are tender. Serve topped with shredded cheese, sour creme and tortilla chips.
Jun 25, 2005
On A Quest...
As the day approaches when our 5 year old will start private school, we are on a quest to start tightening up our budget. Don't get me wrong, I am used to a pretty strict spending limit when it comes to grocery shopping. However, as the kids get older and eat more, the same $300 a month sure doesn't seem to stretch as far. AND this month, it'd going to be more like $250 or $200 so I'm going to have to get REAL creative :) We are a family of 5... Myself, my husband and 3 children, ages 5, 3 and 1. My two oldest are picky eaters and always looking for snacks. I'm on a cholesterol lowering diet and my husband loves his sweet snacks and "quickie" foods like Beef-a-Roni. I always have a challenge trying to prepare meals we all enjoy that are still healthy. The good thing is, I am always up for a challenge!
Tonight I'm going to make Campanelle with Sardinian Sauce (Campanelle con Salsa Sarda). A GREAT recipe I found at http://www.barilla.com/. Sounds great but my little picky eaters are already complaining about the tomatoes in it. I think they will change their minds when they find out there's sausage in it too! I'm also fixing Italian Zucchini, my own recipe.
Campanelle with Sardinian Sauce (Campanelle con Salsa Sarda) - from Barilla.com
Italian Zucchini
4 zucchini
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 c. frozen corn
1/2 c. bread crumbs
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4. tsp pepper
Wash and dice zucchini. Combine in a sauce pan with 1/4 c. water. Add onion and garlic. Bring to a boil then turn down to a simmer and cook until zucchini is tender. In a casserole dish, combine zucchini, tomatoes and corn. Add seasonings and stir until well distributed. In a bowl, combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over zucchini mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until heated through and topping is browned.
After dinner I am going to start an inventory of what we have on hand and get menus together for next week. 4 more days until pay day so I want to get a head start before I make a trip to the supermarket. Be back tomorrow to update my progress...
Tonight I'm going to make Campanelle with Sardinian Sauce (Campanelle con Salsa Sarda). A GREAT recipe I found at http://www.barilla.com/. Sounds great but my little picky eaters are already complaining about the tomatoes in it. I think they will change their minds when they find out there's sausage in it too! I'm also fixing Italian Zucchini, my own recipe.
Campanelle with Sardinian Sauce (Campanelle con Salsa Sarda) - from Barilla.com
3 tablespoonsextra virgin olive oil
3/4 poundshot Italian sausage, crumbled
1 cupfinely chopped onion
2 clovesgarlic, minced
6 whole (3 cups) plum tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cupchicken broth
1/3 cupchopped parsley
1/4 cupchopped fresh mint
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
2 pinchessaffron, divided
1 box (16 ounces) BARILLA Campanelle
1/3 cupchopped fresh basil leaves
1/2 cupfreshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage; cook 5 to 6 minutes or until no longer pink, stirring occasionally.
ADD onion, garlic and remaining 2 tablespoons oil to skillet; continue cooking 3 minutes until onion is tender. Stir in tomatoes, broth, parsley, mint, salt, red pepper flakes and a pinch of saffron. Simmer 5 to 7 minutes, or until tomatoes are tender and sauce thickens.
COOK pasta according to package directions, adding a pinch of saffron to water. Drain, reserving ½ cup pasta water. Return pasta to pot.
ADD sausage mixture, reserved pasta water, cheese and basil to hot pasta and toss. Transfer to serving platter.
Italian Zucchini
4 zucchini
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 c. frozen corn
1/2 c. bread crumbs
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4. tsp pepper
Wash and dice zucchini. Combine in a sauce pan with 1/4 c. water. Add onion and garlic. Bring to a boil then turn down to a simmer and cook until zucchini is tender. In a casserole dish, combine zucchini, tomatoes and corn. Add seasonings and stir until well distributed. In a bowl, combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over zucchini mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until heated through and topping is browned.
After dinner I am going to start an inventory of what we have on hand and get menus together for next week. 4 more days until pay day so I want to get a head start before I make a trip to the supermarket. Be back tomorrow to update my progress...
Jun 21, 2005
Oven Dried tomatoes
Here's a great way to use up some of those extra tomatoes for your summer garden.
Oven Dried Tomatoes
Use firm fleshy tomahawk. Cut tomatoes into quarters or in half. Place on a cookie sheet and dry in oven at 150 degrees for 18 - 24 hours or until leathery. Allow to cool. Store in a glass jar. Rehydrate in warm water for 20 minutes to use in salads, sauces, etc.
Oven Dried Tomatoes
Use firm fleshy tomahawk. Cut tomatoes into quarters or in half. Place on a cookie sheet and dry in oven at 150 degrees for 18 - 24 hours or until leathery. Allow to cool. Store in a glass jar. Rehydrate in warm water for 20 minutes to use in salads, sauces, etc.
Jun 20, 2005
Grandma Ida's Potato Salad
There is no other potato salad that compares to my grandmothers. If you don't believe me, just try it and you will understand why! :)
Grandma Ida's Potato Salad
8 large potatoes - cooked, peeled and cut into small cubes
2 boiled eggs, mashed well
2 stalks celery, finely minced
2 large dill pickles, minced
1 large bell pepper, minced
paprika
Best Foods (Hellman's) mayonnaise
French's Mustard
salt
pepper
Put the potatoes, eggs celery, dill pickle and bell pepper into a large bowl. Mix well. Add mayonnaise, one large spoonful at a time and mix in. When you reach a nice creamy (but not too creamy) consistency, add a large squirt of mustard and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well (gently). Sprinkle the top with paprika. Eat and enjoy!
Grandma Ida's Potato Salad
8 large potatoes - cooked, peeled and cut into small cubes
2 boiled eggs, mashed well
2 stalks celery, finely minced
2 large dill pickles, minced
1 large bell pepper, minced
paprika
Best Foods (Hellman's) mayonnaise
French's Mustard
salt
pepper
Put the potatoes, eggs celery, dill pickle and bell pepper into a large bowl. Mix well. Add mayonnaise, one large spoonful at a time and mix in. When you reach a nice creamy (but not too creamy) consistency, add a large squirt of mustard and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well (gently). Sprinkle the top with paprika. Eat and enjoy!
Jun 19, 2005
Whole Wheat Bread
Baking your own bread can be quite satisfying. I used to be afraid to make yeast bread for fear it wouldn't rise or it would just not turn out right. After I tried this recipe I felt quite differently. This bread is delicious and satisfying. Try it spread with butter and honey.
Whole Wheat Bread
2 pkg. yeast
1/4 c. warm water (I microwave the water for 20 seconds)
1/2 c. honey
3 tsp. salt
2 1/2 c. hot water
1/4 c. margarine or butter
4 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
2 3/4 - 3 3/4 c. unbleached all-purpose flour
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water (105 - 115 degrees). In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, salt, hot water and margarine; cool slightly. Add 3 c. whole wheat flour to the cooled mixture. Blend at low speed until moistened, beat 3 minutes at medium speed. Add remaining whole wheat flour and dissolved yeast, mix well. By hand, stir in an additional 2 1/4 - 2 3/4 c. unbleached all-purpose flour until dough pulls away from the side of the bowl.
On a floured surface, knead in 1/2 - 1 c. flour until dough is smooth and elastic (about 10 - 15 minutes). Place dough in a greased bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap and a cloth towel. Let rise in a warm place (80 - 85 degrees) until light and doubled in size(about 30 - 45 minutes).
Generously grease two bread pans.
Punch down dough, divide in half and shape into two loaves. Put in pans, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 30 - 45 minutes).
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Uncover dough. Bake for 30 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake 10 - 15 more minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when thumped. Remove from pans at once to a cooling rack. Cool completely before slicing.
Whole Wheat Bread
2 pkg. yeast
1/4 c. warm water (I microwave the water for 20 seconds)
1/2 c. honey
3 tsp. salt
2 1/2 c. hot water
1/4 c. margarine or butter
4 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
2 3/4 - 3 3/4 c. unbleached all-purpose flour
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water (105 - 115 degrees). In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, salt, hot water and margarine; cool slightly. Add 3 c. whole wheat flour to the cooled mixture. Blend at low speed until moistened, beat 3 minutes at medium speed. Add remaining whole wheat flour and dissolved yeast, mix well. By hand, stir in an additional 2 1/4 - 2 3/4 c. unbleached all-purpose flour until dough pulls away from the side of the bowl.
On a floured surface, knead in 1/2 - 1 c. flour until dough is smooth and elastic (about 10 - 15 minutes). Place dough in a greased bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap and a cloth towel. Let rise in a warm place (80 - 85 degrees) until light and doubled in size(about 30 - 45 minutes).
Generously grease two bread pans.
Punch down dough, divide in half and shape into two loaves. Put in pans, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 30 - 45 minutes).
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Uncover dough. Bake for 30 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake 10 - 15 more minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when thumped. Remove from pans at once to a cooling rack. Cool completely before slicing.
Jun 18, 2005
Focaccia
Focaccia is basically a pizza crust type of bread topped with thinly sliced vegetables and cheese... no sauce. You can eat this as a light lunch, with a salad, with dinner or as a snack. I use my pizza crust recipe with a slight variation.
Focaccia
1 cup warm water
pinch sugar
1 package dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning
2 1/2 cups flour
Stir hot water, sugar and dry yeast until blended. Add oil, salt and flour. (I use a food processor). Stir until mixture forms a soft ball. Let rest 5 minutes. Roll out on a pizza stone or cookie sheet sprinkled with corn meal. Top with thinly sliced vegetables such as tomatoes, red onions and garlic, bell peppers. If desired, sprinkle with cheese such as mozzarella. Bake 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Focaccia
1 cup warm water
pinch sugar
1 package dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning
2 1/2 cups flour
Stir hot water, sugar and dry yeast until blended. Add oil, salt and flour. (I use a food processor). Stir until mixture forms a soft ball. Let rest 5 minutes. Roll out on a pizza stone or cookie sheet sprinkled with corn meal. Top with thinly sliced vegetables such as tomatoes, red onions and garlic, bell peppers. If desired, sprinkle with cheese such as mozzarella. Bake 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
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