Recap and batch cooking

I thought I would recap the basics for any new readers once during the first week of the month.

The main idea of this to save 1/2 on your food bill. The USDA publishes stats on thrifty grocery costs based on ages of family members. The last ones I can find are from 2009.

The main " rules".

1) Never pay full price. There are exceptions, of course. If it is something you have to have, or you want a special treat, go for it. just make it the exception rather than the rule.

2) keep a log of things you frequently buy and where and how much you paid. You can use a spiral notebook, or an excel spread sheet. Go for the lowest price and stock up on that. Base your quantity on how often it goes on sale, the number of times in a week you use it and the sell by date on the package. Pasta for one, has a 8 year shelf life. STOCK UP.

3) Develop a personal cookbook of scratch main dishes that contain a low cost protein.

4) Cook from scratch rather than ready made, or boxes. The more processed something is, the less nutrients and the more expensive it is. Boxed meal mixes are about the most expensive food item in the store. At 2.09 cents a box, you are paying 13.28 a pound for the " cheese sauce" that has no cholesterol. You can get REALLY good cheese for 13.00 a pound! LOL. Don't buy snack food.

5) Plan your meals. Take stock of your refer and bread bin mid week and use up anything that might be getting OLD!?!. Croutons, breadcrumbs, soup stock. Pesto, banana bread. You get the gist. the what's for dinner syndrome after you have had a hard day is one of the quickest ways to fall off the budget wagon.


One of the ways to make dinner time cooking fast and easy is to batch cook.
It makes the time in the kitchen more efficient. if you can get an older child or a mate to help you, even more the better.


When you bring home the ground beef, or grind your own, " Process" it your self. I make meatloaf or meatballs, taco meat, hamburger crumbles, Salisbury steaks.
Put the product, except the meatloaf that you have for dinner that night, in family sized portions. Label and freeze them. I keep them in a metal box in the freezer so they don't get lost.

When you want a quick meal, pull the taco meat, thaw it in the microwave. While that is happening, chop tomatoes,get out the cheese and sour cream, and chop the lettuce. Open a can of refried beans and put in the microwave dish and heat through when meat is done. About 15 minutes total.

When roast is on sale, roast it off. Slice thin and freeze. You can run it under cold water to thaw (in food saver bag). Make a jus in a small frypan.when the meat has partially thawed, put in the a jus to warm. Meanwhile, put sandwich rolls in oven to toast, and make a green salad. I use brown and serve baguettes from franz. They have them at Costco and at the franz outlet.

I fry sausage purchased in bulk. Jimmy Dean is 6.89 at Costco now for three pounds.
De fat it and put it on portion sized bags in the freezer.

You can use it on pizza, in eggs,in soups.

Make good use of your crockpot. There is something really comforting about walkimg into the house and smelling dinner already cooked.

Thanks for stopping by. Please share this blog with a friend.

Jane