Shopping trip

Our usual shopping day was premted by my having to play store detective.  I waited virtually all day for the perp to show up.  I stalled him as long as I could waiting for the police to show up.  The guy was huge and had a purse bigger than mine!  LOL

So, shopping happened yesterday.  I don't like to shop Saturdays, , it's too hectic and I couldn't watch the register because the rest of the family was lost in the store.  I spent more than usual, but I stocked some really good buys.  ALBERTSONS had pasta and cake mixes for .49 if you bought a total of ten products on their list.  I had two Duncan Hines coupons.  That made two of the mixes .07 cents each.  

It costs .075 for a cup of flour.  Yogurt was 10/5 and I got an additional .40 off.   2 pounds of cheese were 4.88.  Apples were a dollar a pound and I got an additional 1.00 for buying a bag.  I got grillers with a coupon for buy one, get brats for free and got the  grillers for five bucks.  I got Nathan's hot dogs buy one, get one and eggs for .79.  

If you can match a coupon with a special it's better.  That being said, I am not going to spend an exorbitant amount of time couponing.   I want to spend less time than it takes the coffee to drip in the morning.  I quickly look at  www.couponconnections.com once a week.  And download any coupon from  Www.coupons .com --anything I see that we NORMALLY buy or matches with an ad price that we normally buy.  I'll try something new if it is free or nearly free.  

Couponing was a little awkward, but I am sure it will  get better and more efficient.  I have done the organize and shop sales bit  for so many years that its second nature,  I download my add blog and my just 4 You savings list. gather my coupons I keep in an envelope from the recycle bin and the ads.

I don't need a grocery list. Because, by buying just what's on sale and milk , we are set because we stock.  If there are no good meat buys, I just don't buy meat.  

The object is to never get caught paying full price, or what my mother used to call top dollar.  Almost everything I buy is at rock bottom prices.  Buying seasonal is preferable because the fruits and veggies are at their peak, and the meats are the lowest prices.  Not having to go to the store because there is nothing in the house to eat is liberating.  I didn't  have to panic when I was to nervous to go to the store after Fridays Unscheduled work shift.  

To those naysayers... You go all over town to shop.....I plan my trip to hit the stores I want in the least amount of time.  I am lucky to have stores clustered together to make a tight circle either ast or north of us.  Alternative stores are near other errands we need less frequently.  The normal family can save about 4000. A year....has a hefty amount to pay down the mortgage or go on a nice vacation. !!!

That's about it.  

Thanks for stopping by

Jane

4+1 =5

 better cheaper faster 

 basically you get paid more for shopping than you do cooking.  

Ps.  Lets do the math.  5 cake mixes at 2.79 is 13.95.  5 pastas at 1.39 is 6.95. Less .85 coupons totals
20.05

I paid 4.90 less .85 or 4.05.  Eighty per cent savings.  

Recap. Part 3

Part three is cooking

• If you haven't already, take the time to learn the basics.  There is a show on PBS with Martha Stewart, the chew, and any number of shows on tv.  Basic books from the library, and there is always a mom o r grandmother, aunt or cousin.  
• There are some recipes that take no more time to cook from scratch than their boxed counterparts.  Hamburger meal boxes and cooked pudding come  to mind.
• Sometimes it is cheaper to grate your own cheese than to buy grated cheese. Sometimes not.  Costco Business is cheaper.  I want to pay 2.50 a pound. Two dollars is better.  This is where a food processor comes in handy.  It is a very versatile  tool.  It can grate cheese, make bread crumbs, mix a cake, chop onions, carrot, and other veggies, make pesto.....and on
• NEVER buy bread crumbs,  you are paying exorbitant prices for someone else's dry bread.   Put the heel of the bread or an extra bun or piece of artisan bread in the cold oven on the broiler pan or a rack in a sheet pan to dry.  When you have enough, process it.  n a pinch, you can use a blender.  
• Batch cooking meats when you are more relaxed gives you the time to defat your ground meats and saves a lot of time at the more  hectic dinner time.  
• Having a few really fast and easy meals up your sleeve, really takes stress away when you are on a time crunch and you would be tempted to eat out.  Tacos and hot sandwiches come to mind here. My husband calls it cheap and dirty.  LOl
• Chopping any veggie that goes on a pizza when you are already chopping it for another meal and putting them on a bag in the freezer door makes for almost free pizza.  Time free..just make the dough in your food processor and layer things up.  An older child can help layer the toppings and the starter looks like a science experiment.  The kids love it.  Recipe on a older blog.  you can use the zip locks over and over.  
• Take advantage of ready mades  when you can get them for free.  My daughter gets home really late sometimes.  She is a supervisor at a day care/preschool and some parents don't seem to have a clock.  Not so LOL.  Having some FREE ready mades can put dinner on the table quickly when everyone is starving.  I made omelette, biscuits I got for free, and fruit I had cleaned the night before.  All in the 13 minutes that the biscuits were cooking.  
•  slow cooker meals make life easier when you know it's going to be a hard day.  
• Formula for "is it worth it scratch cooking. Or "is it worth my time.  

1. Cost out the ready made. 
2.  Cost out the scratch dish
3.   Time  How long it takes  you to make it from scratch.  
4. find the net cost between the ready made  and he scratch item. 
5.  Find the percentage of an hour that you spent actually cooking and times it by the savings.   

Essentially you are calculating how much you are being PAID for cooking the item.  If it is a few cents it is not worth it.

• Ie. if 7 percent hamburger is 4.00 a pound and round steak is 3.00 a pound, the difference is a 1.00 a pound.  if you grind your own hamburger and take 10 minutes to grind it, for 5 pounds of meat you are saving 5.00.  10 minutes is 1/6 of an hour,  if 1/6 is 5.00 then 6/6 is 30.00 .That is 30.00 an hour.  A very good wage in my book.  

• If a recipe calls for a very expensive ingredient, either consider a splurge or think of a substitute.  In other words, don't throw the baby out wit the bathwater.  Often you can come up with another o ingredient that is the same texture and bulk.  Celery for water chestnuts, green beans for asparagus.  Food substitutions is a good book to have.  I have used kidney beans for hamburger in a pinch.

Thanks for stopping by.

Jane

Four plus one equals five 

better cheaper faster

Cut your food bills in half

Recap part two...shopping

There are a lot of stores that carry food.
After your assessment of the best chain stores, pick two for the week.
our chain stores are SAFEWAYS, ALBERTSONS, QFC (Kroger) and TOP.

No one store has the best prices.  SAFEWAYS and top are more often , but when QFC and ALBERTSONS are really good when they have a good sale.

Besides the chain stores, there are warehouse stores--Costco , Sams Club, WinCo ..  SAMs  club and Costco require memberships.  Some prices are better in bulk, some are not.  I purchase some staples in gross quantity because they don't go bad fast and it just makes my life easier not to have them n my grocery list.  Cornstarch, salt, come to mind. Somethings are a good buy, but unless you can share the cost of a unit, it is not practical. Beans come to mind.   our Costco  membership pays us to shop.  Winco offers a 10.00 off of 50.00 coupon  every  so often.  It's your best bet for rock bottom.  They also have a really extensive bulk section.

Then come the over stock stores.  We have grocery outlet and big lots.  GrocerymOutletmhasma large variety of Mexican food.  They have non designer coffee cheap.  Also, a wide variety of cheeses, some cheaper, some not so much.  Sometimes the produce is really good.

Big Lots and the Dollar Tree have a small selection of food.  the dollar tree has spices, tortillas, frozen potatoes, veggies, and HOT poppers, Salami and pepperoni. Big Lots has a 20 percent off the entire store one day only some of the time.  I can usually do good with sauerkraut, diced tomatoes, tomato  paste, baby food, facial tissues, pasta and veggie chips.  My husband likes hot pickles.

I have had luck with Bartells Drug store for limited food.  Rite aid has almost nome since they started carrying booze.  We don't have  a Walgreens yet, so I will have to see.

We have a fresh food market during the summer.  Sometimes the veggies and fruit are cheaper in season.

We just got,an IGA.  The veggie section had good prices, I haven't had time to check the rest of the store.

We usually go to Costco on a need to go basis.  Bananas, TP, laundry soap are always cheaper.
Winco is further away as is the Bakery  outlet.  We hit them every four to six weeks or when Wimco has a coupon.

The overstock stores we hit when we are in the neighborhood running other errands.

Pick your grocery store by the price of their food.  I wouldn't go to a store that was filthy, but unless the condition of the store was really poor or in a unsafe part of town,  I'm ok.  Don't go to a grocery store because it is quiet,because the clerks ar friendlier, or because they have the best coffee.  you are going to the grocery store to buy your food and still have some money at the end of the month.
if you are going to the lots of bucks food store, just remember,  someone is paying for the atmosphere, the music and the lack of stuff in your food, you can guess who that someone  is! LOL
If going to the grocery store is your whole social life, then you need to get a life.  Ha ha

All I'm all, once you are organized,  you should get through the grocery buying process in the same time as you do now or less.

Thanks for stopping by

Jane



,

Recap

The three steps for eating on the cheap are easily attained.  If you are overwhelmed, start with one  step at a time.

Recipes

1. List protein sources that your family will eat.  
2. Now make a list of recipes that use these items that you already cook.  
3. Surf the net or cookbooks, or magazines to find recipes that use the protein and will suit your family.  Cooking magazines are at the library or for .50 at our goodwill,  
4. Start with 7 and add to 14. For variety.

Target list

1. Look through the recipes your family likes.  Write down the key ingredients that are staples.  
2. These are your items to go on your target  list.  You should have 10 or 15.
3. Set up your data.  Use a small notebook or a spread sheet.  
4. Post low prices from ads each week.  
5. Soon you will see a pattern of sales.  

Planning your trip.

1. Using a piece of 8.5X11 piece of paper.  Divide it into quarters.  Mark the top of each with the name of a grocery store ad.  
2. Now start marking down each thing that is on your target list, and any protein and vegetable that is inexpensive.  Use under three dollars a pound for protein and try for a dollar a pound for veggies.  
3. When you are through all 4 ads, cross off anything you have enough stock of, and anything that is a lower price at another store.  
4. Be sure to mark anything that needs a coupon .
5. Check a matching web site for coupons. Gather your coupons as you come across them.  I don't pay for coupons.  If I run across them or find them on the Internet, I'll use them if they pair with a food that I would normally buy or is free.  
6. Go onto  the Internet and search for coupon matching sites in your area.  I use coupon connecttions.com in the Seattle area.  Coupons.com is printable coupons.  I print only what I normally buy and preferably only the things that match up to my list . Mark your list with a @ to designate you have a coupon.  
7. Now pick the two stores that have the best buys on what you need.  
8. Gather your coupons , the ads, and your list.  
9. Plan your trip to use the least amount of gas. 

Go to the stores, get your food, get in and get out.  More time in the store equals more money spent.
Don't buy non food items at the grocery store.
That's  enough to confuse a newbie.  Next time shopping.


Thanks for stopping by

Jane

Coupon alert for the ads

On coupons.com. There is a printable coupon for buy one johnsonville grillers and get one johnsonville brats.  johnsonville grillers are on 5 buck Fridays at SAFEWAYS.

SAFEWAYS has normal chili for a buck.  Coupons.com has a coupon for .55 off two. That makes one of your chilli s for .45.

Cake mixes are .49 cents on buy 10 at ALBERTSONS.  I have a coupon for .35 from last weeks Duncan Hines web site.  This week there is a .50 coupon for red velvet cake.  The cake mixes say select varieties.  I may get one for free.

Yoplait is 10/5 at ALBERTSONS.  I have a coupon from coupons.com for .40 off six.

You can only use three coupons in a single transaction at ALBERTSONS.

The new IGA in town just opened.  Free eggs with no minimum purchase...coupon in the flyer.

The vegetable prices are par with target prices.  Some of the meat specials Are not bad.  I haven't completely toured the store.  We got hamburger buns.  They were 1.39.



Thanks for stopping by

Jane

The ads

The ads for May 15-21

TOP

Hamburger and hotdog buns . 99
Cauliflower 1.00
Lettuce 1.00
Strawberries 2/5
5 lbs potatoes .79.  @@@
Butter 1.77  @@@
Milk 1.99 @@@

ALBERTSONS
LOIN CHOPS 1.29

Buy 10
Pasta .49 net
Cake mix .49***
Ragu 1.29
Mustard .69
***on line coupon for .35 leaves .10
Eggs .79
Cheese 4.88
Yo plait 10/5. .40 coupon

QFC
Berries, B1 G 1
Pork shoulder 1.49

Eggs 1.00
Butter 1.99

SAFEWAYS
Chicken .99
7 percent hamburger 2.99
Johnsonville grilles 5.00 5 buck Friday
Strawberries 3/5. - 5 buck Fridays
Corn 3/1.00

That's about it.  I have some printable coupons.  I surfed the net so much exploring the world of couponing, I don't know where I got them.  Be sure to get on couponnconnections.com and check out the match ups.  
It should take you less time than brewing your morning coffee.  LOL

Thanks for stopping by

Jane
4+1 =5
better cheaper faster 
remember, you get paid for shopping not for cooking.

The basics. Step 2

Last time we talked about getting your list and going to two stores, getting in, and getting out.  The more time you spend in a store, the more money you will spend.

Besides the regular chain stores, there are what I call alternative stores.  I usually hit those on a cycle.
Grocery Outlet and Big Lots have a limited amount of items.  Big  Lots have less than Grocery Outlet.  I usually try to hit them about twice a month when I am in the area for other errands.

Costco and Winco are warehouse stores.  Costco is close by, and Winco is two towns away.  We go to Costco on a need to go basis and Winco about every six weeks, or when they send us a 10.00 coupon.  When you add the 20 percent to the already low prices, you can bring you bill down to over 60 percent or more savings.  Basicly you can get 100 dollars worth of groceries for 40.00.

The bakery outlet is a ways away for us, we hit there about once every 4-6 weeks.  We try to group things together.  When you buy a month or so worth, we usually get things for free besides the low prices. If bread goes on sale for less than the bread store, I supplement.  Yhe dollar store is cheaper on several things.  I got hot poppers, French fries, and mixed freezer veggies.  Also, salami and pepperoni is cheaper.  The Cable Guys beer bread is really good with chili etc type dishes.

Sales go on a 12 week cycle.  Each store is different. Your data should tell you each stores pattern.

One of the fastest ways to break a budget is to fall into the trap of going every day or every other day to the store to buy one or two days groceries at the most expensive store in town.  the other way is to go to one convenient store and buy anything you see that looks good.  No ONE store has the best buys.  Multiple stores offer you better selection and better prices.

Group your stores and other errands so that you use the least amount  of gas.  Plan your trip.

Once you are set up, you will probably spend less time than you are now . We can get in and out of four stores in a little over an hour including travel time.

If your time is in short supply, spending more time shopping and less time cooking will make you better off.  you get paid for shopping, not for cooking.
I would be remiss if I didn't address the coupon issue.  I use electronic coupons on my store cards.  I also use coupons if they are worth my while.  My daughter and I made lemon pound cakes.  She had purchased a slice at the big buck coffee company for 2.50.  It cost us 2.26 for a loaf and about ten minutes labor. T make two loaves.  I downloaded a coupon for cake mix--with the coupon that brand was twice as much as Betty Crocker.

If I can reduce my food bill with coupons for things I would ordinarily buy, I will.  Most of the things
I see manufacturers coupons for are things that are ready made stuff I wouldn't buy in the first place.

I am investigating the drug stores, but so far, I am not too impressed.  My first try was a disaster.

I bought baby food...the stuff that was supposed to be free, was gone.  I got pouches for the same rewards.  It did cost me some money.  When I went to redeem my rewards, I wasn't in the computer.
I had my rewards receipt so they manually did it, but it took the manager three tries to get it right.
My card should be coming soon, or I'm not going down that road again.  Walgreens is supposed to be coming to my neighborhood soon.  Their rewards seem confusing, but I'll have to see .  Bartells  is good when they are having a sale on food.

The bottom line, is that you want 1/2 price or more.  If you buy your target items at 50-60 percent off or more, the rest of the items will fall into place.

Seattle has a buy your bag policy, so remember to bring your cloth bags into the store.  I have them in the trunk, but don't alwaysremember  to bring them in.



Being brand sensitive will cost you,  many store brands are as good as or better than the old mainstays.  I am particular about hot dogs and tuna.

Stores have researched spending habits and human behavior.  They no all the tricks to make you spend more.  But, that's another post.

if you have a psychological problem with shopping, delegate that job to another family member.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jane



4+1=5
Better, cheaper, faster
Remember, you get paid for shopping, not for cooking

things I forgot
If produce comes in a xx pound bag, weigh a couple of bags, they can fluctuate as much as 25 percent.
Look up and down on the shelves.  Manufacturers pay slotting fees.  Basicly they rent shelves.  Eye level is more costly than up and down.  The most expensive things will be eye level.
Less packaging ie bulk isle is not necessarily the cheapest?..compare prices.

the basics ...one step at a time

Writing about the basics all at one time doesn't really cover the concept well.  you can 1/2 the average food bill easily without spending hours in the kitchen.  1/2 price groceries takes a 3 pronged approach. :

1. Planning and organizing
2. Shopping wisely
3. Cooking from scratch

Like just about anything one does in life, planning is the first step.  Once your initial planning is done, it takes very little time  to keep up.  .  If you are not the organized type and you hate it, consider finding someone else in the family to do this part.  

First, jot down 7 recipes that incorporate inexpensive sources of protein.  Try for 2-3. Dollars a pound average.  Examples are eggs, cheese, chicken, pork, some beef, fish, tuna, shellfish, beans.  

Then, add to the list until you have 14 meals.  This gives you enough to rotate and have a variety.  

Children usually have their favorites.  It makes life easier if you incorporate them into the plan....unless it is steak and lobster! LOL

Next, list the staples that you use a lot of.  For us that would be diced tomatoes, beans, instant mashed potatoes, refried beans, some soups, some black olives, green beans and corn, and tuna and salmon and pasta and pasta sauce.

Enter the item, the size of the package, the price, where you bought it and the date. You can do this in a small notebook or on a spread sheet.  

Hunts pasta sauce

5/12/13.     ALBERTSONS.       .85

4/30/13.      Winco.                     .78

Pretty soon you will see a pattern.  You want to find the rock bottom price.

I call it my target price.  This doesn't have to be a book LOL.  You should have about 10-15 items on your list.  When you see something on your list at the target price buy:

• As many as you can afford
• As many as the store will allow you to buy
• As many as you need to fill your space.

Whichever comes first.  If I use something once a month, I keep 6.  If I use something once a week. I keep 24.  The object is to never pay full price for anything.  

When the weekly ads come out, take a sheet of computer paper, divide it in four sections.  

Put the name a store on top of each quarter.  Now write down anything on your target list that's a cheap price and anything in the fruit and veggie line or the protein line that is a good price. Now, 

Cross off anything you don't need, and anything that is a lower price elsewhere.  

log really cheap staple prices in your data.  

Now pick the two stores with the best prices for things you need.  Go with your list, the ads, and any coupon you happen on to.  Get in, get your list, and get out.  The more time you spend in a store, the more you will spend.  

Couponconnectioms.com is a website that matches coupons with local store ads.

I don't spend a lot of time on it, but she does the research for you so few minutes can get you free stuff sometimes.  Some store cards now have electronic coupons.  

Next time : stores

Thanks for stopping by 

Jane

Four  plus one equals five

better cheaper faster 

remember you get paid for shopping not for cooking.

Big buck coffee store alert.

http://picky-palate.com/2012/03/22/starbucks-iced-lemon-pound-cake-copycat-recipe/

my daughter and granddaughter love Starbucks lemon pound cake. 
 It is 2.50 a SLICE.  See above address.  I haven't priced the recipe out, but
my unofficial calculations are that you can make
an entire loaf for the cost of one slice if you do the target price thing.  

Target price has nothing to do with the store with the same name. 

http://www.marthastewart.com/344409/glazed-lemon-pound-cake
Even cheaper.  

We made the wanta be lemon pound cake.  It cost 4.52 for two loaves.  
Assuming 8 slices per loaf at 2.50 a slice total cost is 40.00 for the two loaves.  
Savings 35.48.   It took us 10 minutes to put it through the food processor.  
That's 212.88 cents an hour.  

Happy Mothers Day !!

Happy Mothers Day

My daughter and granddaughter and I went to the zoo.  We packed a snack and water bottles. my daughter has a  pass, my granddaughter is free and I was  1/2 off  because  I am a grandmother.

There was a little girl that had her face painted. My daughter asked how  much it cost......18.00 marked down from 25.00 because of Mothers Day....I told my daughter I could feed us dinner for the entire work week for that!!!?  LOL

Onward....

I still need a couple of things from ALBERTSONS and some vegetable seeds with my rite aid Money.

Zucchini is almost free in the summer around here.  It grows everywhere and prolifically.

Zucchini sausage lasagna.

Make a red  sauce with sausage, garlic, onion, tomato, tomato  paste and Italian herbs.  Use 1 can tomato paste and two 28 ounce cans of tomatoes.  1 pound of cooked sausage.
Slice 3 zucchini lengthwise and cook.  I would put them in a 350 degree oven on a oiled sheet pan until soft.

In a bowl. Combine
1egg
1 pound ricotta cheese or cottage cheese (small curd)
Scant cup of parm cheese


Set aside.

Cook 8 lasagna noodles, drain.

Layer in 9X 13 pan
Red sauce
Noodles
Zucchini
Cheese mixture
Mozzarella

Repeat once

bake at 350 for 55 minutes.
Sprinkle with more mozzarella
Bake an additional 5 min or until cheese is melted.

Let stand  15  minute
Makes 12 servings
NOTES
I would 1/3 the recipe.  .  I might just use zucchini in place of the noodles.
Cottage cheese is a good alternative to ricotta.  I used to threaten spinach, squeeze it dry and add it to the wet cheese.  I, however wasn't using zucchini.  Cottage cheese and sour cream are much cheaper at Costco.  They were a buck at QFC.

Thanks for stopping by

Please share.

Jane
4+ 1 equals 5.
 better cheaper faster
remember , you get paid for shopping not for cooking.
 If  you're short on time spend more time shopping and less time cooking.
Plan your shopping trip.  A few minutes of planning, saves gas and time.

Shopping

I haven't gone down to look at tapes yet, but. Got everything else on my list done.  I grated a whole brick of cheese today adding some cornstarch to keeo it from clumping.  i havent tried that before.

SAFEWAYS had Tillamook for 3.99.  QFC had buy two sausage and get a biscuit package free.  Also SAFEWAYS had sirloin tips buy 1 , get one.  That makes dinner for three very fast and 4.00.  It used to be 3.50, but prices have risen.  Add a instant mashed potato and a veggie or salad and you have a dinner in five minutes flat for a little over 5.00.  I don't resort to that very  often, but his is a cheap alternative to ordering pizza or fish and chips when time crunched.

The strawberries were yuk at QFC again.  Beautiful at SAFEWAYS.  I didn't get to ALBERTSONS. We didn't need anything from the alternative stores so it wasn't worth the trip for eggs , apples, and muffins.

I found sour cream and cottage cheese for a buck as well as hot dog and hamburger buns.
I wound up spending my entire budget, but better luck next week.  I only bought fresh foods and the tip and sausage, , but I bought lots of fruit and dairy.

Finding things on sale, or finding what was on sale not fit to eat is why I usually do plans after I shop.  Had I only went to one store, I wouldn't have purchased strawberries.

We are still eating well on about 1/2 price.  Last nights dinner  was

Meat 1.80
Buns .50
Strawberries  2.00
Corn .66
4.96

In order to stay on about 70.00 for the typical two adult, two school aged children, dinners should average five dollars.  Breaking it down, your full budget is ten dollars a day.  By using leftovers, or a sandwich or salad for lunch and oatmeal or toast and fruit or youngest and toast for breakfast  you can make this work.

If you are on SNAP, your budget is about twice that.  Remember, though, pricing meals doesn't include the staples of butter, flour olive oil etc.  70.00 is a rock bottom guideline.  USDS STATS ARE BASED ON AGES OF FAMILY MEMBERS - and compensate for typical ages that tend to have hollow legs!  For practicality , I am working on a 2 adult, two school age children model, or three adults.  The stats are on the Internet and are within two months current.  Full  USDA stats are  146.00 a week.

It s a challenge to make it work.  It can be fun to see how creative you can be coming up with fun dinners.

Thanks for stopping by

4+1 =5

Better, cheaper, faster

Jane

Finally Friday

It's Friday and the Mothers Day week end is upon us.  lots of BBQ in the ads, it's going to rain here, but I suspect we will have fun anyway.  Maybe a trip to the zoo.

The vegetable garden gets dug today , so I guess we will be planting in the next few weeks.  

Zucchini grows well here.  Tomatoes are harder some  years, I usually get cherry tomatoes. Mast year we got one tomato!  the most expensive tomato on the planet, I'm sure LOL.  

Zucchini is way to expensive now, unless it is cheaper at the fresh food stand. Summer

Is coming......maybe 

Zucchini Tomato Soup

2 small,zucchini,chopped small.

1/4 cup onion, chopped small

Olive oil

Salt

1 cup spicy v8 juice

1small tomato, cut

Dash of pepper, and basil.  

Cheese and bacon garnish optional. 

Sauté the zucchini and onion in the olive oil .  Add remaining ingredients.  Cook until heated through.  

Garnish.  

I like to serve soup with toasted cheese sandwiches, cheese quesidas. Cheesy bread sticks, or hard crusty bread.  If we have something like this for dinner, I will add a pudding or creme brûlée or another desert that is rich in protein if we don't have cheese with it.  

The grocery outlet has a lot of interesting cheeses, some are inexpensive, some are not.

Pork Loin Roast garlic rub.  

2 WHOLE garlic bulbs

Olive oil

Pinch EACH of  basil and oregano

 Cut the  very top off of the garlic bulb.  Place each garlic bulb on foil drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with basil and oregano.  Bring  the foil up to cover the bulb. Bake at 425 for 30 minutes,  

Cool.  Squeeze garlic pulp out of the garlic.  Add 2 T lemon juice.  

Rub over roast before roasting.  This would probably taste good on chicken as well.  

I have discovered that some basic sauces and rubs, seasoning pairings, are good on many things.  

It makes life simpler.  

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4+ 1 =5 -- Four people, one meal, 5 bucks .

better cheaper faster

 remember, you get paid for shopping -- not for cooking.

If you spend more time shopping, and less time cooking, your bottom line will be better.  

If you are short on time, spend  more time planning your trip and make the time up being more efficient in the kitchen. 

Jane

Terrific Thursday

Another beautiful day in the Pacicfic Northwest.  I get to spend the afternoon  looking for a twit that put a 250.00 sonics jacket and walked out of the store last week.  Maybe someone should have thought it was just a little strange to see someone with a leather coat on in 80 degree weather! LOL

Pork Chops with rice.

4 Pork Chops
Salt, pepper
2 T vegetable oil

1 tsp chicken better thang bouillon
2cups hot water

1 cup long grain rice.  Raw
Chopped onion and green pepper
2 tsp  W sauce
1 tsp cumin


in oven proof skillet, brown pork chops that have been salt and peppered about two minutes a side.
Remove from pan and keep warm.  Place better than boullion in water and dissolve.  Deglaze the pan with the chicken "stock". Stir in remaining ingredients.  Place chops over rice.  Cover.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until meat is done and rice is tender.

meals from the ads

Our breakdown is 

2 beef

2 pork or chicken

2 vegetarian

1 fish

• Pork chops and rice
• Chicken enchiladas
• Hamburgers, salads, corn on the cob
• Spaghetti with meat sauce
• Egg muffins. Fruit and yogurt parfaits , hash browns 
• Mac and cheese
• Mahi mahi , rice, grilled pineapple.  

Notes.  Eggs are a buck at ALBERTSONS and TOP.

Corn on the cob is also on sale.  Muffins at ALBERTSONS.  Mahi mahi is at ALBERTSONS for 3.99.buns are a buck at QFC.  Hash browns are a buck at the dollar store...suh. That was an intelligent post!!!

I am wondering of big lots or the dollar store take coupons.  I found a coupon for a buck off of tissue.  

Thanks for stopping by

4+1equals five

 better cheaper faster

 remember you get paid for shopping , not for cooking

Jane

The ads

Wednesday is the day for ads.

On the day 7 front, we went to friends house for dinner, so I have nothing to add to the list for today.

 QFC

Butter 2.00
4 lbs strawberries 6.99
Dryers 2.99
Braille pasta 1.00
Bread, buns 1.00

 
TOP

cheese 4.99/ 2 lbs
Eggs 1.50@@@
Strawberries 2.99@@@
English muffins .99@@@
Chili Nalley .77@@@
Corn .70

ALBERTSONS

 Strawberries 3/3.99
Eggs 1.00
English muffins 2/1.00
Brewers 2/6
7 percent hamburger 3.99
Buy 10/ save (5
Tomatoes .58


 SAFEWAYS

Carn 6/2
Tills mock 3.99*******cheese

5 buck Friday
Salmon
diGior no pizza


Thanks for stopping by

4+ 1equals five
better cheaper faster
 remember you get paid for shopping , not for cooking

Tuesday....

I look at the red plum coupons in the grocery insert.  most of the time they are for expensive stuff that I would never buy in the first place..  A coupon is not a bargain if it is for high  priced ready made stuff.
This is  second time around, the bloody machine erased my blog.

I thought I might be missing something, so I should explore the world of coupons.  If I can't make a legitimate bargain in a short amount of time, it's not worth it.  While spending a little time prepping for your shopping trip is definitely worth while, I am not for spending twenty hours a week and several hundreds dollars on newspapers just to get coupons for something  we are not likely to eat anyway.  it has to be practical.

Now when I can expend the effort of a few mouse clicks and get more than free baby food, I will do it. Even if the food is not appropriate for my grandchild, it can very well go to the food bank on the way home.  I would make that effort if we didn't have a baby at home.  this is America, no child should go hungry....if we can feed the starving......we can surely  feed our own especially if I can do it for more than free.

Ps they had no baby food jars at either rite aid.m I did get pouches also on the rewards.  It mad pouches really cheap.  Not exactly free, but pretty cheap.  The rewards can be used from the 8th to the 21 st. And I got another 1 coupon.

More than free alert

I was playing around on the Internet...have to stay in bed , so I might as well make myself useful.  haha.

Rite Aid has a coupon for baby food......please don't stop reading cause you don't have a baby.    

If you buy six baby food with the coupon, it costs .91 less than the nine dollars you get in store credit.
Essentially, the baby food is FREE.  you are money ahead to give a baby food for a couple of days!
I am positive the food bank would welcome the donation!!!!


I , in the interest of trying to lower food bills any way possible, without taking my entire day up doing it, watched extreme couponing the other night.  It was a gal from Lynnwood.  I am sure they were shopping at the Lynnwood Fred Meyers.  First of all, it sounded to me that she was breaking rules that I understood all coupons to say.  the thing that stood out the most was that they had never tasted couscous and yet she purchased some 134 boxes of it to use in a year.  That's 2.5 boxes a week.
She also bought 93 bottles of hot sauce and 600 candy bars,  Who needs that much hot sauce?  And I'll bet the kids dentist  isn't thrilled with 600 candy bars either!!!!

I found a good website.   coupon connections,com.   She is writing out of Lynnwood and pairs local coupons with local sales.  I wouldn't spend a lot of time on it, but if I had access to the ads and I needed the product, and if it was free or  below my target price, I might be tempted.

The bottom line is it is worth my time if  is it something I need or can give to the food bank.

Jane

Day 5. Sunday

As a caveat ,I just got out of surgery and am still groggy, so this could be interesting.  Early in the day yesterday, I roasted the pork tenderloin.  Last night we ate on the porch.  We had Pork tenderloin, cucumber salad (English) brown rice and strawberries and cream.

It was an interesting day, I got a bunch of work done and finished an order  that I need to get out.  I made up a flyer of the latest perp passing bad plastic to take to the mall.  My husband was driving,when as irony would have it, he got a ticket for  talking on the phone to my daughter in the exact same place as I found the last perp.  We need the day with my husband cutting his finger!

As summer is coming truly it is related to Mr. submitting your instructions or animal the wash them is Steve this is beleaguer it produces a distortion with a pretty great with vinegar peppery taste
So much for dictating while under sedation.

Summer  is coming truly it is. nasturtium vinegar is vinegar was a peppery taste-- very good with salads .  just steep  cleaned  flowers and regular white vinegar . Strain into a pan , preferably non metallic, and bring almost to a boil.,,

Apple and carrot slaw

1/2 cabbage head,shredded
2 large carrots,,shredded
1 medium apple,finely chopped
1/4'cup plus 1Tmayo
Pinch sugar
1 tsp vinegar
Salt and pepper

Mix all ingredients,  cover and chill

mushroom spinach salad


Spinach,
sliced mushrooms
Red onion rings

Italian dressing

Salads are easy way to diminish the vegetable bin.  you can  use Bitts and snatches  of things to make salads interesting while all the while cleaning salad bin out.

Guess that's all.
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Remember
4+ one is five
better cheaper faster

Jane













,

List of meals

1. Tuna casserole
2. Chicken chimichangas
3. Leftover chicken chimichangas
4. Shrimp, brown rice, spinach and artichoke salad
5. Pork tenderloin, brown rice, cucumber salad,strawberries and cream
6. Picnic on the deck....strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, carrots, celery, radish, turkey, salami, cheese, crackers.
7. Cinco de mayo party at friends
8. Steak, baked potatoes,mixed veggies,green salad
9. Eggs, hash browns, fruit
10. Sloppy joes, corn on the cob, strawberries
11. Sausage quiche with peppers and cheese, fruit salad....added strawberries from last night.  
12. Hamburgers
13. Fish and chips
14. Hamburgers, potato salad,strawberries, 
15. Eggs with ham, cheese, strawberries, biscuits
16. Fish and chips
17. Went to party
18. Eggs , bacon, fruit, hash browns 
19. Pizza
20. Seafood Pasta
21. Nachos
22. Whole wheat burritos
23. Hot dogs, buns, salad, corn on cob. 
24. Grillers, corn on cob, fruit salad lettuce and tomato
25. Out to dinner
26. Brats and beans
27. Sloppy joes, French fries , salad, strawberry shortcake
28. Tacos
29. Chicken Alfredo, mixed veggies, French bread
30. , 

Day 4

Last night we had shrimp, spinach salad with artichoke hearts, and brown rice.  The shrimp was cooked using a recipe that was floating on  the Internet yesterday.  It's really simple.

My husband  layered in a baking pan.  Melted  butter, sliced lemons, shrimp and Italian seasoning.m bake at 350 for 15 minutes.   My daughter cooked brown rice and. Spinach salad.  

We went to the grocery store.I  got Free eggs and peas, fresh fruit and veggies and a box of tea.  The only non perishable I got was a pork tenderloin on sale.  I still spent 52.00 ! Between  QFC (Kroger ) and Costco.  

The family set up the deck yesterday.   We are supposed to get our summer this next two weeks, so it is the best place "in" the house to be in the evening besides  the basement.    I have been buying perennials instead of annuals a little at a time, so I am not buying flowers every year.  I did buy the herbs that didn't winter.  

We have potato salad, spinach salad, orzo salad , and fruit.  All I have to cook is the roast.  I will do it in the morning, while it is cool .   We will eat on the salads,, adding new ones as we go along and adding an burger etc through the week.  

Orzo stuffed Tomatoes

1/2 box orzo, cooked and well drained.
4  medium tomatoes, slice off tops and spoon out the seeds and pulp, leaving a shell, reserving pulp.
2 ounces cubed ham
1/2 cup shredded cheese
2 ribs celery.chopped
1/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2'tsp onion powder
Pepper.
Lettuce leaves

Mix cooked orzo , the pulp from the tomato, chopped and well drained.  And the rest of the ingredients except the tomato.  Place the tomatoes each on a lettuce cup.  Fill the tomatoes with orzo filling.

Notes :  you could microplane a little onion instead of using onion powder.  I would be tempted to add some dill, and or parsley.  maybe as an alternative, drop the cheese and use olive oil or Italian dressing instead of the mayo and sour cream and add some fresh herbs.

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4+ one is five
 better cheaper faster
when you're working the meal train spend more time on the front end the less  time of the back end.  You get paid for shopping, not for cooking.


Jane

Suddenly Saturday

it's going to be a great day in the pacific N.W.  I tried to get some of the deck spring cleaned and ready for summer.  Didn't succeed, but maybe my daughter will help me today.  it's going to be nive for the next two weeks, so I would like us to be able to live out there.  it's much cooler in the evenings.

We had leftover chicken chimichangas last night.  My daughter was really late because some mother was really late picking up her child that made my daughter get home at 7:45.   lucky she had packed enough lunch for her daughter to have a good snack.  Her intentions were to go to SAFEWAYS five dollar Fridays, but best laid plans.....

Tuna S.alad

1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 T sour cream
4 tsp parsley
12 tsp dill
Pinch thyme
Salt, pepper

2 cans tuna, drained and flaked
4 T minced onion
4 cups baby spinach

Thinly sliced tomatoes for garnish

Mix dressing ingredients.  Mix tuna, and onion.  Serve over spinach with tomatoes as a garnish.
Notes: you could also add sliced celery .  spinach is cheapest at Costco.  Shredded carrots might taste good also.  Maybe some walnuts or cashews.  It needs something to bulk it up.




Broccoli Salad
2cups fresh broccoli florets
2 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
1 green onion, sliced
3 tablespoons raisins
 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds

 dressing
1/3 cup mayonnaise
4 teaspoons sugar
 2 teaspoons white vinegar
 combine salad ingredients
 combine dressing ingredients



Toss together.

Green Bean Salad

1cup Fresh green beans slightly blanched ,cut into 2 inch pieces
1/2 a medium cucumber sliced
1 small red pepper julienned
1/4 cup sliced onion

Toss together.  Dress with ranch dressing.





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 better cheaper faster

Jane




















In  a bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients
Stir in tuna and onion
Serve over spinach
Garnish with sliced tomatoes of the side.

Notes:  spinach is cheapest at Costco.  Roma tomatoes are cheapest and you get more flesh and less seeds...more bang for your buck.  I might drizzle them with a little olive oil infused with basil.  fresh basil in in the stores with roots.  You can plant it or keep it on fresh water and it will grow.
I might also add celery , chopped.  Or sliced radishes.

Fruit Salad

4 cups romaine
1 pear, diced
1 cup raspberries
Toasted nuts
Dried cranberries

Toss with raspberry vinaigrette


Broccoli Salad

2 cups broccoli florets
2 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1green onion chopped
3 T raisins
1 T sunflower seeds.

Dressing

1/3 cup mayo

Finally Friday

This is the first non shopping day. Suits me fine because I am sick. I should be getting some fruits and veggies, but will try tomorrow.

Yeaterday we had chicken chimichangas with lettuce, salsa, sour cream and jalapeño flavored cheese. ( real cheese)

My daughter got a Trader Joes flyer on the mail. Most of it was far too expensive. the Wisconsin blue cheese sounds interesting at 3.29. As well as the Irish cheese for 6.49 a pound. Irish Breakfast tea is 80 bags for 2.99....
Blackberries, 3.29....

As promised, Chocolate Cream Puffs.

1 cup water
6T butter
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
4 eggs

FILLING
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 T cocoa

In a saucepan over medium heat, bring water and butter to a boil. Add flour and salt all at once. Stir until a ball forms. Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Add eggs in one at a time, beating well after each. Beat until smooth. Grease a sheet of foil on a cookie sheet. Drop batter in mounds on sheet. (6). Bake at 400 for 15 minutes. reduce heat to 350 for another. 30 minutes. remove puffs to a wire rack and I,,editable cut a slit in them for the steam to escape.

For filling. Beat cream. Fold in cocoa and sugar. Beat until soft peaks form. Fill cooled puffs.

Makes 6


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Jane

May 1st , Day 1.

Yesterday was the first day of our use up the accumulated stock month. We had tuna noodle casserole and mixed veggies. It will be interesting to see what we have after a month.

It is supposed to be really nice weather in the Pacific Northwest, time to break out the deck furniture and enjoy the sunshine. After all, it might be the last we see....LOL.

Dill Pickle Potato Salad

8 medium sized Potatoes, cooked and chopped. Cool slightly.
6 hard cooked eggs, chopped
3 ribs celery, chopped
6 green onions, chopped
2 medium dill pickles
1-1/2. Cups mayo
1/4 cup dill pickle juice
4 teaspoons mustard
Salt, pepper

Mix together. Chill.

Grilled Shrimp

1-1/2 pounds shrimp, cleaned
1/2 bunch green onion, diced
1/4 cup Italian salad dressing
2 T lemon juice
2 T balsamic vinegar
2 T olive oil
1 tsp minced garlic

Place shrimp in a greased grill basket.
grill shrimp over indirect heat for 2-3 minutes or until shrimp turns pink.
Refrigerate until chilled.
add dressing ingredients in a large plastic bag. Add shrimp. Chill at least 2 hours.

serves 4

Berry Torte
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup flour
1tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Cream butter and sugar.Add egg. Fold in dry ingredients. Spread in a 9 -10 inch circle on parchment lined
cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Remove to wire rack and cool.

Filling
Combine
1/4 cup sugar
2tsp confectioners sugar
2tsp cornstarch

Beat 1-1/2 cups whipping cream until soft peak stage.

Assembly

Place cookie crust on a serving plate. Top with 1/2 of the whipped cream and a cup of mixed berries.
Repeat layers twice, ending in berries. Cover and chill at least 2 hours.

I have not tested this recipe. You could probably put the filling in a graham cracker crust also, or line a 9x13 pan with a graham cracker crust and fill it. Neater way to take to a picnic!


Next chocolate cream puffs.....

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Jane

Notes

A couple of days ago I took a little trip to the next town ...doing a little snooping to find a perp. No luck.
She is the last one I haven't identified. I really want to get her before she hurts more people.

Anyway, I found a new Grocery store. Walmart Neighborhood Grocery. We went in to chck it out. As a disclaimer I am not particulary fond of Wall mart. I don't like their ways and they cheated me. I really don't appreciate paying for other people's mistakes! LOl

With a open mind, however, we went in to check out the prices. I saw tomatoes for ?78 cents and two hunts pasta sauces for 1.76. Other than that, everything was more expensive than elsewhere.
I did appreciate the fact that the housewares and toys were in the back of the store. Separate from the food.

I did manage to get a romper for my granddaughter and a book for one year olds from the goodwill and a haircut, so all wasn't lost.


Thanks for stopping by


Jane

The ads

The ads....on time for a change

TOP

Roma's .77
Sour cream 1.50
Milk 1.99
Coleslaw .77@@@
Blues B1G1
Apples1.00

QFC

Chicken .89
Yoplait .50
Pasta 1.00
Eggs 1.00
Berries 2.99
Corn 2/1.00

SAFEWAYS
Pork shoulder roast 1.29
Oranges 1.00
London broil 2.99
Sausage B1G1

Five dollar Friday

Salsa
Radishes 2/1.00


ALBERTSONS

Chuck roast 2.75
Corn 6/2.00
Hunts pasta sauce . 88
Ketchup .88
Apples .99
Oranges .99
Strawberries 2/5


Guess that's it. I am only buying perishables this week.
So, ALBERTSONS looks good and the salsa at SAFEWAYS.


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Please share

Jane

4+1=5
Better, cheaper, faster.
you get paid for shopping, not for cooking.

one ingredient visited : Ground meat

I am trying to address one food item per week. This week I picked ground meat. it is one of the most versatile sources of protein around-- ground beef, turkey, chicken, and pork. Mix several together for a tasty meatloaf.

I have a hard time with ground poultry. The consistency isn't right for me....when I tried to sneak ground turkey into the taco meat...my husband squawked before it ever touched his lips. LOL

Hamburgers can take on any number of flavors . Teriyaki, Mexican, chili burgers, sloppy joes,beef and bacon,blue cheese. Italian cheese burgers to name a few.

how about Spanish rice? Meatballs, meatloaf, pasta sauce.

Meatballs go in pasta sauce, in sub sandwiches, in brown gravy over noodles. In cream gravy over rice.

the Internet is full of casserole recipes.


I batch cook and defat hamburger. Meat balls can cook in the oven over a cooling rack on a sheet pan.

Taco meat is easy...taco seasoning is on a previous blog.

Defatted crumbles are a no brainier. Use on pizza. In pasta sauce, as a base for sloppy joes or sheaperds pir or impossible cheeseburger pie.

Meatloaf is a Favorite here.

Four plus one is five.
Better, cheaper, faster
remember, you get paid for shopping, not for cooking.



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Jane

Desert ....Yum

if I make desert it is a rare occasion. I usually try to make something nutritious. usually we have ice cream one fruit.

Pudding, creme brûlée and some other deserts are good if your main entre. Doesn't have a lot of protein.

Vanilla Pudding

4T sugar
2 T cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk
2 egg yolk, beaten
2tsp butter
1 tsp vanilla

In a saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch and salt. Gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat until thick. Cook 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat. Temper the egg yolks into the pudding. Bring to a boil and cook 1 minute longer. Stir in butter and vanilla. Cool.

Blueberry Peach Muffins

1/4 cup softened butter
1/3 cup sugar
1egg

1-1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp soda
1/2 cup peach yogurt
2/3 cup blueberries
1 tsp grated orange peel

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs. Combine dry ingredients. Beat dry ingredients into wet batter alternating with the yogurt. Fold in the orange peel and blueberries. Place in muffin tins 3/4 full.
Bake at 375 20-25 minutes or until they test done.
MAKES 8.

Note if you take a little of the flour and dust the blueberries they will more likely to disputes throughout the batter.


Thanks for stopping by

4+1 =5
Better, cheaper, faster
Remember you get paid for shopping, not for cooking.

Jane

Salads.....

We have had a few nice days, I am looking forward to salad time. ....the yard work, not so much. LOL


Salad Dressing

I'm not so are that this is cheaper than the bottle, but probably healthier and you could use vegetable oil.

1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup olive oil
1-1/2 tsp salt
Pinch of pepper
1/ tsp dry mustard
1 tsp minced garlic
1 T parsley

Mix together in a bottle with a tight fitting lid and shake.


Veggies

Carrot
Celery
Cucumber
Cauliflower
Onion
Tomato


Yesterday we had linguine with scallops in a cream sauce with the last of the asparagus.

Today I am cooking a pork roast. I might try the vegetable salad with broccoli instead of cauliflower.


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Please share

4+1 =5
better, Cheaper, Faster
you get paid for shopping, not for cooking.

Jane

Suddenly Saturday

Spring has sprung and summer is not far behind....well, maybe in the Pacific Northwest.


One of my time saving and beat the heat tricks for summer is to make salads on Sunday and add a entre each day during the week. It doesn't cover the entire work week, but it gets us through to mid week anyway. That way I don't have to cook in the hot kitchen. The entre can be BBQ d outside.

Potato Salad

2.5 pounds red potatoes
1 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup red peppers, chopped
2 hard cooked eggs, chopped
1 green onions, chopped

1/4 cup mustard
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayo
Salt and pepper.

cook and cool potatoes, cut into quarters
Add chopped veggies

Mix dressing ingredients .

Dress the salad.

Serves 8


Shrimp pasta salad

4cups cooked pasta shells, chilled

1 pound shrimp, cleaned and cut into thirds

1 cup frozen peas
1 bunch green onions, cleaned and sliced
1T dried parsley
1 small carton lemon yogurt
1 cup mayo
Salt and pepper

Mix ingredients together.


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Please share
Four plus one is five
Better, cheaper, faster
You get paid for shopping , not for cooking.

Jane

Wolves in sheep's clothing

Something I saw on another blog reminded me of when My daughter and I dissected a hamburger meal box. I don't quite understand why if the government made Nabisco change the name of their vanilla wafers because they had no vanilla in them, why there can be products with the name "cheese " in them when they have no cheese.

I have become a label reader. I buy few convenience foods because they jack up the price of food. I read labels because I am diabetic and I am really careful about how many carbs I ingest. There are hidden carbs in just about everything. I am leery of anything that has ingredients that sound like they should belong in a science lab.

Cheese whey is the byproduct of making cheese. After they take the solids and fat out of milk, it is what is left. It is good food, and has protein in it, but it is NOT CHEESE.

I never met a cheese I didn't like, and I never met a cheese than had no cholesterol.

I do keep a couple of mixes on the boat for emergency rations. I did get a hamburger meal box with real processed cheese. It is not something we generally use, but I got them for a buck and on the boat, you have to have emergency rations in case you get stuck with no food access. I have been known to add kidney beans to cheeseburger macaroni.
Not great, but better than nothing?!LOL

I am not doing any serious grocery shopping. I do have a WinCo coupon, so I am very tempted. I usually get about 6o percent savings. The first of May we are going to try an experiment and live from the stock on hand only adding perishables and a minimal amount of anything else. I want to see how far I can go. I am leery of paring down too far, the prices on some things are rising. I have averaged spending 70.00 a week and our stock is growing. It is time.

I made a formula for meal plans for our family. Your plan may be different.I am working with a daughter that is vegetarian , a grandaughter that only eats chicken, and a husband that doesn't like pork or chicken. I have resorted to cooking a variety of meals so that we are balanced.




2 beef
2 chicken or pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish

1) Nachos
2) pasta with meatballs
3) pork roast
4) sausage , potatoes and peppers
5) loaded tomato soup, quesadas
6) vegetable bean soup
7) scallops

Scallops were on five dollar Friday.
Vegetable bean soup is on another blog --easy and cheap to balance the scallops.
Roasted red pepper and tomato soup loaded with tomatoes, blue cheese and basil. ( basic soup about 2 dollars at Costco.
Sausage was 2.28, peppers .50 at grocery outlet
Burger batch cooked, 2.75 a pound that was on B1G1 at Safeway.
pork Roast 1.79 a pound at QFC last week.

All of these meals average less than five dollars a meal.

Four plus one is five.
better, cheaper, faster
You get paid for shopping, not cooking!


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Jane

The gist of it

Every month I write about the basics of groceries on the cheap for anyone that wants a refresher or for new people.

I feed our family on 1/2 of the USDA stats for thrifty food. I have done it for years and was in the Woman's Day years ago when my children were teens.

1/2 price cooking takes a three-pronged approach.

1) plan and organize
2) shopping
3) scratch cooking


PLAN AND ORGANIZE

1) develop your own recipe book of main dishes that use an inexpensive form of protein. Start with seven, and increase it to fourteen so you have some variety. For us that protein would be cheese, pork. Chicken, some cuts of beef, beans.

2) make a list of staples that you use often. For us that would be beans, some green beans and corn, pasta, pasta sauce, diced tomatoes. Some tuna, instant mashed potatoes, refried beans.

3) create a price book or a spread sheet on these products. You should have ten or fifteen items max.

Note the item and the size of the package, the place you bought it,the price and the date. Pretty soon you will have a good idea of the lowest rock bottom price of that item. When you find that price buy
A) as many as you can afford to buy
B) as many as the store will let you buy. Or
C) as many as you need to replenish your stock, whichever comes first.



SHOPPING

This is not about hoarding. If I use something Once a week, I keep 24. once a month , I keep 6. I keep one ahead of things like mustard, catsup, mayo etc. I don't want to run to the store when I run out.

When the grocery ads for the chain stores come out. I sit down with a piece of computer paper, divide it in fourths and head each fourth with the name of a chain store nearby. I go through the ads and write down everything that is on sale that is on my target list, and any fruit, veggie, or perishable we eat and any meat that is a good price. Then I cross off anything that is more expensive than elsewhere and anything I don't need. Now pick The two stores that have the best buys on what you need. Plan your trip so you use the least gas. Take your list, get in , and get out. The longer you spend in a store, the more you will spend. Avoid impulse buys. be sure and take the ads with you. .

We have several stores clustered together. I can incorporate the dollar store,the pharmacy, and maybe big lots or
Grocery outlet in the same trip. I almost always hit the two chain stores. If it is convenient, I hit others,
there are certain things that we buy at the alternative stores, and we can get in and out quickly. If we are short on time, we divide and conquer. We hit Costco, the bakery outlet and WinCo once every four to six weeks.

Costco is close by so we can hit it when we are running out of things. The others are several towns away, so they are on a longer cycle.

We seldom spend more than an hour or so shopping a week.
1/2 price foods leaves no room for a lot of snack foods, pop, chips, etc.

After your shopping trip, jot down seven meals. Just the main dish, nothing time consuming or fancy, I do this after because sometimes while shopping you find something real l y cheap or what you planned to buy is not good.

SCRATCH COOKING
Ready made foods are a sure way to bust your budget! It doesn't take a lot of time to cook from scratch. There are all kinds of tricks to make your time in the kitchen short.

1) batch cook
2) marathon cook
3) stair step cooking
4) slow cooker or pressure cooking
5) cooking fast foods

Marathon cooking is cooking a months worth of foods in a weekend. Shop one day and cook the next. I went to a class on it years ago. I don't have the stamina for it, and we enjoy fresh fruits and veggies. There are books on it.

Batch cooking works for me. I buy meat when it is the lowest price. It is hard to judge the ever skyrocketing costs of beef, but chicken and pork aren't bad. Usually, I find one meat a week. I cook it that day, or the next day.
Portion it into meal sized packages and freeze. I get good hamburger when it is B1G1 and do the whole thing. It creates less waste and less clean up. I can spend the time to defat it. Defatting hamburger can make it have less fat than boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Directions are on an earlier blog. I make hamburger crumbles, taco meat, meatballs, meatloaf. Sausage is cheapest at Costco , I fry it and defat it as soon as I get it home.

I also make my own taco seasoning, and other mixes. Another way to jack up food prices.

Stair step cooking is cooking a double batch of something and saving some for later in the week. A double batch of rice can be for Mexican rice one day and the base for sweet and sour pork or chicken or beef tips another.

Slow cookers are your best friend in the kitchen. I loved coming home to the smell of dinner when I walked in the door after a long day! I still love the concept, I just don't have a sense of smell! LOL

I have a recipe on the blog for almost FREE pizza!

I want to be in and out of the kitchen in about twenty minutes not including passive cooking. Love it when I can shove something in an oven or slow cooker and walk away to do mail management or wash a load of clothes etc.

In the summer when our east facing kitchen gets hot, ( did I say that in the Pacific NW)I like to make a bunch of salads on Sunday and then cook hot dogs, hamburgers, or chicken on the grill. salads last well into the week.
EASY and my husband does the grilling!!!

The main thing is to not buy anything ready made. A few things are as cheap or cheaper to buy ready made.
I buy tortillas on sale. Ditto refried beans, instant mashed potatoes, pasta sauce (Hunts ) or another can that I found at WinCo. I buy bread and sandwich rolls at the bakery outlet unless I find them cheaper somewhere else.

DELI chicken and Hamburger Meal boxes are about the most expensive items in the store. ...well maybe not if you shop at whole paycheck type stores. LOL My daughter and I thorally investigated hamburger meal box. it's on a blog last summer-- it's a real eye opener. Deli chicken is another topic.

My manta. Better, cheaper, faster!

If you spend more time on the front end of the GET A MEAL ON THE TABLE TRAIN, and less on the back end, you will be better off. You get PAID for shopping, you don't get paid for cooking.

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The ads

Here are the ads. I actually got them on time!?!!!

QFC

Breyers 1/2 off
Strawberries 2/4
Franz bread 1/2 off
Hebrew national 2/7
Fuji apples 1.00
Pears 1.00

ALBERTSOMS

beef top roumd 1.99
27 percent ground beef 1.99
Lettuce 1.00

Cheese 4.99@@@
Fryers .79. Limit 2 @@@
5# potatoes .79@@@

Veggie sale 1.00
Oranges
Peppers ea
Tomato
Zucchini
Avocados. Ea
Apples
Romaine ea
Cucumbers 1.00 ea
Slaw. Ea


TOP

20 percent beef 1.99
10 percent 4.00
7 percent 4.00

Beans 15/10
Cucumbers .79
Broccoli 1.00

SAFEWAYS

Potroast 2.99
Strawberries 1.99
Apples .99

5 dollar Friday
Brats


That's about all.

Notes. Remember to cross off anything you don't want or use. Or anything that is more expensive, remember, to compare ground beef prices, multiply the price by 1.XX. XX is the percentage of fat. Make it a double digit. 7 percent is .07. Then compare the prices.

@@@ denotes bring store coupon. This product may be rationed.



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Apples.....and plums!

Apples are one of the foods that don't seem to be effected by the rising food prices.

German Apple Cake

3 eggs
2 Cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

4 cups peeled chopped tart apples

Beat eggs, sugar, oil and. Vanilla
Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones.
Fold on apples.
Pour into greased 9X13 pan.
Bake at 350 -55-60 minutes or until
It tests done.


Notes. I would use fake sugar to reduce the calories and make it more diabetic friendly.

German Plum Tart

1/2 cup butter
4T sugar, divided
1egg yolk
1cup flour
2 pounds plums

Ceeam butter and 3 T sugar. Beat in egg yolk. Add flour until mixture forms a soft dough.
Press in bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch pie plate,
Arrange plum 1/2s cut side down in plate on top of crust. Sprinkle with remaining sugar
Bake at 350 25-45 minutes until crust is golden brown and fruit is tender.


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Monday Madness

Yesterday I went to the goodwill. Not much there. My husband got a call from family that needed his truck to move a spring and mattress. As luck would have it, I foumd an estate sale down the street from family. I got books,a plate and a swing for my grandaughter and a dozen Taste of Homes for 7 bucks.

We, then went to the rest of our planned trip. I got the supply I needed and we checked out big lots,..zero and went on to grocery outlet. I have to applaud grocery outlet for designating a parking spot for veterans. We got a few things. I got peppers for .50 and parm cheese and seasoned grated cheese. It really perks up Mac and cheese.
Peppers on a large can were 1.29.

I usually do a blog on the ads, and meals from the ads. Once a month I do the basics. I thought I would start and take a food item and explore ideas of what you can do with it.


Ham cubes are inexpensive. A bag will last three meals.
Sometimes I can find them at grocery outlet, but I found them at WinCo last week.

You can...use them in...

omlettes
Quiche with cheese
Split pea soup with carrot
Potato soup with ham
Pizza with pineapple and spinach
In Cobb or club salad

I found a recipe for pasta .

1 pound linguini, or spaghetti.
Ham cubes
1 T butter
2 cups frozen peas
1-1/2 cups parm or Romano
1/3 cup milk or cream


Cook the pasta and drain.

On a skillet, sauté ham in butter. Add peas and heat through. Toss with drained pasta. Add parm and cream.
Serve immediately.

Notes.
This would be good with artichokes too. Blanched celery would stretch it. The microwave pasta cooker would make it really fast. Passive cooking time means you can get a salad made and the table ser and still have time for another chore before you put things together.

I made rice pudding yesterday from a recipe I saw on Facebook. It was really food. I think it is better warm than cool. Really easy and mostly passive cooking.



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Sunday Dinner

since the pork I bought has a May 10th pull date, we are going to have the chicken first. I plan to roast it off in my " new" kitchen....well I now have ceiling lights and lights in the oven. My kitchen aid lights are not available off the shelf. . They have to be ordered and take a full 10 days to get here. heads upnfor anyone with a fairly new kitchenaid wall oven. They are also 8 dollars EACH. it wouldn't be a bad idea to order them ahead so you have a spare and didn't have to go without like I did. Of course not having ceiling lights didn't help! LOL


Tuna Sub sandwiches

Sub sandwich bums

Garlic oil
2 cans albacore tuna, drained.
Sliced red onion rings
Sliced hot pepper rings
Chopped artichoke hearts
Capers, rinsed
Black olives
White cheese

Slice Buns lengthwise
Pull some bread out of the center of the bun. Reserve for breadcrumbs.
Brush both sides of buns with oil.
Stuff the bread with the remaining ingredients
put top on bread loaf.

Note: tuna is on sale at Bartells for 1.19. if onions are too sharp in taste, soak them in ice water.
Roasted red peppers could be substituted for the hot peppers

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Best Laid plans number one!!!!

I had no intention on going shopping today. my sister sent me her coupon for WinCo. Ten dollars off of fifty dollars worth of food. We started to go and the car wouldn't run. My husband took it to our local repairman and he had it running in five minutes, so off we went again. We drove to Everett, shopped and got back and put things away in plenty of time for my doc appointment-like in an hour and ten minutes. I spent a net of 36.00. I didn't count my husbands beef jerkey meat he shares with friends. After the doctors, I went to QFC ans got a pork loin for 1.69 a pound and a chicken for .89 a pound. They wanted more for leg quarters at WinCo than the .88 for a whole chicken at QFC.

I will give my daughter the other WinCo coupon to use. Ill try to start using pantry and freezer down next week.


Meals from the shopping trip and the pantry.

Formuls

2 beef
2 pork. Chicken
2 vegetarian
1 fish


1) Ham quiche , mixed berry compote.
2) roast chicken
3) salmon,
4) tacos
5) sliders
6) split pea soup
7) Mac and cheese

I have apples, oranges, strawberries, blueberries, grapes
Radishes, broccoli, lettuce, romaine, red potatoes, reg potatoes
Carrots, celery, cucumbers, asparagus, lemons tomatoes

Regular canned foods and frozen foods.

I have green veggie boxes. They keep veggies fresher longer so everything gets used up and you reuse the plastics over and over.

Friday

It's finally Friday.

I purchased a bisquick cookbook at work for a buck and a Rachel Ray one for .75. They are like new. I have a lot of cookbooks. This particular one tells of the history behind bisquick. My mother didn't use bisquick until we were grown and I taught her what chicken pot pie was. LOL. Bisquickmcame to be in 1931 when a salesman for General Mills discovered that a cook on a train had put some ingredients together so that he could make biscuits faster.m He brought the concept back to the Chemists at General Mills. Over the years they have perfected it to be more healthy.
I have a recipe for home made , but it calls for shortening.m I don't know if they have a healthy alternative for that yet or not. I haven't used shortening in years.
Bisquick is pretty cheap at Costco. My family loves impossible pie and it is easy and quick and uses bits of veggies and meat.

This particular cookbook was published in 2008. It has the basics of waffles, pancakes, biscuits etc, but it also has some innovative things like breakfast pinwheels, cobblers, banana blueberry bread (another one of our favorites and healthy too.) Main dish chicken dishes and lots more.m You can also find recipes on Betty Crocker web site.

30 minute weeknight dinners is a chapter I am going to explore. I would bet that I can get them down to 20 minutes with already preped meat.

There is a section for the fat police! LOL
Turkey cheeseburger melts, vegetable stew etc.



my mantra: If you spend more time on the front end of the "get a meal on the table train" and less time on the back end you will be better off. Essentially, you are being paid for shopping, not for cooking.

This week, I don't have to shop at all. I will take inventory of the perishables and maybe hit the fresh veggie market after I make meal plans up from the meat in the freezer. it's about time we pared it down to defrost it.
I think I'll make a game to seemhowmfarmwemcan go with what's in the freezer. It should show a truer picture of how much the food we eat costs. I know that I have a large stock at the moment spending about 70.00 a week average.

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Feed your family better, cheaper, faster.

Thursday Thursday

This should be fun. I just found the dictation button on my reader that I got for free because my other one quit.

Breakfast Casserole

1 pound cooked and defatted sausage , set out to room temperature.
2tsp onion powder.

10 large eggs
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
half a teaspoon of pepper
One teaspoon minced garlic

one loaf day old country white bread ,cut into 1.5 inch cubes (about 12 cups )
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Add onion powder to cooked sausage that has been crumbled.
Whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper and garlic powder in large bowl.
Add sausage mixture and remaining ingredients. stir.

Butter a 9X13 pan. Empty bowl into prepared pan. refrigerate one hour or overnight covered with foil.
Bake at 350 degrees 45 minutes still covered.
Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes until done and browned.

A quick pre made breakfast. Actual prep time is a minimum. The rest is passive cooking. I would serve it with a fruit compote and a muffin.

If you don't eat pork, or are on a restricted diet, you could substitute egg beaters and turkey sausage. it would be interesting to know the difference between the fat content between defatted pork sausage and turkey sausage.


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Ps. 1/2 cup of turkey sausage has 4 grams of fat.
1/2 cup of pork sausage defatted has less than 10 grams of fat to the best of my calculations.
I serving of the casserole has 2 ounces of meat, or about 5 grams of fat. 1gram more than if you had a turkey sausage patty . 1pound of sausage is quite generous. You could cut it o 3/4 of a pound .

Wednesday

I have the late shift today. Found this recipe for minestrone.

2T olive oil
1/4 cup chopped onion
Salt, pepper
2tsp chopped garlic

2 T tomato paste
4 carrots, sliced
2stalks celery,sliced
1 potato, peeled and cubed
Thyme
1 can white beans, ringed and drained
2 quarts water
1cup pasta
2cups spinach


Sauté onion in oil with salt and pepper and garlic. Add tomato paste. Cook for two minutes. Add some water and remaining veggies. Cook until veggies are crisp tender. Pour into slow cooker and add the remaining water and the beans.

Cook on low 8-10 hours. Add spinach and cooked pasta. Cook on high 15-20 minutes or until spinach is wilted.

Serve with Pam and a hard crusty bread or breadsticks.


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Jane

The ads

i got the ads in today's mail!,

SAFEWAYS

B1G1

Top sirloin steak
Sirloin tip
whole chickens

No prices posted, mix and match

FIVE DOLLAR FRIDAY

deli ham and cheese
Sub
Boston cream cake
3 lbs strawberries


ALBERTSONS

Chicken leg portions. .88
Apples .99
Blackberries 2:5
Strawberries z 2/5

QFC

Strawberries 2/4
Milk 2/5
Regs 2/3
Chicken .88 lb. not in ad.

Dreyers2.49. Buy 5 mix annd match
Morning star. 2.99
Dover sole 6.
Cucumbers 1.

Pork loin 1.69

Apples 1
Oranges 1.


TOP

London broil B1G1. Nets 2.75
Pork loin roast nets 2.75

Chili. 1.00
Milk 2.49
Strawberries 2/5
Romaine 2.


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Tuesday and Terrific

I have written the same paragraph twice I'm response to the naysayers . They can't understand the concept of saving. if you spend 25.00, you spend 25.00. If you loose 10 pounds, You LOOSE ten pounds. If you waste 25.00, you waste 25.00. What a concept! Waste it, save it? The jar is either half empty or half full! LOL

basically, I started writing this blog so people on SNAP that were running out of money before they ran out of month got some help in making informed decisions at the grocery store. Some people that are not on SNAP have incorporated the savings into their budget, enjoyed a new time saving recipe, or a technique to get out of the kitchen faster. Whatever you take from it, I hope I am helping people.

I don't advertise on my blog, I am doing this to try to help .


One of the ways to save on ground beef is to be mindful of the prices and the fat content of the beef. The TRUE price is the amount of the meat per pound TIMES 1.XX. The XX is the amount of fat content it has. Remember if you defat hamburger, you are pouring it down the drain. better in the house pipes than yours!!

If another cut of beef is cheaper than good hamburger, grind your own. If you don't have a kitchen aid grinder attachment, you can get the grinders that our great grandmothers had pretty cheap at an antique store or flea market or in our grannies attic!

Another option.
Freeze chuck roast for about 15 minutes. Cut in in large chunks and pulse chop on the food processor 20 - 22 times until roughly chopped. Rough chop is more tender and juicy. You can add seasoning if you like. Shape into patties or batch cook.


Roasted onion topping for hamburgers.

Chop 1 small onion
Drizzle with olive oil
Sprinkle with salt
Toss

Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes until tender.

You can put in the beef mixture before grilling, or add to mayo for on top of the cooked burger.

Other ideas

Teriyaki burgers with pineapple.
Jalapeño burgers
Blue cheese burgers
Any idea?

I'm trying to low carb and lower my blood sugars lately.
Yesterday I had a lettuce wrap with cheese, bacon and tomato . And some fruit for lunch.


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Jane