Terrific Tuesday

Yesterday was an alternative shopping day.  We went to goodwill where I picked up a cute shortfall for granddaughter.  Mom doesn't think it was so cute.  And a couple of books for her.  

QFC netted food for the boat stock at a 64 percent savings.  We watched as 32.00 went down to 12.50.  On to big lots for my husband to get hot pickles.  And the dollar store where I netted 80 percent off.  Pepperoni was buy 1, get one with a coupon.  7 dollars worth of pepperoni was a buck.  Steam vegetables were a buck, 3 dollars at the Q.  Lemonade was a buck but I can't remember how much it is at QFC.

All together less than twenty dollars!  Good prices paired with good coupons.  Big Lots does not take SNAP.  A

On another note, I went over budget this week, but stocked some staples and the boat.  I am taking care of some health issues this week, and don't expect to shop next week at all to compensate.  I should finish the month ok. 

One of my friends brought me the coupons from her Sunday paper.  I pulled everything I thought I might use.  A lot of it was for stuff I don't buy.  I am rapidly seeing where you never should have to pay for toothpaste .  It is really easy to find coupons for .75 and a dollar.  The dollar store takes coupons, the Big Lots doesn't.  I am told that Grocery Outlet doesn't either.  I suspect that  Winco doesn't either.  

A lot of newspaper coupons are for non food items.  I have been averaging six bucks a shopping trip, and while six bucks are definitely worth it, I am not going to spend a lot of time on this endevour.  

Back to basics.  There are still a lot of meals that can come in at five dollars.  When I price  a meal, I don't count anything less than 2T.  I count everything that is real food in my total budget.  

Breakfast for dinner is a good way to make a quick cheap meal.  What kid wouldn't like chocolate waffles and turkey bacon and a yogurt and fruit parfait for dinner.  Plenty of protein, fruit and a carb or two and dairy.  

Pizza and green salad is another kid favorite.  

Tacos, refried beans, and salsa rice is another.  ...beans were .80 at big lots .  Salsa was a buck at QFC with a coupon.  There are also la Victoria coupons for tortillas on line.

Chicken and noodles and Mac and cheese are more kid friendly meals well under five dollars.  Frozen veggies are always a buck at the dollars store.  DUH.  And they were a buck at QFC this week.  

Meat balls can be made from ground beef, or from a mixture of meats,  done ahead, and frozen.  Walnut sized ones thaw quickly and can be made into a variety if dishes

• Meat ball subs
• Meat balls and spaghetti
• Meat balls with white gravy over rice
• Meat balls with brown gravy over noodles or mashed potatoes
• Meatball soup

Does anyone have any other ideas for meatballs?

Thanks for stopping by

Please share

Jane 

4+1=5. Four People, one meal, five bucks

Better, cheaper, faster

Drought and prices.

Last years drought has only just begun to effect food prices, mostly beef and dairy.  It will continue to effect us through 2013.  I am seeing cheese prices double what it was last year.  I have a stock in the freezer of grated cheese.  I have better luck freezing grated cheese.
Corn should remain seasonally cheap, buy field corn is expensive, driving up the cost of meat.  ( feed) .  I am stocking accordingly when I find staples cheap.  I want to maintain my 70.00 a week a long as I can.

Beef has doubled already.  I suspect we will find that pork follows.
I also suspect that like our grandmothers before us, we will adapt to meet our needs!  Red velvet cake was an invention out of necessity during WW2.

Just an update.  My info is from the USDA..

thanks for stopping by

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Jane

Foil packets

This is the second time I have done this blog today.  The first one fell apart!  LOL
So much for doing a blog at three in the am.

I have done blogs on foil packets before.  The kids love them,  they are like camping out;and moms like them because there are no dishes.  They are a good way to do dinner ahead and not have to cook in a hot kitchen.  They can be cooked in a oven or on the BBQ.  You can use up leftovers and tailor each persons packet to their taste.

I'll try to cut and paste a previous post.


Veggie Chicken Packet.
uses bone in chicken breast. Sometimes I have purchased them for 1.25 a pound.

For EACH packet

2 T instant rice
1chicken breast 1/4, or about 4 punches. ( the size of the palm of your hand.
1/ cup sliced carrot
2onion slices, separate into rings
1/4 cup peppers, sliced thin.
1 T water
1 T w sauce
2tsp soy sauce
1 T butter

Place rice in the center of a 14 inch square piece of foil
Top with chicken and veggies
Mix liquids together
Pour over chicken.
I would cup the edges of the foil first.
Dot with butter.
Fold foil around chicken and seal.
Place n baking pan and bake at 350 for 65-75 minutes or until chicken is done.
Open foil carefully, there will be steam!!!


I know the purists would say that I am filling the landfill, you can use used foil.

It would be a good recipe for a busy day. Even a older child or a culinary challenged spouse could put the packets on pan and get them started in the oven. LOL

You could also use already cooked chicken and shorten the time. Yhen you would just worry about how long the rice and veggies would take to cook. It would really be fast if you used leftover rice, maybe even finely chop the pepper in with it. I have a thing about white food. It needs colour. LOL

There is an earlier post on foil packets. It's a good thing to do when you are working late and you can fix them ahead for someone else to shove in the oven. Kids like the packets...it's like camping.

There are a lot of foil packet meals on the Betty Crocker website that are updated with more
sophisticated flavors.


Basically you take a 12 in square piece of foil ( or splice two smaller ones together) and layer

Starch
Meat
Veggies
A gravy or some kind of liquid.

Wrap the foil around the dinner and seal.  Make individual packets.  The foil becomes your dish.
Bake at 350 to 400 until done.



I started this blog to help people cook good nutritious meals on a tight budget. it came to my attention that some people on SNAP were running out of money before they ran out of month. we eat on about 1/2 of the USDA statistics for a thrifty plan. It is doable. no, we are not on SNAP. In the process, I have learned that other people that want to get out of the kitchen faster because they have busy lives and people that like trying a new recipe like it as well. It can't help anyone if they are not motivated to try. Not having food in the house at the end of the month should be motivation enough. It doesn't make your child or children feel secure when they know the cupboards are empty.

thanks for stopping by

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Jane

Sunday

Sunday already.Yesterday I went to Costco wholesale to get a few staples that I get once every year or more.  I buy salt in 25 pound bags.  It's 4 bucks and lasts us forever.  ( my daughter makes paint for the preschoolers.  ). I usually use sea salt for cooking, but use regular salt for baking.

I researched some Couponing  web sites , some of them are actually practical combining sale
Prices  with coupons for actual food instead of ready made stuff and a zillion cleaners I don't use.
I'm not paying for coupons, and I am not spending a lot of time looking for them.  I want my prep for shopping to be less than a half hour.

on to recipes

Pork Diane

Sauce
1 T water
1 T white wine
W sauce ( a splash)
1 tsp lemon juice
1tsp Dijon mustard

Mix sauce ingredients together.

Pour over cooked pork roast or chops.  Garnish with chives or parsley.

Note if I didn't  have wine, I would use apple juice or more water.


Asian Pork Wraps

7 inch flour tortillas

3Tcold water
2T soy sauce
1T corn starch
1tsp sugar
1/4 tsp minced garlic

3/4 pound pork loin or tenderloin
Cooking oil

3 cups coleslaw mix ( cabbage with carrot )


Warm tortillas in foil in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes
Mix sauce ingredients together.

Cut pork slices into thin strips.

Stir fry pork in cooking oil until no longer pink.
Set to side of pan.  Put sauce in center of pan and cook until thick and bubbly .  Cook 2 minutes longer.  Add cabbage mixture and stir to coat with sauce.

Place pork mixture on the middle of each tortilla and wrap like a cone.   (Wider at one end than the other.



NOTES
Pork tenderloin was 3.19 at Costco wholesale.  Grated cheese was 2.54 a pound.  I have seen cheese for 4.00 a pound lately.

My granddaughter saw the watermelons at Costco and declared that they were an apple.   If it is round and edible , it's an apple!! LOL

Brown and serve baguettes were like .73 each.  French bread is getting pricy.  I keep them on the fridge, they last a long time along with the flour tortillas.

I also got coffee syrup ,    Italian sodas are one of the only treats that I can have as a diabetic.  Sugar free syrup, water and milk.


That's about it...enjoy!  

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Jane

Suddenly Saturday

It's Saturday already and May is history.  I haven't depleted the stock that much.  I'll try again in June.
I really haven't bought meat in weeks, but have stocked a few things that were super rock bottom prices.  Limited myself to five each.

I deleted a post with the hopes that I could slow down the spam I am getting.  It didn't work. The Winco vs Costco post is gone.

On to the purpose of this blog.  I have just posted the monthly blogs this month on the basics.  the shopping part is there.  The cooking from scratch is a learned talent that if you don't already have it, it happens one recipe at a time.   There are a lot of no brainier recipes out there that are simple and fast.  We all live in a busy world, if you have children it is usually more busy this time of the year with  school ending for the summer.

There are a few inexpensive tools that make life easier.  I love my microwave pasta cooker.  It is about ten dollars.  You can make pasta in the microwave by putting the correct amount of water in this plastic oval bowl with your pasta, putting the bowl in the microwave, and turning the microwave on.  Then you can go about and make your sauce, salad and bread.  It drains with the aid of the lid.  one bowl to wash.

The next indispensable things  in our house is the slow cooker, the food processor, and the microwave.

I have been finding slow cooker recipes on the Betty crocker web site. Many of them look and sound really good.  Www.bettycrocker.com/ recipes

When I get home from the grocery stores, I keep track of my spending on a spread sheet.

Week 1        SAFEWAYS.      ALBERTSONS.     Winco.               Total
Week 2

If you don't have a computer, it is easy to do with a piece of lined paper, a straight edge, and a calculator.

You can get the gist of it.  Then I can add the total of the weeks and divide the total by four to get my average amount spent per week.  I'm still sitting about 70.00 a week, and have built a good stock.  This week I spent 50.00 and at least twenty of it was stock.

Making a meal plan is one of the best ways to keep on track.  It's too easy to fall off the meal train if you don't have a plan.  You don't have to necessarily eat a particular meal a particular day, but have a list of seven meals as a guide to follow.
Develop your own formula.  In our house it is

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

1. I'm diabetic and eat just about everything, my daughter is vegetarian, my husband only wants to ear meat, and my granddaughter is semi/ vegetarian.  It all works.  Specialty diets don't have to derail your budget.  

Look in your fridge and make a note of what needs to be eaten.  Can you make something with it?  Banana bread, waffles, salad?  Pasta sauce?  
Look at the ads and see what looks good that is on sale cheap.
Incorporate what you have with what is on sale and pencil in a plan.  All you have to do is list 7 main dishes.  Most people know what to add to them and pair the same thing every time.
how classic in this country is spaghetti with red sauce , green salad, and French bread.
I buy baguettes at Costco, brown and serve they price out at about .95.

I have sausage crumbles, hot dogs, pepperoni, eggs, chicken parts and bones, meatballs, shrimp,
Vegetable pasta sauce, cheese, taco meat, pork roast slices off the top of my head.

1. Hot dogs , German potato salad, carrot and celery sticks
2. Pork slices, stuffing, broccoli salad 
3. Chicken pot pie, turtle pudding 
4. Tacos, refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream
5. Spaghetti with veggie sauce, salad, bread
6. Roasted red pepper and tomato  soup with blue cheese and basil soup, cheese, crackers
7. Salmon, green beans, baked potatoes. 

This makes for a balanced variety of foods. 

Thanks for stopping by

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Jane

Analysis of couponing

Happy weekend!

I have done the extreme coupon thing-- 6 coupons in one transaction.  I took all the .50 off each item Buy Five at QFC and  found every coupon I could find. And, I found a coupon that made the crest toothpaste free.  

Most coupons are for things I wouldn't buy.  Some of these things I wouldn't buy if they weren't soo cheap!  

HORMEL chili 1.29. Less QFC discount .50 makes .79 less .55 on two coupon nets .52.

La Victoria salsa is 1.99 less QFC discount .50 is 1.49 less 1.00 on 2 is 1.00

Dingy Moore dinners 1.99 less QFC .50 is 1.49 less 1.00 makes it .49.  

Bacon bits are 1.99, less QFC .50 is 1.49 less 1.00 made them 1.00

I got chilies for .79. , a bargain to fill on to ten.  

I would have normally bought the chilies when I find them on sale as well as the salsa and the chili.  

I don't think I would ever buy the dinners, too expensive, but I like a lunch on the shelf for those hectic days and the size is perfect for my granddaughters lunch when they were fifty cents.  Add a fruit cup and she has a good lunch..I haven't figured out the bacon price, but I probably wouldn't buy them again either

.  They will come on handy on the boat.  We have a very small old but comfortable boat.  I have no stove and the kitchen is two feet square. I still manage to make the same dinners as I make at home, but I have an electric frypan, and a electric saucepan to do it with  and I have to use one at a time. I have thermos bowls to keep things hot.  I am a real fan of BBQ and one pot meals! lol

As far as coupons go, I think I will stick to things I would normally by, which probably will be few and far between. I have enough toothpaste to last me the year., I paid a buck total.    If I can find healthy cold cereal near free like the coupon ladies say, I will get some for summer.  I don't want to coupon unless I can make it worth my while.. Like in ten minutes or less.   I can make more money cooking from scratch and stocking at rock bottom prices.  Speaking of rock bottom prices---Beans and vegetables are 15/10 again at TOP.  That makes the, .67 .  That's stock up time.  I found veggies for .59  at  BARTELLS, ,but you can't count  on reaching sales of the same food product at Bartells.    This is a good time to stock up.  Beans are a good staple, full of fiber and protein.

I am running out of things to talk about.  I would appreciate any suggestions you may have.  There is a comment section below.  

Thanks for stopping by

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Jane

4+1=5

Better, cheaper, faster

Shopping trip.

After  the excitement of a car wreck between a little old lady and a school bus, and the grocery store being robbed of 300 dollars worth of cosmetics.  I didn't know that  QFC had 300 dollars worth of cosmetics.!  Anyway, after all of that, I went shopping before I went to work.  

I used all the sales I could find as long as it was things that we could use.  I got crest toothpaste for FREE .  I got HORMEL items mostly for a sale price along with coupons.  I got  shelf ready meals for my granddaughter.  I picked veggies and rice for fifty cents.  I got two loan mashed potatoes on the shelf for .42 a package.  I got milk for a buck a 1/2 gallon.  

Fresh fruits were a good price and frozen veggies were a buck.  I was trying to keep the budget down so that I could start using from the stock on hand.  

I wound up saving 65 percent.  I saved more than I spent!   I'm happy in a state that won't let you get overages!!   I am not going to spend a lot of time clipping coupons and I refuse to pay for them.  I Did want to  experiment to see how well I could extreme coupon.  

The next experiment is to see which is the least expensive...sliced black olives or the whole ones in the can.  If anyone knows, I wouldn't mind a bit if you commented back about your findings! 

LOL.  

The  bottom line was 30.01.

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Jane

The ads

TOP

10/10

• Olives, regular and sliced
• English muffins
• Carrots
• Roma tomatoes

Strawberries  2.49

Bloes 2.79

Zucchini 1.00

Head lettuce 1.00

ALBERTSONS

country ribs 1.59

Grapes 1.28

Chuck roast 2.99

Milk 2.59

Butter 2/5

Sour cream 2/3
Strawberries 2/5
Apples 1.00
Radishes , onions 2/1

Mix and match 5

Dreyers 1.99
Bars and drumsticks

Chicken of the sea tuna .47 l@@@
Ground beef 7 percent 2.99 limit 10 @@@

QFC

Blues 3.88

10/10
Buns
Pasta
Carrots
Frozen veggies

Buy 5
HORMEL cooked entrees

BUY 5
Stag chili nets 69
HORMEL chili 79
Chicken chunks .79
Chilies 79
Bacon bits  1.49. Ck for a coupon
salsa 1.49
Hormel completes...Normally I wouldn't buy, but with coupon they are .49/ a very cheap lunch. 

Be sure to get on the coupon web sites. Www.coupons.com. .  I got coupons that stack with the .50 off multiple group sale.  They total 4.55 and save 9.55.  For ten products.  Or you spend 12.16 minus
4.55 is 7.61. Total Retail is 17.10/  Final cost is 7.61.  A savings of 55 per cent.

SAFEWAYS

cherries 2.99
Corn 6/2

Five dollar Friday
Sub sandwich
3lb strawberries
Milk 2.79
Sargento cheese buy 2, get 1 free.  Ck for a coupon

London broil, 2.99
Loin pork chops 2.99

Blues or raspberries 2.99

Coupons. SAFEWAYS,  ( I don't know if you can stack these coupons

Salsa 1.49

That's about all.

I am not sure about some coupon policies, ill have to investigate.  There are coupons out there for some of these items.  I get the coupons today, maybe.

Looks like QFC is at the top of my list this time .Maybe ALBERTSONS.  .

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Jane

4+1=5
Better, cheaper, faster

Better, cheaper, faster

Recipe of the equivalent of a can of cream of xxx soup

2 cups powdered nonfat milk
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup instant vegetable boullion
Any spices you like...a couple of teaspoons TOTAL

Store basic recipe in air tight container.

To substitute for one can of condensed soup: Combine 1/3 cup dry mix with 1-1/4 cups cold water in saucepan. Cook and stir until thickened. Add to your recipe as you would one can of soup.

Cream soups are getting higher and higher in price.  I can remember when they were a quarter, now they are as much as 1.25.  Dry milk is more expensive than liquid milk, but I found it cheaper at Winco and I didn't check Winco bulk section.

Earlier posts have...

• Taco seasoning
• Baking nix
• Rice mix
• Salad dressings
• And many many more.   

The Internet is a good resource for finding the equivalent of many ready made foods from scratch.  

Thanks for stopping by

Jane

Chapter 3...Cooking From Scratch

Most times using a mix or buying ready made foods will derail your budget.  If you want to know if it is worth your while to make something from scratch, do the math.

• Price the lowest price for the ready made item
• Cost out the ingredients for the scratch version, don't include less than 2T oil or spices etc. 
• find the difference in price.  If the ready made is lower STOP
• If the ready made is higher, time yourself while making the scratch version.  
• Divide the portion of an hour time you spent by the amount of savings.  
• How much are you making an hour for your time?  

The last time my daughter and I checked it was 212.00 an hour for lemon pound cake.  And that was not what it would be when I found ingredients lower.  A pound cake would be 1.76 instead of 2.50 a slice.  20.00 a loaf.  

Making things from scratch does not have to mean taking a lot of time.  Many times it takes the same amount of time.  I only count actual cooking, not passive cooking.  Passive cooking lets you so other tasks while you let the dish cook.  

Pudding comes to mind.  It takes just about the same amount of time to cook pudding from scratch and you can control the ingredients.  hamburger meal mixes take the same amount of time than cooking it from scratch.  I have a no Brainer pasta recipe that is as cheap and actually takes less time.  

Your slow cooker and food processor can be your best friend here.  There is something very satisfying about coming home from work after a long day and smelling dinner cooked!  Many tasks can be performed quickly.  There is a recipe for easy pizza crust on an earlier blog.  

There are many mix recipes on earlier blogs.  Mixes are expensive and easily made from scratch in a short amount of time.  If you make something like tacos frequently, make a batch.  

There are several cooking styles for lack of a better word, that help you get out of the kitchen and make it easier to scratch cook.  

1. Prep and forget it.  Use your slow cooker or oven to put your ingredients together and go do something else.  
2. Prep ahead of time.  I usually cook my meats when I have a relaxing time, not after a long day at work.  That way I can defat my ground meat and portion control it.   You can  make meatloaf, meatballs, crumbles,and taco meat.   Make  a roast and serve roast for dinner that night and slice it thin for sandwiches.  Portion control it in meal sized bags and freeze.  both pork and beef roast works here, 
3. Stair step.  Cook double of something and use part if it for another meal.  Rice for under meatballs or sweat and sour chicken.  
4. Roast a chicken and cut it into 2 breasts, the dark meat and the bones.  The dark meat  can go into a Mexican dish or casserole, the bones can be soup, the breast meat can be a Sunday chicken dinner or chicken pot pie.  Deli chicken is twice the cost of raw chicken at a target price.  NEVER buy a chicken that is under three pounds.  That is the break even point for the ratio between bone and meat.  More is better.  Roasting your own chicken is easy, quick, and gives you more chicken for your money.  
5. Fast cooking, like chips, hamburgers and hot dogs.  I only buy Hebrew national or Nathan's hot dogs.  This is a case where cheaper is not better.  in the summertime when it is hot at dinner time in our kitchen, I make a salad bar ahead of time and we add a entre that can be BBQd. .  

Thanks for stopping by.  

If you have questions, please feel free to comment. Getting feedback just makes my day! LOL

Please share 

Jane

Chapter 2. Shopping Wisely

SHOPPING WISELY

I'll  repeat my self....Never pay full price if you can help it.  

Fresh fruits and veggies are at their peek when they are in season.  They are also at their best price.  Its a win, win situation.  

Buy Meat when it is on sale cheap.  If  good hamburger is not  cheap, see if a top round or chuck cut is cheaper and grind it yourself.  If you don't have a mixer with an attachment, or can't use someone else's, use a  grinder  our grandmothers used.  They are really cheap at estate sales and antique stores.  Or, use the food processor.  Sometimes I get 7-9 percent hamburger for B1G1 at SAFEWAYS and that makes it 2.75.  Prices are rising.  The  t thing you can do is make meatballs or meatloaf with a combo of ground beef and pork or turkey.  Ground chicken is hard to work with.  

When the Grocery ads come out , take a piece of computer paper or a clean side of paper out of the recycle bin and draw lines on it to quarter it. 

Now, top each quarter with a store name.  Take the ad, and write down :

1. Anything that is on your stock list that is cheap
2. Anything on the protein list that is cheap and
3. Any produce and dairy items that are a good price.  Milk is always on sale somewhere.  Sour cream , cottage cheese and butter is cheapest most often at Costco.  

Now, cross off. Anything that is cheaper somewhere else, and anything that you already have enough
stock of.  Post the cheapest  price on stock items to your data.  

Pick the TWO stores that have the best buys on the things you need.  You  are picking two stores because you get the advantage of finding the best looking produce and not any one store has the best buys on everything.

 Plan your route to maximize your gas budget.   Or, shop in two different times to coordinate with other errands to make best use of your gas. Is the SAFEWAYS close to the gym or the kids school or your work?

Check a coupon connection site in your area to see if there are any coupons that will help you.  

Many are printable on the computer.  If you don't have a printer, a neighbor or family member might be able to help you.  Don't spend a lot of time on this,  you should be able to do this on the time it takes to perk the coffee in the morning.  Don't believe all you see on extreme couponimg.  Most of what they do is illegal in many states.  In Washington the major chain stores will not allow you to  buy a .99 cent item with a 1.00 off coupon.  You can't get overage.  And in Washington you can't double coupons.  You can get some doubles with a coupon sometimes at ALBERTSONS.  But, you can't do more than one per item.  In other words, see if you can quickly find a couple that will help you. The  dollar store will take up to 4 coupons on an item and that is your best bet for free food or almost free food.  

Bring your ads, your coupons, your list, and any just 4 U list you might have.

Use your list, get in and get out.  The more time you spend in a store, the more money you will spend.

Put  blinders on to the ready made or convenience foods.  Pre made foods and mixes are for the most
part expensive.  The first letter in most of the convenience foods is $. Just buy the things on your list. 

Mindful of your bottom line.  Some weeks you will spend less, and some weeks you will spend more.  You won't build your stock in one week.  It takes time.  

Only buy cold cereal when you can get it nearly free, and never the sugary stuff.  Growing up we got cornflakes or wheat puffs in a bag during the summer.  It was oatmeal in the winter,  Occasionally cream of wheat.  Oatmeal is a very versatile food.  It is cheapest usually at Winco.  Don't buy individual packages.--of anything.  It's really easy to make it in the microwave. I c water, 1/2 cup oatmeal. , 1-1/2 minutes on high.  Use a larger bowl.  

A few exceptions...cake mix when really cheap, instant  mashed potatoes at times , tortillas, refried beans.  I got cake mix 1 for free and one for .14.  Flour is 7.5 cents a cup.  At that rate,  cake mix is cheaper.  I usually keep one on hand for emergencies. 

Hamburger meal  boxes are about the most expensive thing in the regular grocery store.  See an older post.  Dissecting cheeseburger macaroni.  

Don't overlook the bakery outlet, alternative overstock stores, the dollar store, drug stores, and warehouse stores including Winco.  Sometimes they have the best buys on some things.  Do overlook the yuppie stores or what some people call the whole paycheck stores.  Sorry, this low a budget doesn't work well with these stores.  .  They are sometimes cheaper if you are an alternative eater.  

That's all I can think of now.

Thanks for stopping by

Please share

Jane

4+1=5

Better, cheaper, faster

Next.  Cooking from scratch....better, cheaper, faster.  

Chapter1. Planning and organizing

• This blog is about groceries on the cheap.  I try to take a practical approach to getting dinner on the table for 1/ 2 what the average family spends.  The USDA has stats on what food should cost you based on family size and ages.  They have four budget levels.  

It does take some time to set yourself up.  Every family is different so no one can do it for you.  

once you are set up and get the hang of it, you probably will spend less time .  

If it all seems like too much work, take baby steps at it or delegate some of it to another family member.  Some of it could be a good learning tool for children.  Use organizing and math skills they will take with them the rest of their lives.  

There are a lot of people out there that are touting cheaper groceries, you usually can learn something from each of them.  I have been reading everything about the subject for years.  When it was brought to my attention that people were running out of money before they ran out of month on SNAP(food stamps) I started this blog.  With our economy and food prices rising , many people need to eat well for less.  

Cooking and shopping on the cheap takes a three pronged approach :  planning and organizing, shopping wisely, and cooking from scratch.  

Planning and organizing.  

Most of this is a one time only affair.  

• List seven dinner entres that use inexpensive sources of protein.  This doesn't mean that you are Doomed to never eating a steak again.  Protein should cost around 2.00 per meal AVERAGE. the target price for dinner is five bucks.  in our house, that would be cheese, beans, chicken, pork, some cuts of beef, pork, tuna and shrimp and some fish.  Later, add more to come up with 14.  I keep a three ring binder that I have had for forty years.  
• Go over your typical recipes amd list shelf ready items that you use often to prepare these dishes.  These are your stock items.  in our house that would be beans, refried beans, diced tomatoes, pasta sauce, some chili,pasta, instant mashed potatoes, some corn and green beans, black olives, I keep one of some other things like condiments and mayonnaise so I don't run out in the middle of cooking.  Keeping one ahead means I don't have to remember to put something on a list.  
• Now, make a list, either in a small notebook or on a spreadsheet of your stock items,  start making note of the prices in the ads and/or the prices you are paying for those items.   List the item, the size of the carton, the price , where you got it and the date,  soon you will see a pattern.  Grocery stores go on an 8-12 week cycle.   Most families will have 10-15 items.  If you are in the Seattle area, I post them periodically.  
• The object is NEVER pay top dollar, or full price.  When something on your stock list is at rock bottom price, buy as much as you can afford, as many as the store allows, or as many as you need to replenish your stock.  If I use something once a week I keep 24.  If I use it once a month I keep 6.  If you don't have storage space.  Get creative.  In an apartment I used a wicker foot stool.  My SIL  uses an extra closet.  
• 
  
• Create  your meal plans from the stock on hand and the perishables in you fridge, and the meat that is on sale for the week--do it in pencil so you can change it if something is out of stock at the grocery store or doesn't look good.  

Next, smart shopping.  

Thanks for stopping by. 

Please share.  I don't have ads or get money for this,  My object is to try to help someone through a tough time, or get the savings they need to enrich their lives.  

Jane

4+1=5

Better, cheaper, faster

The little things that count

It's  the little things that count.   Sometimes when I am making a card, it's that little bow or button that makes  the difference between whether a card is over the top or just a card. likewise,  all the little thinges you do sometimes taking just a few minutes can make a real difference with a food budget.

Finding and using one or two coupons.

Signing up for a store card, or rewards card

Taking time to plan your meals and recognize days that you need a super quick and easy meal.  

Taking the time to defat your ground meats and put them on portion controlled bags.  

Making taco seasoning.  Five minutes once or twice a year saves a lot.  

Today, we went to rite aid.  Toothpaste was 2.99.  It had a up reward of two bucks.  I also had a coupon for .75.  I got four.  That makes four tubes for a buck.  

I have watched a lot of extreme couponing and read a lot lately.  I don't believe in hoarding or buying 93 bottles of hot sauce when no one I know could ever use that much in a lifetime! LOL But, there are lessons to be learned from watching them. The toothpaste senecio saves 11.00.   Saved three dollars on pepperoni and tissue at the dollar store, and the pepperoni retails for 3.50.  Four packages would be 14.00.  I paid 2.00-- a savings of 12.00.  Free brats was a 4.99 savings.  

Last big shopping trip it was a buck off of eggs, and .75 off of dill pickles.  

And, I spent a limited amount of time clipping some coupons.  I only bother with the things that I would actually buy if I didn't have a coupon.  My only exception would be if I had something for free and I felt we might like it.  

I guess I am saying all those dimes, quarters and dollars add up and pretty soon you are a lot of money  ahead.  

thanks for stopping by

Please share

Jane

Ps I ran on to a guy on the Internet that was cooking 5 dollar dinners

he made. Loaded potatoes, tuna patties, pork chops, Mexican rice and refried beans, and quesidas.

And pizza.  Each five dollar meals.  

4+1=5

Better, cheaper, faster

PS again....I called the SEATTLE TIMES.  They will deliver the Savings Source and Proctor and Gamble coupon inserts to you for free if you don't have a subscription for the paper.
206-464-2111.  They come out on Thursday.  

Target prices

French fries 1.00.  Dollar tree
Pasta. Less than 1.00....last time .49
Diced tomatoes .48 to .60.
Pasta sauce .78-.85
Soup less than .75
Chili 1.00 or less.  Last time 2/ 1.45
Beans ie kidney etc. .67


Cheese.
I used to pay 2.00 a brick for cheese.  Now I saw 8 dollars this week.  I can still get two dollars a pound.  If  left in the shrink wrap. It lasts a long time.  ALBERTSONS has two dollars a pound this weekend with a coupon.  Check the ad and coupon connections.  I didn't get it because I am we'll stocked.

Black olives...less than a buck. I find my best luck at Winco.

Refried beans.  Fifty cents is nice, but I haven't found that for a while. I like. .78 , I just for a case for 7.00.  I need to check Costco again.

Instant mashed potatoes.  I get some in a pack with a lot of varieties.  Retail about 1-29.  I get them for as low as .88 My limit is a buck.

Greenbeans and corn. .50 range.  Bartells had Libby's for .59.  I for green beans for .33 at Winco.


That's 12items even of you count French fries which really don't meet the criteria.

Watch for a good price and buy when the price is good.

If you are on snap, you can't do that unless you watch the junk food and individual packaged stuff and stick to five dollar dinners. You have to save some money aside for stock.  Your reward is that you will be stocked and never have empty cupboards.  Eventually you will see a day when you can
Plan a months worth of meals from your pantry and just buy your perishables.


start by cutting out the junk food, and buying what is on sale cheap of the protein and vegetable line.
Look for the target prices on your staples.  Watch the inserts and coupon.com for coupons to ,
match up with good buys.

FREE IS A VERY GOOD WORD. If you have access to a computer, join the rewards /store cards of the chain stores.  If you don't have a computer, borrow a friend or relatives computer to at least do a one  time only to get the specials.  Sometimes stuff is free.  This week I got a yogurt for free.  Paired with .40 off of six yo plaits on sale for .50. Made for two almost free yogurts.   the two averaged .05 each.

QFC gives free stuff too.  I got eggs free and frozen vegetables free.

Frozen vegetables are a buck at the dollar store.
The Dollar Tree takes coupons.  If you can match up any coupons, the item can very well be free.
Must make sure that the item doesn't exclude trial size and the brand names match up.
I got 2pepperoni and a box of tissue for free.  Three bucks can translate to 2.5 pounds of cheese or a pound of hamburger

Big Lots does not take snap.

I refuse to take a large amount of time on couponing and the extreme couponing tricks don't work in this state.  I don't think you can get overages, and the only double coupons I have ever heard of is when ALBERTSONS print some in the Sunday paper occasionally. certainly not free reign.  taking every item off the shelf unless their is only six or so left of a product is rude.  Leave something for the next person.  I never buy more than 6-10 of a product.   Am not the only one  that needs or wants to get a bargain! LOl

I don't want to spend more than an hour prepping  for a shopping trip including meal plans.  Give yourself a few weeks to get the hang of it.  I figure If I  save four thousand dollars a year, it is worth my time.

Thanks for stopping by

Please share

Jane

4+1=5
Better, cheaper, faster

Watching other shoppers.....

I have to tell myself that what other people buy at the grocery store is none of my business.   Really wanted to say something to the girls in front of me at the checkout line.  I exercised some restraint and kept my mouth shut. Not an easy thing for me to do.  LOL . I'm sure they spent over a hundred dollars and could have been poster children for the how to waste your money society!  LOL

I had to look really hard to find some real food.

If you are trying to eat on SNAP or below, you need to buy REAL food.  If you are having trouble adjusting to "on the cheap" start with baby steps.

• Start by limiting yourself to shopping once a week.  pick the same day each week.  
• Cut out the junk food.  Be sure to buy some popcorn.  It is not cheaper in the bulk isle at TOP.  I checked.  Top is   cheaper than Costco.  
• Write your list of things that you use often.  This is a one time only chore.  I call these my stock items.  Delete things that are not real food.  ..ie packaged things like box mixes.  
• Go over the ads and post to a sheet the cheap meat and veggies and the stock items that are at a target price,  Set yourself a limit of 2.50 a pound for meat average.  If you go over, find a really cheap source of protein to average it with.  Vegetables limit is a buck to a buck and a quarter.  
• Make a meal plan for the week.  Use the things that are cheap in the ads.  
• Start by finding one rock bottom price and buy six of something you use a lot of.  Do this at least a couple of times a shopping trip. Start backwards.  Make a list of dinners that you like and use a cheap source of protein and the major ingredients.  I would suspect pasta is one of them.  
• Keep an eye out for coupons for things you need to buy.  Most of the ads I find are for toiletries and cleaners I don't buy.  I have found some lately for yogurt and eggs.  Eggs are a good source of cheap protein.  

Pick one thing a week to work on, maintaining the thing from the week before.  If the kids are old enough, involve them.  There are things they can help with and they will be learning valuable lessons they will carry with them the rest of their lives.  

When my son got his first apartment, his first purchase was a garbage can and two bottles of bleach.  

he said that he didn't want to live with someone else's germs and the bleach was on a really good sale!

On the cooking side of the equation, the more processed a food is, the more it costs, generally,  Cheese is sometimes cheaper grated than in a block.  I went to the Tillmock factory.  They mold huge bricks of cheese.  Then they put it in a machine to cut it into two pound blocks,  the leftovers go on a bin and go to the shredder.  It should be less expensive.  Costco wholesale is cheaper than regular Costco and has a better variety of cheese.  just remember to bring a sweater , even in the dead of summer.  It is COLD in the dairy room.  

Cooking whole chickens is a lot cheaper than buying parts.  If you learn to cut up a chicken and debone breasts, you will be money ahead.  Just be sure to disinfect all your surfaces and your implements after you are finished and wash your hands often anytime you are working with raw meat,  Don't have raw veggies anywhere near raw meat until you have washed your cutting board.  I have a glass one that I can run through the dishwasher.  It's not the best thing for keeping sharp
knives, but a lot safer.  Just sharpen you knives often.

Bread crumbs are something that , in my opinion, should never be bought.it's a waste of money you are paying sometimes upwards of two dollars a pound for someone else's dry bread.  Why throw your crusts and extra buns out so that you can pay for someone else's!  I put the heels of the bread in the
oven to dry. I don't turn the oven on.  If I have finished baking something ill put the broiler pan with the bread on it on the oven that has been turned off.  When I have enough I either whirl them in the food processor, or take them outside on the deck and grate them with a box grater on a sheet pan.  The birds get the leftovers ! LOL

I get French fries at the dollar store.  They are cheaper than s ratch and save a lot of time.

Tortillas are cheapest at Costco, I don't think the time it takes to make them is worth the savings,

If you want to know whether it is worth your while to make something from scratch, do the math.  How much per hour are you getting for your time.  !

Roasting  off your own chickens is a real moneymaker.  You save half, and get more meat for your buck.

Grinding your own hamburger can be a moneymaker if you are looking for 9 percent or lower hamburger.  If hamburger is too expensive, look for chuck or top round meat that is cheaper and g rind your own.  A mixture of the two works really good.  if you don't have a kitchen aid mixer with attachment, you can use a meat grinder our grandmothers used or a food processor.

We don't like the taste of some of the ready made meatballs, so I batch cook my own.  I use a portion scoop to regulate the size and a rack on a sheet pan to bake them in the oven.  There are a lot of meals you can make from meatballs.

Using a pasta mix is just over the top stupid in most cases.  Read the ingredients before you ever put a mix in your cart.  The ingredients have to by law be listed in order of volume.  Cheese whey is what is left over after they take all the good stuff out of the milk to make cheese.  It's glorified WATER.
THERE IS NO CHEESE IN CHEESE WHEY.  Your first clue is that the nutrition list has ZERO cholesterol.  I've never seen a cheese without it!  That would be wonderful if it wasn't a fantasy!!
You can do the same thing with the added  benefit of passive cooking. Cheaper and more nutritious

I guess my time is up.

thanks for stopping by,
If you have questions, please leave a comment.
Please share

Jane

4+ 1 = 5
 better cheaper faster

  

Planning shopping trip

I thought I would go through my mindset for prepping for my shopping trip.
The fridge and pantry are about  full.  This is a small fill in the holes trip.

• I have printed the ads post on my blog.  
• Analyzing it, I pick SAFEWAYS only.  They have more of what I need on target prices.  
• Printed Just 4 You list.  .  
• Checking egg, salsa, and yogurt stock.  yogurt is free
• Making meal plans from what I have.  
• Marking the things on the ad that I want and adding what I need. I am we'll stocked, so I am stocking at a minimum.  
• Checking for coupons

Grabbing the ad , just4 you list, my list, coupons.  

1. Hot dogs, potato salad, veggie plate, corn ( buns , dill pickles)
2. Sausage bean soup, bread
3. Tacos, refried beans, lettuce and tomatoes  ( ICEBURG LETTUCE, salsa)
4. BBQ pork sandwiches, corn, fruit salad ( raspberries)
5. Salmon, rice,  fruit salad
6. Chunky veggie pasta, salad, bread
7. Mac and cheese, green beans

2 beef

2chicken or pork

2 vegetarian

1 fish

Hot dogs were B1 G1 last week.  On sale this week too

Sausage is cheapest at Costco

Hamburger/taco meat was Batch  cooked when it was on sale.  

Pork was on sale earlier in the month and we sliced it thin and froze it, buns were on for a buck.  

Salmon was at Winco for free.
Cheese was two dollars a pound at ALBERTSONS
Pasta sauce was .78 and pasta was .50.

Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane

4+1= 5
Better, Cheaper, Faster

Chocolate, did somebody say chocolate???

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/chocolate-waffles-with-slow-cooker
-boozy-berries/41447b18-6f09-46d0-9d3c-fbee4c2668ef

This is a recipe for chocolate waffles woth warm berry compote for the top.  You can sub water 
for the booze.   Or maybe orange juice?  


Thanks for stopping by

Jane 

If you join Betty Crocker kitchens , they have a program where you can plug in what you want to 
use up and they will offer you choices.  It's free along with coupons and where the ingredients are 
on sale...not target prices, but featured in the ads of grocery stores near you.  Market is Kroger,
 is QFC. LOL

The ads

Here is my breakdown of the ads.
this is a holiday weekend.

QFC
 Cheerios 3/5
dreyers 2/5. Weekend only

Hebrew national. 2/6
Corn 2/1.00
Yo plait .50

TOP

corn 4/1.00
Grapes 1.98
Buns .99
Brats 2.99
Blues 2,99@@
Cheese, Tillamook 4.99@@@!@
Milk 1.99@

Hebrew national 2/7
Buns 2.99
Fran's hamburger buns 2/5

ALBERTSONS

Corn 6/2
ALBERTSONS ice cream. 1.99
Poultry franks 1.00

Johnsonville brats free when you buy grillers?@@@ in flyer
Bums 1.99
Berries 2.99
Strawberries 5.99 for 3 pounds
Potatoes 1.25 for 5 pounds
Lettuce .99

SAFEWAYS

Corn 6/2.00. W/e only

Hebrew national  B1G1
Dreyers 2/6
Nalley chili 1.00
Eggs .99@@@@

5 dollar Friday

S'mores ingredients
Strawberries OR raspberries or blueberries 2/5
Bake pizza
Cookies, 50 count
Mahi mahi filets
Salsa
Chicken franks 5/5

NOTES

THERE are coupoming match ups.  See www.couponconnections.com.
A dollar off Tillamook cheese makes it 2.00 a pound at ALBERTSONS
Check out.  Www.coupons.com.

Note the variance in hot dog buns and hot dogs.

You can use a manufacturers coupon and a store coupons .

Thanks for stopping by

Jane

good recipe file

Www.bettycrocker.com/ recipes

I found several recipes on Betty Crocker.com for really good picnic and summer food.
Most of them call for a least one Betty Crocker  product.  Many of them are adaptable to use other ingredients or making from scratch.--cheese garlic biscuits are just a bisquick biscuit with some garlic powder and grated cheddar cheese.

Slaw dressing calls for Greek yogurt.  I got one for free this shopping trip.  But, sour cream or less plain yogurt would work too.

One calls for suddenly salad.  I would look on the box and get an idea do what was in it.  I for pasta for .49 a pound this week.

look on the website for
Grilled corn with lime butter
Pesto dipped accordion potatoes
BBQ beef with creamy slaw with cheese-garlic biscuits
Layered Mexican Party Salad, you can adapt to feed less people
Layered summer fruits salad with creamy lime dressing.  I would adapt the dressing and the quantity
Triple chocolate bars sound really yummy and expensive.


thanks for stopping by

Jane

Wednesday

Yesterday, we had to run  an errand in the next town.  I had downloaded a couple of coupons from the Internet and  got one from the insert in the ads.  I went to the dollar store and got two HORMEL
 pepperoni and a box of tissue for FREE.  I love that word free when it is something I would use.  I won't pay for coupons.  If you spend money buying a newspaper you wouldn't ordinarily buy, it's not free.  Most of the coupons are for things that I wouldn't ordinarily buy.

We didn't get the ads yet this week.

Chicken
Mushrooms were on sale this week.

4 boneless , skinless chicken 1/2 breasts.
Salt and pepper

Flatten chicken breasts to 1/8-in thick. Salt and pepper.

Mix until smooth

2 T flour
1/2 cup plain Yogurt


Cook mushrooms and 2 slices of red pepper, drain well.
Add
Mushrooms and red pepper mixture
1/2 cup (2 ounces) white cheese
Parsley and chives

Put mixture down the center of the chicken.
Roll up the chicken and tuck in ends.
Place seam side done in greased baking pan

Topping
1 T plain yogurt
1 T dry bread crumbs
Pinch of paprika

Brush yogurt over the top of the breasts
Sprinkle with bread crumbs and paprika.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until  chicken tests done.

Another fast and easy dinner is  Loaded Baked Potatoes.

Bake large Potatoes.  Figure a large potato for adults, and 1/2 a potato for school age children.

Gather anything that would taste good on a potato

Broccoli
Cheese
Sour cream
Bacon
Chili
And anything else you can think of

Serve with a salad.
I learned this from my grandmother neighbor.

Thanks for stopping by

Jane

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