Savy shopping is only one component of the concept of making food get on the table with little money. Somehow, the good food has to get from the pantry/fridge to the table. Most of us lead busy lives, and taking care of children is a job in its self. I have relied on a crock pot and quick meals, and precooking when time is less hectic to solve the problem.
I recently discovered a chicken recipe for the crockpot. I am squeamish at the thought of cooking our chicken when the recipe starts on a low heat. This recipe cooks on high right off the bat. I resorted to it when the freezer quit and I had just come home from a month at a "nursing home" because I broke my hip and wrist. I had three chickens to cook.
Over the years, I have tried many comcepts and kept the ones that worked for our family. Different things in different , stages of our lives. At this point, I can't bend at the waist and can't chop because one wrist is cracked. My daughter has been picking up the slack. I do what I can. Making spice rubs etc.
Last week, eggs were 4/5 at Fred Meyers. Breakfast for dinner is a good alternative once a week. It certainly helps if husbands realize that there is a problem with finances and solving the problem takes cooperation on everybody's part. ( my answer to the comment of a reader that their husband won't eat breakfast for dinner ). I was impressed at 13 when my dad was hurt in the job and we had no income for a few months, He even ate liver!
Lately, meat prices have not been very cooperative. Chicken continues to be on sale often. I can find cheese at Costco wholesale. ALBERTSONS has a bunch BOGO, but they aren't telling what the original price is so I can't tell if it's a bargain or not. I used to try for two dollars a pound average. That's not happening. Country style ribs are 3.49. I found hamburger reasonable. When a roast is more reasonable, I grind my own( or rather, I usually cut it up and my husband runs the grinder. )
Pork chops are 1.99 at SAFEWAYS. I can still get canned clams and tuna cheap. Probably because someone has decided it isn't good for us. We have been eating it for years. I wrote a blog on that. Enough said. SAFEWAYS has pizza dough balls for 1.50. I didn't like the one I tried a year or so ago, but.maybe it just got a bad one. There is a recipe for a good cheap easy pizza crust.
Pizza is one thing everyone likes and a way to stretch a little amount of meat. Costco still has sausage in a roll for less that some other stores. It's not the six bucks it was last year, last I looked it was 8.49 . There is a post on how to reduce the fat in ground meat on a earlier post. You can make hamburger have less fat that a boneless, skinless chicken breast.
You can use less meat and augment the protein for the meal with cheese that you get in sale, or eggs and milk. ( pudding for desert, hard cooked eggs on your chef salad. )
I buy cheese when I get it close to five bucks for two pounds. I buy it whether we need it at the moment or not. It lasts a long time when kept in its wrapper. You can also grate it and add a tablespoon of corn starch to a couple of pounds of cheese and freeze it. Or skip the cornstarch and use it when you will be melting it.
Steering clear of boxed dinners is another way to keep your costs down. My daughter and I diasected a hamburger meal box. The results were remarkable . Since then, they have revamped their boxes, but scratch skillet dinners are all over the Internet and I have posted some I wrote myself that are easy and more nutritious .
That's about all. My husband brought me a basket of clothes and I have therapy today, so I'd better get cracking.
Thanks for stopping by
Please,share
Jane
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
The ads
ALBERTSONS
Berries. 3.99
Buy 4
Dryers 1.99
outside fruit bars 1.99
Drumsticks 3.99
Milk 2/5@@
10/10, you don't have to buy 10
Ravioli, chili, bumblebee tuna, pasta sauce , soy sauce ( pasta sauce ,not such a food buy
Bread, bagels 2/5
Grapes 2.49
Peaches, nectarines 1.99
Note, I am not fond of ALBERTSONS ad, it's too hard to read.
SAFEWAYS
Raspberries 2/3
Apples 1.49
Pork sirloin chops 1.99
Kens salad dressing BOGO $$
Corn 6/2
BREYERS 2.99
Grapes 2.99. All colours. The darker coloured grapes have more food value
Cantelope 2/5
Ice cream 2/5
Cake mix .99
Five dollar Friday
Blues
Pizza
Cod per pound
QFC
Berries 2/5
Peaches 1.49
Bread 1.79
Grapes 1.99
Oranges, pears 1.49
Pumpkin pie 2.99
Pasta 1.00 look for coupons
Ice cream 2/5
Cottage cheese, sour cream 2/3
Broccoli, celery ,99
Again, I am not finding a real bargain in the protein department. Last weeks chicken and eggs were about it. Eggs have a month out pull date so at four for five it was a good buy amd stored probably in your refrigerator should last as all momth. Having breakfast for dinner is one of the ways you can stretch your dollars, especially at that price. Chefs salad is good with hard cooked eggs for these warm nights.
Last week we cooked three chickens because I bought two for stocking and saved one with ice crystals still on it from the defunct freezer. Two we cooked in the crock pot. A really easy way to cook chicken in a pinch for time. The large pieces stay pretty much in tact, the parts submerged under the natural broth are good for tacos and chicken soup or chicken and noodles.
The third one my husband roasted in the oven.
Last night we had chicken stir fry. my daughter is becoming a good cook. We do have to have something besides chicken soon. LOL
That's about all.
Please,share
Thanks for stopping by
Jane
Berries. 3.99
Buy 4
Dryers 1.99
outside fruit bars 1.99
Drumsticks 3.99
Milk 2/5@@
10/10, you don't have to buy 10
Ravioli, chili, bumblebee tuna, pasta sauce , soy sauce ( pasta sauce ,not such a food buy
Bread, bagels 2/5
Grapes 2.49
Peaches, nectarines 1.99
Note, I am not fond of ALBERTSONS ad, it's too hard to read.
SAFEWAYS
Raspberries 2/3
Apples 1.49
Pork sirloin chops 1.99
Kens salad dressing BOGO $$
Corn 6/2
BREYERS 2.99
Grapes 2.99. All colours. The darker coloured grapes have more food value
Cantelope 2/5
Ice cream 2/5
Cake mix .99
Five dollar Friday
Blues
Pizza
Cod per pound
QFC
Berries 2/5
Peaches 1.49
Bread 1.79
Grapes 1.99
Oranges, pears 1.49
Pumpkin pie 2.99
Pasta 1.00 look for coupons
Ice cream 2/5
Cottage cheese, sour cream 2/3
Broccoli, celery ,99
Again, I am not finding a real bargain in the protein department. Last weeks chicken and eggs were about it. Eggs have a month out pull date so at four for five it was a good buy amd stored probably in your refrigerator should last as all momth. Having breakfast for dinner is one of the ways you can stretch your dollars, especially at that price. Chefs salad is good with hard cooked eggs for these warm nights.
Last week we cooked three chickens because I bought two for stocking and saved one with ice crystals still on it from the defunct freezer. Two we cooked in the crock pot. A really easy way to cook chicken in a pinch for time. The large pieces stay pretty much in tact, the parts submerged under the natural broth are good for tacos and chicken soup or chicken and noodles.
The third one my husband roasted in the oven.
Last night we had chicken stir fry. my daughter is becoming a good cook. We do have to have something besides chicken soon. LOL
That's about all.
Please,share
Thanks for stopping by
Jane
Monday, August 11, 2014
There is a first for everything,
I didn't think it would ever happen.....,my husband is going to the store and indiscriminately,buying a can of coffee. Was out of commission ( in a rehab center for breaking my hip) and didn't shop for six weeks. Of course he has had plenty of time driving around and on his walks to go to grocery outlet and buy coffee. Now, I am stuck without transportation for a week again. I have to borrow my daughters car to go anywhere and that entails taking her to work ( two trips) because I can't get into the car and the baby can't fit in the truck. He can go with the baby by themselves. What a concept.
I have spent about 80.00 so far on groceries. Considering that I didn't shop for sox weeks and we had to throw away 160 pounds of food because the freezer quit, I don't think that's bad. We have a decent amount of food in the freezer and fridge and the pantry is pretty much ok I will need to buy green beans soon.
I have to download coupons. There haven't been a lot of food ones lately. But there have been Yoplait ones and peanut butter. Chicken cc is a buck at QFC and I salvaged one from the freezer that was still frozen. I have been cooking the, on the crockpot with the help of my husband. This time we watched it and turned it off as soon as it was done, We have more pieces. You would be surprised how much liquid one onion and the chicken gives off. My daughter made chicken noodle soup out of it. My granddaughter loves soup.
Last night we had ribs, corn on the cob and fruit salad. The night before we had roast chicken, mashed cheesy potatoes, and sliced tomato. Sometimes I drizzle tomato slices with olive oil, sprinkle it with basil and add some grated white cheese.
My daughter made a casserole skillet dinner with rice, cheese, diced tomatoes and peppers. It called for zucchini, but dear old dad didn't like it. Seems lots of people don't like zucchini. Que in chocolate zucchini bread or cake!
Tonight I think we will have chicken enchiladas. Rice and beans. I bought all for cartons of eggs at 1.25 each at Fred Meyer last week. We need to have breakfast for dinner one day a week. I am supposed to be eating hard cooked eggs to build my muscle after the surgery. At 1.25 that makes dinner really cheap, so we can afford to have red meat more often.
That's all I have for now. Hopefully we will get the ads tomorrow.
Please share
Jane
I have spent about 80.00 so far on groceries. Considering that I didn't shop for sox weeks and we had to throw away 160 pounds of food because the freezer quit, I don't think that's bad. We have a decent amount of food in the freezer and fridge and the pantry is pretty much ok I will need to buy green beans soon.
I have to download coupons. There haven't been a lot of food ones lately. But there have been Yoplait ones and peanut butter. Chicken cc is a buck at QFC and I salvaged one from the freezer that was still frozen. I have been cooking the, on the crockpot with the help of my husband. This time we watched it and turned it off as soon as it was done, We have more pieces. You would be surprised how much liquid one onion and the chicken gives off. My daughter made chicken noodle soup out of it. My granddaughter loves soup.
Last night we had ribs, corn on the cob and fruit salad. The night before we had roast chicken, mashed cheesy potatoes, and sliced tomato. Sometimes I drizzle tomato slices with olive oil, sprinkle it with basil and add some grated white cheese.
My daughter made a casserole skillet dinner with rice, cheese, diced tomatoes and peppers. It called for zucchini, but dear old dad didn't like it. Seems lots of people don't like zucchini. Que in chocolate zucchini bread or cake!
Tonight I think we will have chicken enchiladas. Rice and beans. I bought all for cartons of eggs at 1.25 each at Fred Meyer last week. We need to have breakfast for dinner one day a week. I am supposed to be eating hard cooked eggs to build my muscle after the surgery. At 1.25 that makes dinner really cheap, so we can afford to have red meat more often.
That's all I have for now. Hopefully we will get the ads tomorrow.
Please share
Jane
Friday, August 8, 2014
No ads
We didn't get any ads this week. That makes shopping difficult for me. I like to plan my trip ahead of time and these days I have to borrow a car and I'm resorting to a wheel chair. My husbands back is out and the freezer quit, so we might be winging it for a while. Not having the benefit of the freezer stock will make things challenging.
Yesterday, I cooked a chicken on the crock pot. I had never done that before because I didn't like the idea of chicken not being brought up to a temp quickly. Thos recipe is really simple and is cooked on high.
Crockpot chicken
Place a cut up onion on the bottom of the crockpot .
Place washed and ladled dry woth a paper towel chicken in crockpot.
Rub with a slice rub.
Cover and cook on high about an hour per pound.
Check to make sure chicken is done,
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp each of
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Salt
Thyme
Dash pepper.
Thanks for stopping by
Pleas share
Jane
Yesterday, I cooked a chicken on the crock pot. I had never done that before because I didn't like the idea of chicken not being brought up to a temp quickly. Thos recipe is really simple and is cooked on high.
Crockpot chicken
Place a cut up onion on the bottom of the crockpot .
Place washed and ladled dry woth a paper towel chicken in crockpot.
Rub with a slice rub.
Cover and cook on high about an hour per pound.
Check to make sure chicken is done,
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp each of
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Salt
Thyme
Dash pepper.
Thanks for stopping by
Pleas share
Jane
Thursday, August 7, 2014
My shopping list / last weeks ads
We have it shopped for over a month now besides a few necessities to get by. ( I have been in rehab for my hip replacement.
QFC
Peaches
Milk
Corn (3)
Yoplait 14 10/5 with two coupons.
ALBERTSONS
Buy 6
2 pkg English muffins
2 Popsicles with fruit in them
2 albacore tuna
12 instant potatoes
Fred Meyers
Eggs 4/5@@
Pizza (2)@@ 3.99
Hebrew national 2/7@@
Broccoli
Romaine
QFC
Chicken 4.50
Total 57.00
That still leaves me several dollars for so,es dairy and veggies to fill in.
Last night we were dealing with the freezer intermittently thawing and freezing. We had pork and beans and hot dogs and a fruit cup.
I still have a few things to buy to reset the fridge to normal. While I was on rehab, I ate for free and the rest of the family bought just what they needed to fill in for meals out of my stock. We still had several months of food. In fact, I still have several months in the pantry.
Guess that's all
Please share and thanks for stopping by
Jane
QFC
Peaches
Milk
Corn (3)
Yoplait 14 10/5 with two coupons.
ALBERTSONS
Buy 6
2 pkg English muffins
2 Popsicles with fruit in them
2 albacore tuna
12 instant potatoes
Fred Meyers
Eggs 4/5@@
Pizza (2)@@ 3.99
Hebrew national 2/7@@
Broccoli
Romaine
QFC
Chicken 4.50
Total 57.00
That still leaves me several dollars for so,es dairy and veggies to fill in.
Last night we were dealing with the freezer intermittently thawing and freezing. We had pork and beans and hot dogs and a fruit cup.
I still have a few things to buy to reset the fridge to normal. While I was on rehab, I ate for free and the rest of the family bought just what they needed to fill in for meals out of my stock. We still had several months of food. In fact, I still have several months in the pantry.
Guess that's all
Please share and thanks for stopping by
Jane
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Tomorrow's ads and notes
I got tomorrow's ads,.. I was noticing that there was no protein sale this week. Que in Fred Meyers.
Drumsticks, thighs or grill packs .99
10 percent hamburger. 3.98
Corn 10/3
Eggs 4/5@@
Digiorno pizza. 3.99@@
Hebrew national 2/7@@
Yellow squash .99
Pasta .99
Lettuce .99
Broccoli .99
Romaine is the best buy on the lettuce department. The greener the lettuce the more food value. And romaine lasts longer than other lettuces. In these dog days of summer, a chicken or shrimp or salmon Cesar salad is a good dinner alternative I get salmon cheaper at SAFEWAYS or Winco. You can clean the greens in the cool of the morning and make salad dressing. Maybe grill the chicken or salmon.
Betty Crocker had a article about several ways to make a hamburger mix ( crumbles and spices) to get a head start in several make ahead dinners. I like the idea if make ahead in these hot, busy days of summer. Our kitchen is on the east side of the house so by dinner time it's hot in there. One of the other summer tricks I play os to make a bunch if salads on the weekend early on the morning when it is cooler on the kitchen. Then at dinner time we can grill a protein to go with them. Or make something we can heat in the microwave or put on the oven and walk away until it's done.
Hebrew national hot dogs ( the only ones I'll buy except Nathan's ) are on sale. When buns are not on sale, I make pigs on blankets or add them to baked beans.
Tex Mexican food is a good money stretcher. Beans and rice make a complete protein, just remember that beans and rice have a shirt fridge life, they are one of the foods that spoil the quickest.
I buy canned and rinse them well to reduce the salt. Rice is so easy on the microwave that I make it so that we can eat it in two days. I buy very few canned fruits. You can rinse them to reduce the sugar too. Enchalada sauce is really expensive. But easily and cheap to make.m get chili powder in the bulk department or at Costco . Sometimes I have to go to the business Costco to get some things,
A jus mix is one if the things the regular Costco doesn't carry anymore, along with cornstarch. Since roast os so pricy, we haven't made a jus sandwiches in a long while.
I haven't downloaded coupons in a month because I haven't been home. It was getting harder to find coupons for real food. The Sunday paper has coupons for Yoplait and it's .50 on sale this week.
I haven't checked the matchup sites either because I haven't been able to shop. I suspect I won't be going shopping a lot for a while, maybe just making lists and organizing coupons. Adding a two up and a broken hip to the mix of shopping sounds dangerous. LOL. Maybe on a Saturday morning early!
Well, that's about all.
Please share
Thanks for stopping by
Jane
Drumsticks, thighs or grill packs .99
10 percent hamburger. 3.98
Corn 10/3
Eggs 4/5@@
Digiorno pizza. 3.99@@
Hebrew national 2/7@@
Yellow squash .99
Pasta .99
Lettuce .99
Broccoli .99
Romaine is the best buy on the lettuce department. The greener the lettuce the more food value. And romaine lasts longer than other lettuces. In these dog days of summer, a chicken or shrimp or salmon Cesar salad is a good dinner alternative I get salmon cheaper at SAFEWAYS or Winco. You can clean the greens in the cool of the morning and make salad dressing. Maybe grill the chicken or salmon.
Betty Crocker had a article about several ways to make a hamburger mix ( crumbles and spices) to get a head start in several make ahead dinners. I like the idea if make ahead in these hot, busy days of summer. Our kitchen is on the east side of the house so by dinner time it's hot in there. One of the other summer tricks I play os to make a bunch if salads on the weekend early on the morning when it is cooler on the kitchen. Then at dinner time we can grill a protein to go with them. Or make something we can heat in the microwave or put on the oven and walk away until it's done.
Hebrew national hot dogs ( the only ones I'll buy except Nathan's ) are on sale. When buns are not on sale, I make pigs on blankets or add them to baked beans.
Tex Mexican food is a good money stretcher. Beans and rice make a complete protein, just remember that beans and rice have a shirt fridge life, they are one of the foods that spoil the quickest.
I buy canned and rinse them well to reduce the salt. Rice is so easy on the microwave that I make it so that we can eat it in two days. I buy very few canned fruits. You can rinse them to reduce the sugar too. Enchalada sauce is really expensive. But easily and cheap to make.m get chili powder in the bulk department or at Costco . Sometimes I have to go to the business Costco to get some things,
A jus mix is one if the things the regular Costco doesn't carry anymore, along with cornstarch. Since roast os so pricy, we haven't made a jus sandwiches in a long while.
I haven't downloaded coupons in a month because I haven't been home. It was getting harder to find coupons for real food. The Sunday paper has coupons for Yoplait and it's .50 on sale this week.
I haven't checked the matchup sites either because I haven't been able to shop. I suspect I won't be going shopping a lot for a while, maybe just making lists and organizing coupons. Adding a two up and a broken hip to the mix of shopping sounds dangerous. LOL. Maybe on a Saturday morning early!
Well, that's about all.
Please share
Thanks for stopping by
Jane
Friday, August 1, 2014
It's Friday, the ads finally
I finally got the ads. Things aren't ad convenient as usual. Next week things should be a little back to normal.
QFC
Peaches 1.49
Corn 3/1
Pork loin. 2.99
Dreyers 2/5
Eggs 2/3
Buy 5 , save 5
Digiorno 3.99
Eng muffins 1.99
Cheerios 2.49
Activis 4 ok 1.69
Cherries 2.99
Yogurt 10/5
Pasta 1.00
SAFEWAYS
Yoplait 10/5
Tillamook ice cream 3.99
Milk 2.89
Berries 2.99
Grapes 2.99
Five dollar Friday
Fruit bars 2/5
Lemon me range pie
ALBERTSONS
Buy 6
Ice cream, fruit bars 2.49
Tuna, relish .79
Bread, eng muffins 1.99
Cake mix .99
Albacore tuna .99
Instant potatoes .89
Jif 1.99
Oatmeal 1.49
Berries 3.99
Bread 1.49@@
That's about all
Guess I'll go back to bed
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
QFC
Peaches 1.49
Corn 3/1
Pork loin. 2.99
Dreyers 2/5
Eggs 2/3
Buy 5 , save 5
Digiorno 3.99
Eng muffins 1.99
Cheerios 2.49
Activis 4 ok 1.69
Cherries 2.99
Yogurt 10/5
Pasta 1.00
SAFEWAYS
Yoplait 10/5
Tillamook ice cream 3.99
Milk 2.89
Berries 2.99
Grapes 2.99
Five dollar Friday
Fruit bars 2/5
Lemon me range pie
ALBERTSONS
Buy 6
Ice cream, fruit bars 2.49
Tuna, relish .79
Bread, eng muffins 1.99
Cake mix .99
Albacore tuna .99
Instant potatoes .89
Jif 1.99
Oatmeal 1.49
Berries 3.99
Bread 1.49@@
That's about all
Guess I'll go back to bed
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Thursday the basics
I am still I'm this glorious rehab center and my husband has not bring me the ads. He has,been such a trooper taking care if the two yo grandbaby and trying to keep a home running along with retro fitting it with rails etc so I can come home.
My other passion is designing greeting cards. Greeting cards have a basic plan. The plan can be found in cards dating back to the early 1900s . I have seen post cards from the early 1900s and they all have the same plan. 1) a cover background 2) a stripe 3) a greeting and 4) a focal point or icon.
A meal plan isn't much different. You have a protein, a starch, and a vegetable or fruit. I try to vary our protein sources so give us variety and balance,
I developed a matrix to make life easier. Your matrix may very well be different. Every family has their preferences.
2 beef
2 pork or chicken
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish
I find that skillet dinners, or slow cooker dinners are a quick way to get do dinner on the table with little effort and time. In these days if a hot kitchen, getting in and out if the kitchen in a flash is. Big plus.
Betty Crocker has a newsletter that comes on your e mail of you sign up for it. It is full of new and different ideas for meals. I tend to stick to the old tried and true meals from the 50 and 60s, so ot of fun to shake things up every now and then with a new taste or two.
We have been eating things with a buffalo chicken taste lately. Everyone in our family likes hot, including the little one, so it works. My husbands main object to chicken is that it has a bland taste.
That kicks it up a notch.
The object of meal plans is not to get to dinner time and stare at the fridge when someone says what's for dinner? It's too easy to be tempted ot get take out or order a pizza. That's a good way to derail your budget. My favorite answer to the proverbial what's for dinner sometimes is Whatever you cook! Takes them back every time. LOL
You don't have to follow the plan to the letter,but have a plan.
Don't be afraid to try new things. We had fish tacos a couple of nights ago. I have to admit I wouldn't have eaten them if it wasn't that I am in here and it's eat or starve! They weren't bad. I a, sure that if they were cooked in a dofferent venue, they might be even better!
I'm not feeling well, guess that's all
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
My other passion is designing greeting cards. Greeting cards have a basic plan. The plan can be found in cards dating back to the early 1900s . I have seen post cards from the early 1900s and they all have the same plan. 1) a cover background 2) a stripe 3) a greeting and 4) a focal point or icon.
A meal plan isn't much different. You have a protein, a starch, and a vegetable or fruit. I try to vary our protein sources so give us variety and balance,
I developed a matrix to make life easier. Your matrix may very well be different. Every family has their preferences.
2 beef
2 pork or chicken
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish
I find that skillet dinners, or slow cooker dinners are a quick way to get do dinner on the table with little effort and time. In these days if a hot kitchen, getting in and out if the kitchen in a flash is. Big plus.
Betty Crocker has a newsletter that comes on your e mail of you sign up for it. It is full of new and different ideas for meals. I tend to stick to the old tried and true meals from the 50 and 60s, so ot of fun to shake things up every now and then with a new taste or two.
We have been eating things with a buffalo chicken taste lately. Everyone in our family likes hot, including the little one, so it works. My husbands main object to chicken is that it has a bland taste.
That kicks it up a notch.
The object of meal plans is not to get to dinner time and stare at the fridge when someone says what's for dinner? It's too easy to be tempted ot get take out or order a pizza. That's a good way to derail your budget. My favorite answer to the proverbial what's for dinner sometimes is Whatever you cook! Takes them back every time. LOL
You don't have to follow the plan to the letter,but have a plan.
Don't be afraid to try new things. We had fish tacos a couple of nights ago. I have to admit I wouldn't have eaten them if it wasn't that I am in here and it's eat or starve! They weren't bad. I a, sure that if they were cooked in a dofferent venue, they might be even better!
I'm not feeling well, guess that's all
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Monday, July 28, 2014
Monday madness
Tonight I had a chef salad ( of sorts) and a roll for dinner. they had a glorious raspberry sweet roll for desert, but I opted for blue binny sherbert. Trying to keep my blood sugar in tact.
It is entirely possible to keep a strict budget and still take care of therapeutic diets. It takes a bit of planning and some education as to what is needed to stay within guidelines. It isn't necessary in most cases to completely do without a particular food, just really important to modify quanitites and replace some foods with similar ones that are better for you. Being diabetic doesn't mean I can't have desert, nor does it mean that I have to have dry cake . Ot means that I either have to modify the quantity of the cake,mor substitute it for another desert that is more appropriately within the carb guidelines that I need to keep.
Moderation is the key.
We have purchased almost no food this month. A few specialty items that my daughter needed for a new recipe,mand milk,bread, and some fresh fruit, I suspect we can go on for several more months with the status quo. It couldn't have been done without me having stocked more than usual anticipating that someday the mall we worked at would be closing for a time. I suspect that we will venerating different when I get back home so I can cook and my husband will have to help because I still can't bend at the waist and going downstairs to the freezer will be a chore. I anticipate it bring a once a week occurrence.
Buying in bulk when it is on sale is the only way I know to eat for 1/2 the price of food these days,
Buying perishables in season. Looking for specials on dairy ( skip far. , Fred Meyers is really good at putting them on sale on a regular basis. Kept at proper temp,dairy has a long enough shelf life to get you through a couple of weeks. I am it finding a lot of sale meats these days. Looking forward to Winco coming soon. It'll be a while until I can grocery shop, so I'll be making lists and taking advantage of instant photo exchanges we can access with today's technology.
Having a kitchen stool and island I am sure will be a good resource for me. As well as the crock pot.
Keeping on a strict budget takes some ingenuity in adjusting recipes for less expensive ingredients that will still give you the taste and texture that the original recipe called for. Finding recipes that are new to keep things fresh helps too. Add finding and taking advantage of sales on produce.
I have been writing waiting for my pain meds to take effect. I think tat they might be close to doing that.
Thanks for stopping my
Please share
Jane
It is entirely possible to keep a strict budget and still take care of therapeutic diets. It takes a bit of planning and some education as to what is needed to stay within guidelines. It isn't necessary in most cases to completely do without a particular food, just really important to modify quanitites and replace some foods with similar ones that are better for you. Being diabetic doesn't mean I can't have desert, nor does it mean that I have to have dry cake . Ot means that I either have to modify the quantity of the cake,mor substitute it for another desert that is more appropriately within the carb guidelines that I need to keep.
Moderation is the key.
We have purchased almost no food this month. A few specialty items that my daughter needed for a new recipe,mand milk,bread, and some fresh fruit, I suspect we can go on for several more months with the status quo. It couldn't have been done without me having stocked more than usual anticipating that someday the mall we worked at would be closing for a time. I suspect that we will venerating different when I get back home so I can cook and my husband will have to help because I still can't bend at the waist and going downstairs to the freezer will be a chore. I anticipate it bring a once a week occurrence.
Buying in bulk when it is on sale is the only way I know to eat for 1/2 the price of food these days,
Buying perishables in season. Looking for specials on dairy ( skip far. , Fred Meyers is really good at putting them on sale on a regular basis. Kept at proper temp,dairy has a long enough shelf life to get you through a couple of weeks. I am it finding a lot of sale meats these days. Looking forward to Winco coming soon. It'll be a while until I can grocery shop, so I'll be making lists and taking advantage of instant photo exchanges we can access with today's technology.
Having a kitchen stool and island I am sure will be a good resource for me. As well as the crock pot.
Keeping on a strict budget takes some ingenuity in adjusting recipes for less expensive ingredients that will still give you the taste and texture that the original recipe called for. Finding recipes that are new to keep things fresh helps too. Add finding and taking advantage of sales on produce.
I have been writing waiting for my pain meds to take effect. I think tat they might be close to doing that.
Thanks for stopping my
Please share
Jane
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Sunday, the ads
Fred Meyers
Strawberries. 1.88
Triskit crackers 3/5@@
Milk 4/5@@
"Bread 3/4@@
Pasta sauce .79@@
Smoked sausage 2.99@@
Jif 2/4
Yoplait 10/5
Frozenotatoes 3/5
Cherries 2,99
Peaches 1.99
Cucumbers, radishes 2/1
Green beans 1.49
Walgreens
Paper folders .10
Clams .89@@
Olives .89@@
Milk 2.49
Optic white toothpaste, with register rewards and coupon on Sundays paper is .50.
That's about it.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Strawberries. 1.88
Triskit crackers 3/5@@
Milk 4/5@@
"Bread 3/4@@
Pasta sauce .79@@
Smoked sausage 2.99@@
Jif 2/4
Yoplait 10/5
Frozenotatoes 3/5
Cherries 2,99
Peaches 1.99
Cucumbers, radishes 2/1
Green beans 1.49
Walgreens
Paper folders .10
Clams .89@@
Olives .89@@
Milk 2.49
Optic white toothpaste, with register rewards and coupon on Sundays paper is .50.
That's about it.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Suddenly Saturday-- getting dinner in the table.
There are many ways to save time and energy getting food din the table. The one basic concept that works the best for me is to batch cook whatever protein that is the best special of the week. The meats vary , but usually bought in bulk saves a lot of time and money.
You are buying the "meat " at rock bottom prices, cooking it once, amd portion controlling it onto batches just big enou for a nights meal. There is no waste and you have saved labor and energy cooking it.
Stair stepping ingredients for meals helps a lot too. Making a double batch if rice so that you split it and have Spanish rice with tacos, and rice under a stirfry the next day. Roce and beans have a short fridge life, so don't hold them too long.
The crockpot is your best friend, The is something very therapeutic about coming home to dinner cooked. I imagine the smell is glorious. Simplest pot roast ever. Put pot roast in the crockpot. Slice a peeled onion and out on top. Salt and pepper. Pour a beer over top. Add enough beef stock or water to almost cover. Set on low for 8-10 hours., I. Microwave potatoes and carrots until tender and put in the pot with the cooking liquid the last 1/2 hour.
There is a method out there called freezer cooking, we used to call ot marathon cooking. Basically you shop once a month and cook a months worth of meals in a day. It's hard work. It works for some people. I can see it working for a mom with a weird shift at work. Meals would be ready for another family member to heat up when dinner time came,
Personally, I don't have the stamina to cook for eight to ten hours straight. I would prefer batch cooking. You have to pick what works for you on a long term basis.
I just Re read a cookbook called, " don't panic,dinner is in the freezer. " I got it as a e book from amazon I think. Even of you dint want to marathon cook, it has some really good scratch recipes. It's also breaks down a recipe for number of batches you wish to cook. A good go to if you need to cook for a crowd.,
Whatever works for you.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
You are buying the "meat " at rock bottom prices, cooking it once, amd portion controlling it onto batches just big enou for a nights meal. There is no waste and you have saved labor and energy cooking it.
Stair stepping ingredients for meals helps a lot too. Making a double batch if rice so that you split it and have Spanish rice with tacos, and rice under a stirfry the next day. Roce and beans have a short fridge life, so don't hold them too long.
The crockpot is your best friend, The is something very therapeutic about coming home to dinner cooked. I imagine the smell is glorious. Simplest pot roast ever. Put pot roast in the crockpot. Slice a peeled onion and out on top. Salt and pepper. Pour a beer over top. Add enough beef stock or water to almost cover. Set on low for 8-10 hours., I. Microwave potatoes and carrots until tender and put in the pot with the cooking liquid the last 1/2 hour.
There is a method out there called freezer cooking, we used to call ot marathon cooking. Basically you shop once a month and cook a months worth of meals in a day. It's hard work. It works for some people. I can see it working for a mom with a weird shift at work. Meals would be ready for another family member to heat up when dinner time came,
Personally, I don't have the stamina to cook for eight to ten hours straight. I would prefer batch cooking. You have to pick what works for you on a long term basis.
I just Re read a cookbook called, " don't panic,dinner is in the freezer. " I got it as a e book from amazon I think. Even of you dint want to marathon cook, it has some really good scratch recipes. It's also breaks down a recipe for number of batches you wish to cook. A good go to if you need to cook for a crowd.,
Whatever works for you.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Suddenly Saturday.
Had a fruit plate last night, thought it would be better than pizza. Top high sugar this am. Guess the cottage cheese wasn't enough protein. Trying to something's around a hextic therapy schedule.
I was reminded today about stuffed potatoes. It's a good way to ise bits of things for dinner. Bake potatoes amd gather bits of things that go on them. Everyone makes their own. Chili. Taco meat, broccoli, cheese, bacon, whatever.
Sometimes, I okay clean out the veggie bin and either make soup, or stir fry with chicken or shrimp over rice or noodles.
I was reminded today about stuffed potatoes. It's a good way to ise bits of things for dinner. Bake potatoes amd gather bits of things that go on them. Everyone makes their own. Chili. Taco meat, broccoli, cheese, bacon, whatever.
Sometimes, I okay clean out the veggie bin and either make soup, or stir fry with chicken or shrimp over rice or noodles.
The ads
A real quick take on the ads
ALBERTSONS
Chicken drums .88 not they dine tell u where they are from
Corn 3/1
Yoplait .38@@
SAFEWAYS
Blues 5.99
Cantelope 1.00
Chicken .88
five dollar Friday
Cookies
Pizza
Berries
Cheese
QFC
Berries 4.99
Milk 4/5
Pasta 1.00
corn 3/1
That's about all
Thanks
Jane
ALBERTSONS
Chicken drums .88 not they dine tell u where they are from
Corn 3/1
Yoplait .38@@
SAFEWAYS
Blues 5.99
Cantelope 1.00
Chicken .88
five dollar Friday
Cookies
Pizza
Berries
Cheese
QFC
Berries 4.99
Milk 4/5
Pasta 1.00
corn 3/1
That's about all
Thanks
Jane
Wicked Wednesday-no ads
It's Wednesday. I'm still in rehab with some good days and some not so good days.
What to do with what you got.
Beef with roasted veggies and mustard cream sauce,
Mustard sauce
1/2 cup sour cream
2 T Dijon mustard
1 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon juice
Sour cream is on sale at Fred Meyers
Dijon mustard os cheapest at grocery outlet or Costco
Lemon juice out of a bottle is supposed to be cheaper.
ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLES
I use a combination if any root vegetables that are in my vegetable bin. Often i do this in Wednesday to clean out the veggie bin, Regular or red potatoes, carrots, radishes, celery, turnips or rutabagas if I have them. Cut them in pieces so that they will cook at the same time. Toss them with olive oil. Salt, pepper and sometimes a few red pepper flakes. Roast at 375 to 400 until they are done. Sometimes I add rosemary and skip the red pepper flakes. The oven temp is flexible so they can be roasted with other foods. Good with meatloaf, chicken, etc.
White bean and pasta soup
Soup is not an exact science. If you don't have an ingredient , substitute or leave ot out. The amount of veggies is up to you, Play it be ear. I always use less onions because my husband is. It particulary find if them. He likes the taste, but doesn't like to bite into one. I either chop it fine, or use the micro plane to "grate" it.
Sauté vegetables in olive oil
Onion
Carrots.
Celery
Red peppers, chopped fine
Add 4 cups water and sautéed veggies to soup pot.
Add 2 cups cooked white beans with 3/4 cup of the cooking liquid. ( or use a 15 ounce can of white beans , rinsed and 3/4 cup of chicken stock. Or water.
Add a large tomato, chopped amd seeded.
Cook until tomato is tender and soup is heated through.
Add 1 cup cooked small pasta. ( maybe orzo or small shells. )
Heat through.
Salt and pepper.
I like to serve soup with grated hard cheese on top, maybe croutons made from stale bread. Some sour cream and chives. Anything that would taste good and make ot taste good. A little extra touch sometimes makes things a little more gourmet instead of just a bowl of soup.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
What to do with what you got.
Beef with roasted veggies and mustard cream sauce,
Mustard sauce
1/2 cup sour cream
2 T Dijon mustard
1 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon juice
Sour cream is on sale at Fred Meyers
Dijon mustard os cheapest at grocery outlet or Costco
Lemon juice out of a bottle is supposed to be cheaper.
ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLES
I use a combination if any root vegetables that are in my vegetable bin. Often i do this in Wednesday to clean out the veggie bin, Regular or red potatoes, carrots, radishes, celery, turnips or rutabagas if I have them. Cut them in pieces so that they will cook at the same time. Toss them with olive oil. Salt, pepper and sometimes a few red pepper flakes. Roast at 375 to 400 until they are done. Sometimes I add rosemary and skip the red pepper flakes. The oven temp is flexible so they can be roasted with other foods. Good with meatloaf, chicken, etc.
White bean and pasta soup
Soup is not an exact science. If you don't have an ingredient , substitute or leave ot out. The amount of veggies is up to you, Play it be ear. I always use less onions because my husband is. It particulary find if them. He likes the taste, but doesn't like to bite into one. I either chop it fine, or use the micro plane to "grate" it.
Sauté vegetables in olive oil
Onion
Carrots.
Celery
Red peppers, chopped fine
Add 4 cups water and sautéed veggies to soup pot.
Add 2 cups cooked white beans with 3/4 cup of the cooking liquid. ( or use a 15 ounce can of white beans , rinsed and 3/4 cup of chicken stock. Or water.
Add a large tomato, chopped amd seeded.
Cook until tomato is tender and soup is heated through.
Add 1 cup cooked small pasta. ( maybe orzo or small shells. )
Heat through.
Salt and pepper.
I like to serve soup with grated hard cheese on top, maybe croutons made from stale bread. Some sour cream and chives. Anything that would taste good and make ot taste good. A little extra touch sometimes makes things a little more gourmet instead of just a bowl of soup.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Sunday ads
Here are Sunday ads.
Fred Meyers
Peaches or nectarines 1.28
Reg hamburger 2.48
Red cherries 1.99
Ice cream 2/4
French bread 1.00
Buns 1.00
Sour cream 1.00
Pumpkin pie 2.99
Hebrew national 3.49
Peanut butter 3/5
Blues 4.99
Zucchini .99
Walgreens
Milk 2.49
Coffee 6.99
Bumble bee Tina .99@@
dreyers 3.99***
Note the spread of prices on ice cream. Pumpkin pie is a bargain because pumpkin canned is not cheap. Add evaporated milk and this os prolly cheaper.
Watch drug stores or other stores where food is not their main focus. Sometimes they are cheaper on what they do have. Think outside the box.
Hot dogs and buns are on sale at Fred Meyers. Stir frying veggies with some olive oil and adding chicken or shrimp is good over rice or noodles.
Thanks
Jane
Please share
Fred Meyers
Peaches or nectarines 1.28
Reg hamburger 2.48
Red cherries 1.99
Ice cream 2/4
French bread 1.00
Buns 1.00
Sour cream 1.00
Pumpkin pie 2.99
Hebrew national 3.49
Peanut butter 3/5
Blues 4.99
Zucchini .99
Walgreens
Milk 2.49
Coffee 6.99
Bumble bee Tina .99@@
dreyers 3.99***
Note the spread of prices on ice cream. Pumpkin pie is a bargain because pumpkin canned is not cheap. Add evaporated milk and this os prolly cheaper.
Watch drug stores or other stores where food is not their main focus. Sometimes they are cheaper on what they do have. Think outside the box.
Hot dogs and buns are on sale at Fred Meyers. Stir frying veggies with some olive oil and adding chicken or shrimp is good over rice or noodles.
Thanks
Jane
Please share
Thursday, July 17, 2014
The ads and what to do with them
My husband brought me the ad s.
ALBERTSONS
Cherries 1.99
7 percent hamburger 3.99@@
Tillamook cheese 6.99
Quarters
Muffin mix .25
Pineapple slices .75
Tomato paste .25
Barilla pasta 1.00$
SAFEWAYS
Cherries2.99
Blues 2.99
Peaches 1.49
BREYERS 2.99
Grapes 299
Barilla .99$
5 dollar Friday
Blues
Chicken? Depend another weight
QFC
Blues 4.99
Grapes 1.99
Cherries 2.99
Gree beans, squash .99
Nectarines 1.99
Sirloin tip roast BOGO nets 3.25
Rite aid
BREYERS. BOGO
Pyrex buy one, get two
That's about all.
Please check the matchup sites, I don't have my coupon book at the rehab! LOL
I would say that it is cheaper to get two sirloin roasts and roat one off and make hamburger out of the other one , Slice the roast thin and freeze for a jus sandwiches. Chicken is a food buy if it is five pounds or more. There are many fruits and veggies. Stir fry with some chicken in rice! Blueberry pancakes or waffles . Muffins are a quarter. Prolly cheaper than scratch. With a salad for dinner, add chicken ,nuts, grapes and some apple to greens, Soak the apple woth some lime or other acidic juice. I save the juice from pineapple.
Thanks
Jane
ALBERTSONS
Cherries 1.99
7 percent hamburger 3.99@@
Tillamook cheese 6.99
Quarters
Muffin mix .25
Pineapple slices .75
Tomato paste .25
Barilla pasta 1.00$
SAFEWAYS
Cherries2.99
Blues 2.99
Peaches 1.49
BREYERS 2.99
Grapes 299
Barilla .99$
5 dollar Friday
Blues
Chicken? Depend another weight
QFC
Blues 4.99
Grapes 1.99
Cherries 2.99
Gree beans, squash .99
Nectarines 1.99
Sirloin tip roast BOGO nets 3.25
Rite aid
BREYERS. BOGO
Pyrex buy one, get two
That's about all.
Please check the matchup sites, I don't have my coupon book at the rehab! LOL
I would say that it is cheaper to get two sirloin roasts and roat one off and make hamburger out of the other one , Slice the roast thin and freeze for a jus sandwiches. Chicken is a food buy if it is five pounds or more. There are many fruits and veggies. Stir fry with some chicken in rice! Blueberry pancakes or waffles . Muffins are a quarter. Prolly cheaper than scratch. With a salad for dinner, add chicken ,nuts, grapes and some apple to greens, Soak the apple woth some lime or other acidic juice. I save the juice from pineapple.
Thanks
Jane
Terrific thursday
It's in the middle of the night. I just had a real bout with muscle spasms and a ice pack that leaked and got my bed and my pjs wet. Trying to not wake my roommate with the commotion of changing clothes and sheets. LOL
My husband is going to bring me the ads, so they will be late.
We have talked about batch cooking and buying in bulk and at rock bottom prices. Making sure that you only,buy foods that you will use on a regular basis assures that you will use things up before there is a stale date.
Tonight we had a tater tot casserole, pickled beets, and a bread stick. Fresh pineapple for desert. I hadn't had beets for years and the pineapple was refreshing on a hot day. Fresh pineapple is one thing I find not hard to buy on a budget. We manage to get berries, bananas, and apples, sometimes oranges.
Using up the bits of fresh foods helps keep costs down. I haven't shopped for several weeks now, I don't know how the fresh foods have favored.
About all.
Thanks
Jane
My husband is going to bring me the ads, so they will be late.
We have talked about batch cooking and buying in bulk and at rock bottom prices. Making sure that you only,buy foods that you will use on a regular basis assures that you will use things up before there is a stale date.
Tonight we had a tater tot casserole, pickled beets, and a bread stick. Fresh pineapple for desert. I hadn't had beets for years and the pineapple was refreshing on a hot day. Fresh pineapple is one thing I find not hard to buy on a budget. We manage to get berries, bananas, and apples, sometimes oranges.
Using up the bits of fresh foods helps keep costs down. I haven't shopped for several weeks now, I don't know how the fresh foods have favored.
About all.
Thanks
Jane
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Terrific Tuesday
It's Tuesday, the 15th. It is a milestone for a family member and we are all jumping up and down to say "Hip Hip Hooray! " it's been a long time coming and we are all thrilled! Well, my brain is jumping. My body. Not so much!
Last night we had a vegetable bean soup. Cornbread, a tomato and cucumber salad,and chocolate pudding for dinner. It would be a very inexpensive dinner to serve. You could put the soup in the slow cooker in the morning, the cornbread is a quick fix as well as the salad. When you are having a soup that has a limited amount of protein in it, you need to add a side or desert that has protein in it.
Pudding is one of those things that is easy to make without the box. You are getting very little effort in the box for a lot of money.
Averaging your meat costs is one way to afford a more expensive cut if meat every new and then. I use a matrix when planning meals. It makes it easier and affords a degree of balance. By rotating your meats( proteins ) using the bulk system, your meal plans fall into place.
2 beef
2 chicken or pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish
SAFEWAYS has pork tenderloin and shrimp on five dollar Friday often.
I am finding a buck a pound chicken often. There is an expose on deli chicken on an older blog. It's very enlightening. I make our own ( actually I cut the meat up and my husband puts it through the grinder ) hamburger when it is cost effective. Batch cooking hamburger is the most labor intensive of the batch meats. I buy grated cheese when it is reasonable, otherwise I grate our own and add a little cornstarch to keep it from clumping. It freezes well.
I can always get pasta for a buck a pound. Often, I can also get coupons or coupons matching with a sale. Pasta has a v e r y long shelf life. Stock when you can. I developed a pasta dish that is my answer to a hamburger meal box. Better, cheaper, faster. My children call it no Brainer pasta. There is a blog on hamburger meal boxes as well. It's a real eye opener!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Last night we had a vegetable bean soup. Cornbread, a tomato and cucumber salad,and chocolate pudding for dinner. It would be a very inexpensive dinner to serve. You could put the soup in the slow cooker in the morning, the cornbread is a quick fix as well as the salad. When you are having a soup that has a limited amount of protein in it, you need to add a side or desert that has protein in it.
Pudding is one of those things that is easy to make without the box. You are getting very little effort in the box for a lot of money.
Averaging your meat costs is one way to afford a more expensive cut if meat every new and then. I use a matrix when planning meals. It makes it easier and affords a degree of balance. By rotating your meats( proteins ) using the bulk system, your meal plans fall into place.
2 beef
2 chicken or pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish
SAFEWAYS has pork tenderloin and shrimp on five dollar Friday often.
I am finding a buck a pound chicken often. There is an expose on deli chicken on an older blog. It's very enlightening. I make our own ( actually I cut the meat up and my husband puts it through the grinder ) hamburger when it is cost effective. Batch cooking hamburger is the most labor intensive of the batch meats. I buy grated cheese when it is reasonable, otherwise I grate our own and add a little cornstarch to keep it from clumping. It freezes well.
I can always get pasta for a buck a pound. Often, I can also get coupons or coupons matching with a sale. Pasta has a v e r y long shelf life. Stock when you can. I developed a pasta dish that is my answer to a hamburger meal box. Better, cheaper, faster. My children call it no Brainer pasta. There is a blog on hamburger meal boxes as well. It's a real eye opener!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Sunday ads
I got the paper today. Smart source has a few cereal type coupons, but not many,
Walgreens has pink salmon for 1.99@@
ALBERTSONS
Chicken , whole .99
Blues 4.99
Tillamook yogurt 10/4
Milk 2/5@@
Bread 1.49@@
Ground beef 15% 2.99@@
Buy 5 save 5
Freshetta 4.49
Sour cream 1.49
Salsa 3.79
Fred Meyers
Sirloin steak 3.99
Cherries 1.88
Milk 4/5@@
Bread 1.33@@t
Tomatoes or veggies. 2/1@@ limit
Smoked sausage 2/5
Corn 4/2
Parsley..67
Cukes. .67
Green beans 1.48
Berries 2/5
Broccoli .99
Pizza 3.99
Ice cream 2/4@@
Peanut butter 2/3@@
that's about all
Please share
Jane
Walgreens has pink salmon for 1.99@@
ALBERTSONS
Chicken , whole .99
Blues 4.99
Tillamook yogurt 10/4
Milk 2/5@@
Bread 1.49@@
Ground beef 15% 2.99@@
Buy 5 save 5
Freshetta 4.49
Sour cream 1.49
Salsa 3.79
Fred Meyers
Sirloin steak 3.99
Cherries 1.88
Milk 4/5@@
Bread 1.33@@t
Tomatoes or veggies. 2/1@@ limit
Smoked sausage 2/5
Corn 4/2
Parsley..67
Cukes. .67
Green beans 1.48
Berries 2/5
Broccoli .99
Pizza 3.99
Ice cream 2/4@@
Peanut butter 2/3@@
that's about all
Please share
Jane
Suddenly Sunday- the basics continued.
We have talked about looking for the best buys and taking advantage of sales. The old adage of my mothers is still true---never pay top dollar for anything. Today it's random bits of information. If I was my normal logical self, this would be a bit more cohesive, but given my drugged body, all bets are off! LOL ( I'm in rehab for a hip replacement! )
First, the USDA publishes stats for different income levels and for different sized families. An older couple , thrifty , is about 82.00 a week. Mind you,there are 4.2 weeknight in a month. If you are getting less, they are figuring that some of your other income is going to supplement.
It helps to divide your grocery money into the food groups, in proportion to the food pyramid. We work on 5 dollar dinners for a typical family of four, based on 300. A month. That would be probably closer to two bucks for a couple.
Don't forget coupons. Many times they are for expensive things you don't need, but you can still get good food cheap. I like free. It happens sometimes. Coupons come out in the Sunday paper in the form of inserts. I have a friend that brings me hers, And I get one from the dollar store weekly.
Coupons come out once a month on the computer. You snooze you loose for the expensive ones. You can pick and choose the ones you will print. You can print two per item. Coupons.com. There are a lot of web sites, but most take you back to coupons,com and they don't ask you for your first born sons name? LOL.
Don't overlook other stores. Buy the best of two chain stores and keep your eye open at the other stores. I use Costco for a few things. We have over stocked stores . Sometimes they have really good food that is a bit out of the ordinary and never took off in the regular market. We have Big Lots and Grocery Outlet. . We are getting a Winco near us soon I hear. Bakery outlet stores are good for bread products. If I was really short on budget, I would make my own, there are recipes
that make it easy.
The dollar store is cheaper on some things, but it really pays to know your prices. I can't emphasize that enough. If you can't remember, use a spread sheet or a notebook to keep track.
Last night, in the rehab, we had a baby pizza and spinach for dinner. Pepperoni is .50 a package with a coupon at the dollar store. The crust looked suspiciously like bisquick. I could have done without the spinach and had a little green salad. There was bits of bacon, pepperoni and sausage on the pizza.
I have been getting cheese for as little as two bucks a pound. A little more for a Mexican blend at business Costco.
Portion control is a real key player when you have a less than USDA stat budget. Identifying protein cheap and finding the cheapest cost is paramount. We eat far more protein than we need to.
You can stretch a lot using portion control. It's real easy, especially after being used to cooking for a large family, to overlook. Remember, you can split recipes and use them for more than one meal. Use up bits and pieces for soup, pizza, enchiladas etc.
Popcorn is a good snack. Air popped is real healthy. Something as simple as an enchilada sauce can jack up up your total meal cost. Make your own sauces. The sauce can cost more than the meat.
I was surprised how easy it is to make. If a recipe sounds too complicated, keep looking, the Internet is full of information. I have been getting recipe starter for .50 and less. Recipe starter was introduced a year or so ago. It didn't fly. It is a good product, made by a good company, but the cost was more than the meat you put in it. It hit the secondary market. The dollar store had it for 2/1. I had fifty cent coupons. The dollar store is out now, And so are the coupons. But, Big Lots has them for .50 and they have cheese. Add real cheese and frozen veggies ( often cheaper at the dollar store( watch weights) to coupon purchased pasta and you have a dinner for often times a buck. Or use garlic or basil with tuna.
Your meals can be filling, good, tasty and inexpensive. They don't have to shout economy.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
First, the USDA publishes stats for different income levels and for different sized families. An older couple , thrifty , is about 82.00 a week. Mind you,there are 4.2 weeknight in a month. If you are getting less, they are figuring that some of your other income is going to supplement.
It helps to divide your grocery money into the food groups, in proportion to the food pyramid. We work on 5 dollar dinners for a typical family of four, based on 300. A month. That would be probably closer to two bucks for a couple.
Don't forget coupons. Many times they are for expensive things you don't need, but you can still get good food cheap. I like free. It happens sometimes. Coupons come out in the Sunday paper in the form of inserts. I have a friend that brings me hers, And I get one from the dollar store weekly.
Coupons come out once a month on the computer. You snooze you loose for the expensive ones. You can pick and choose the ones you will print. You can print two per item. Coupons.com. There are a lot of web sites, but most take you back to coupons,com and they don't ask you for your first born sons name? LOL.
Don't overlook other stores. Buy the best of two chain stores and keep your eye open at the other stores. I use Costco for a few things. We have over stocked stores . Sometimes they have really good food that is a bit out of the ordinary and never took off in the regular market. We have Big Lots and Grocery Outlet. . We are getting a Winco near us soon I hear. Bakery outlet stores are good for bread products. If I was really short on budget, I would make my own, there are recipes
that make it easy.
The dollar store is cheaper on some things, but it really pays to know your prices. I can't emphasize that enough. If you can't remember, use a spread sheet or a notebook to keep track.
Last night, in the rehab, we had a baby pizza and spinach for dinner. Pepperoni is .50 a package with a coupon at the dollar store. The crust looked suspiciously like bisquick. I could have done without the spinach and had a little green salad. There was bits of bacon, pepperoni and sausage on the pizza.
I have been getting cheese for as little as two bucks a pound. A little more for a Mexican blend at business Costco.
Portion control is a real key player when you have a less than USDA stat budget. Identifying protein cheap and finding the cheapest cost is paramount. We eat far more protein than we need to.
You can stretch a lot using portion control. It's real easy, especially after being used to cooking for a large family, to overlook. Remember, you can split recipes and use them for more than one meal. Use up bits and pieces for soup, pizza, enchiladas etc.
Popcorn is a good snack. Air popped is real healthy. Something as simple as an enchilada sauce can jack up up your total meal cost. Make your own sauces. The sauce can cost more than the meat.
I was surprised how easy it is to make. If a recipe sounds too complicated, keep looking, the Internet is full of information. I have been getting recipe starter for .50 and less. Recipe starter was introduced a year or so ago. It didn't fly. It is a good product, made by a good company, but the cost was more than the meat you put in it. It hit the secondary market. The dollar store had it for 2/1. I had fifty cent coupons. The dollar store is out now, And so are the coupons. But, Big Lots has them for .50 and they have cheese. Add real cheese and frozen veggies ( often cheaper at the dollar store( watch weights) to coupon purchased pasta and you have a dinner for often times a buck. Or use garlic or basil with tuna.
Your meals can be filling, good, tasty and inexpensive. They don't have to shout economy.
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Jane
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