Just a quick one here. Slow cookers can be your best friend in the kitchen if you know you are going to have a busy day or you don't feel well. Put something in it, the recipes out there are plentiful. Look on the Betty Crocker web site. Sign up for e mails for the things you are interested in. They sent me a calendar for free. Anything with chocolate and cherries on it can't be bad! LOL.
When our freezer went out, we still had chickens with ice crystals on them. I needed to cook four chickens in a hurry. Some I roasted. Some I found a recipe for in the crockpot. I shun away from raw meat starting on low. I think it has to come up to temp faster to be safe. Just a fetish if mine.
This recipe is super fast ( I was recovering from hip surgery) and did the trick. You put a cut up onion on the bottom of the pot. Make a slice rub. Wash and dry the chicken, rub it with slice rub and cook it on high on the pot for an hour a pound, I think you could reduce the cooking time a little . Watch it the last hour and pull ot when it is done. It provides itself a lot of chicken stock. The breast meat on top is in tact. The meat that cooks in the juices is fall apart done. Great for enchiladas, pot pie. Tacos etc. it's a no Brainer if you need to cook a chicken and have no time,
The entire family including the baby loves sausage bean soup. I leave the sausage out for the vegetarians. It's another quick and easy cheap dinner. Start dumping :
2 -15 ounce cans of diced tomatoes. 2 cans of beans of your choice. ( I use two different kinds.) a quart if chicken stock or veggie stock, two to three cups of veggies, chopped and astute until limp.
Use anything you have, I use mixed peppers, onion, celery, carrot.
Cover and cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low for 8-10 hours.
We top with grated parm or other hard cheese of we have it.
I either make bread, or heat brown and serve baguette that I can still get at business Costco or sometimes at the bakery outlet ( franz on 164th on Lynnwood. )
There is always chocolate decadence!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Saturday, December 27, 2014
On dishes .
There seems to be a misconception on dishes out there , especially for the younger generation.
So here are some facts to clear things up.
The health department won't allow ironstone dishes used in a place where one is feeding outsiders. Ie a nursing home or adult family home, bed and breakfast or eating establishment. They chip easily and harbor germs. China chips less easily. Restaurant china is porcelain and is more durable. Restraunt china can be purchased at Costco wholesale cheap. I bought a set of plates and coup soup dishes we use all the time for every day. I also have a set of buffet dishes that are open stock at pier one, they were three dollars a plate.
Good china with a good or silver rim can be washed in the dishwasher if you do it properly. Rinse the dishes after scraping them with a rubber spatula, in a dishpan of sudsy water ( dawn ) . Put them in the dishwasher with no soap and no heat dry cycle of you have an old less energy efficient dishwasher. It's the old fashioned heat cycle and the harsh detergent that kills the gold.
Sterling does not have to be polished nearly as much as the stainless steel fridge. If put away properly and kept away from painted walls, it only,needs polishing once a year. It does need to be polished though. If let to go black, it is not good for it. A silver tea set last I checked was in the thousands of dollars, it needs to be polished and put in tarnish cloth bags. Ditto other sterling Halloware . Mustard and other acidic foods will pit sterling.
Children need to learn what the finer things in life are and how to take care of things and treat things with respect. My granddaughter at two knows how to open my I pad and how to use one finger to carefully navigate to her sites. She also knows that china is not to be used as a frisbee. LOL. I think it is a mistake to raise a bunch if hooligans that don't know what a seafood fork is for. We are loosing a heritage that is a shame to be lost.
We are living in a throw away society where electronics go obsolete on purpose and it soo important to have the latest and the finer things in life are not important. I think we are loosing something here. When was the last time you set a table and all ate at the table for dinner? I a, as guilty as the next person at this. We need to do it more often, It builds family and I think is being lost on the electronic bustle of our lives.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
So here are some facts to clear things up.
The health department won't allow ironstone dishes used in a place where one is feeding outsiders. Ie a nursing home or adult family home, bed and breakfast or eating establishment. They chip easily and harbor germs. China chips less easily. Restaurant china is porcelain and is more durable. Restraunt china can be purchased at Costco wholesale cheap. I bought a set of plates and coup soup dishes we use all the time for every day. I also have a set of buffet dishes that are open stock at pier one, they were three dollars a plate.
Good china with a good or silver rim can be washed in the dishwasher if you do it properly. Rinse the dishes after scraping them with a rubber spatula, in a dishpan of sudsy water ( dawn ) . Put them in the dishwasher with no soap and no heat dry cycle of you have an old less energy efficient dishwasher. It's the old fashioned heat cycle and the harsh detergent that kills the gold.
Sterling does not have to be polished nearly as much as the stainless steel fridge. If put away properly and kept away from painted walls, it only,needs polishing once a year. It does need to be polished though. If let to go black, it is not good for it. A silver tea set last I checked was in the thousands of dollars, it needs to be polished and put in tarnish cloth bags. Ditto other sterling Halloware . Mustard and other acidic foods will pit sterling.
Children need to learn what the finer things in life are and how to take care of things and treat things with respect. My granddaughter at two knows how to open my I pad and how to use one finger to carefully navigate to her sites. She also knows that china is not to be used as a frisbee. LOL. I think it is a mistake to raise a bunch if hooligans that don't know what a seafood fork is for. We are loosing a heritage that is a shame to be lost.
We are living in a throw away society where electronics go obsolete on purpose and it soo important to have the latest and the finer things in life are not important. I think we are loosing something here. When was the last time you set a table and all ate at the table for dinner? I a, as guilty as the next person at this. We need to do it more often, It builds family and I think is being lost on the electronic bustle of our lives.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Friday, December 26, 2014
Almost free pizza
I got a bread machine for Christmas! But, I have a pizza crust recipe that uses the food processor and is quick , and simple. No rising!
Almost free pizza takes some planning. But not much. Take a couple of freezer bags, and mark one veggies and one meat. If you don't like mixed meat, mark each separate. Every time you are chopping a veggie that goes on a pizza, set a little aside for the pizza bag. Same with leftover meat. Chicken pieces, ham pieces? When you have enough, make pizza. All the chopping is done and you have saved a little from each meal.
Study a pizza menu from your local take out and get new ideas for pizza.
Buffalo chicken pizza os a favorite.
You can also set aside a little pasta sauce from the pot next time you are making pasta. Or I use a 8 ounce can of tomato sauce. It's .25 every once in a while from ALBERTSONS. Just add onion and Italian seasoning,
Cheese is cheapest at the business Costco. It comes in five pound bags.
The recipe for pizza crust os on an earlier post.
Almost free pizza takes some planning. But not much. Take a couple of freezer bags, and mark one veggies and one meat. If you don't like mixed meat, mark each separate. Every time you are chopping a veggie that goes on a pizza, set a little aside for the pizza bag. Same with leftover meat. Chicken pieces, ham pieces? When you have enough, make pizza. All the chopping is done and you have saved a little from each meal.
Study a pizza menu from your local take out and get new ideas for pizza.
Buffalo chicken pizza os a favorite.
You can also set aside a little pasta sauce from the pot next time you are making pasta. Or I use a 8 ounce can of tomato sauce. It's .25 every once in a while from ALBERTSONS. Just add onion and Italian seasoning,
Cheese is cheapest at the business Costco. It comes in five pound bags.
The recipe for pizza crust os on an earlier post.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Christmas breakfast
It's Christmas. Merry Christmas. I don't usually worry about cost of food for the holidays. We are bringing food to family and I don't skimp. Besides, the specials are not what you are going to find Christmas week. I did get ingredients that were not perishable ahead of time when I found good prices.
We spend Christmas morning just the five of us. My son hasn't made it to Chrostmas for a lot of years now. That would be a fun experience with his three girls. We have breakfast and open packages after breakfast. Santa, of course, came last night and I'm sire will be opened first thing.
We are having
Belgian waffles
Fresh fruit
Bacon
Sparkling cider
Sweet rolls.
The table setting is centered with crystal trees under a bed of snow and tiny lights.m. The tablecloth is a Waterford blue woth snowflakes. The goblets are clear with blue and white snowflakes.
We don't all sit down for breakfast at the same table often, I want ot to be festive and memorable.
Next week it is back of economy! I got a bread baker for Christmas,so we will be making bread. I haven't cost ot out yet, I'm not sire it is cheaper than buying bread at the bakery outlet.
It is a misconception that scratch is always cheaper than ready made.mmsometimes scratch tasts better and has less preservatives, but it os,not especially cheaper so,stores. You have to do the math, If the math says I am not saving a legitimate amount, I don't bother.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
We spend Christmas morning just the five of us. My son hasn't made it to Chrostmas for a lot of years now. That would be a fun experience with his three girls. We have breakfast and open packages after breakfast. Santa, of course, came last night and I'm sire will be opened first thing.
We are having
Belgian waffles
Fresh fruit
Bacon
Sparkling cider
Sweet rolls.
The table setting is centered with crystal trees under a bed of snow and tiny lights.m. The tablecloth is a Waterford blue woth snowflakes. The goblets are clear with blue and white snowflakes.
We don't all sit down for breakfast at the same table often, I want ot to be festive and memorable.
Next week it is back of economy! I got a bread baker for Christmas,so we will be making bread. I haven't cost ot out yet, I'm not sire it is cheaper than buying bread at the bakery outlet.
It is a misconception that scratch is always cheaper than ready made.mmsometimes scratch tasts better and has less preservatives, but it os,not especially cheaper so,stores. You have to do the math, If the math says I am not saving a legitimate amount, I don't bother.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Fred Meyer ad
New York roast 3.99
1/2 roast 4.88
Broccoli .99
Crayons 1.00
Frozen veggies .99
Frozen potatoes 1.99
Blues 2.99
Jello 1.00
Oranges .78
Celery .59
Radishes 2/.88
Green beans or Brussels sprouts 1.99
Lettuce .99
Women's pjs 16.99
1/2 roast 4.88
Broccoli .99
Crayons 1.00
Frozen veggies .99
Frozen potatoes 1.99
Blues 2.99
Jello 1.00
Oranges .78
Celery .59
Radishes 2/.88
Green beans or Brussels sprouts 1.99
Lettuce .99
Women's pjs 16.99
The ads... A joke
I got the ads this week. They are pretty much a joke for those trying to keep a budget. Christmas week is not the time to buy your traditional Christmas dinner. They know that you are going to buy the ingredients at any price and they take advantage of that.
Case in point. Sparkling cider or juice. I got it for 3/5 at SAFEWAYS a few weeks back. It is,now 2/5. And the list could go on!
We finally saw that the ribs were back at SAFEWAYS. We have a rain check on them. Mom course, they didn't come back until after the coupon I had expired! Can't win them all.
When we were growing up, we had a dinner menu for holiday . We had turkey,dressing, gravy,sweet potatoes that were mashed, a marshmallow put in the center of a ball, and rolled in corn flakes, creamed baby onions. Green beans with bacon, a green jello salad with green pepper, pineapple and cucumbers, mashed potatoes and a relish tray with green and black olives and stuffed celery with cream cheese and cheney's choice!
Christmas dinner was prime rib and Yorkshire pudding.
The year my youngest was born, I had chicken chow mein in the hospital. LOL
Held a ice,cube on my mouth so my fever would go down so I could get to my moms house for leftovers! LOL
Random thoughts.
I made bread in the bread baker this week. We don't eat a lot of bread, but there os something about hot bread from the oven that tastes so good. I especially like it with homemade soup.
One year most of the family was in Europe and we had soup and a mixture of salad the kids brought home from macdonalds after shift. One year I made stuffed pork loin for part of the family that wasn't in Europe. I got a call in the middle of cooking that my Dad had had a massive stroke. I really don't know how I finished dinner. My mom had a lot of support around her. I finished dinner and presents without a word,and got my MIl to take the kids home so we could go up north to the hospital.
There have been good and not so good Christmases. They all have been memorable.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Case in point. Sparkling cider or juice. I got it for 3/5 at SAFEWAYS a few weeks back. It is,now 2/5. And the list could go on!
We finally saw that the ribs were back at SAFEWAYS. We have a rain check on them. Mom course, they didn't come back until after the coupon I had expired! Can't win them all.
When we were growing up, we had a dinner menu for holiday . We had turkey,dressing, gravy,sweet potatoes that were mashed, a marshmallow put in the center of a ball, and rolled in corn flakes, creamed baby onions. Green beans with bacon, a green jello salad with green pepper, pineapple and cucumbers, mashed potatoes and a relish tray with green and black olives and stuffed celery with cream cheese and cheney's choice!
Christmas dinner was prime rib and Yorkshire pudding.
The year my youngest was born, I had chicken chow mein in the hospital. LOL
Held a ice,cube on my mouth so my fever would go down so I could get to my moms house for leftovers! LOL
Random thoughts.
I made bread in the bread baker this week. We don't eat a lot of bread, but there os something about hot bread from the oven that tastes so good. I especially like it with homemade soup.
One year most of the family was in Europe and we had soup and a mixture of salad the kids brought home from macdonalds after shift. One year I made stuffed pork loin for part of the family that wasn't in Europe. I got a call in the middle of cooking that my Dad had had a massive stroke. I really don't know how I finished dinner. My mom had a lot of support around her. I finished dinner and presents without a word,and got my MIl to take the kids home so we could go up north to the hospital.
There have been good and not so good Christmases. They all have been memorable.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Meal plans
This is a repeat! Prices have changed and I have had to make adjustments to compensate.
Before I start the basic thing again, I thought I would do four weeks of main dishes on the cheap. you can eat a variety of meals and still stay on a thrifty budget. It's not all about the top ramen!! LOL
My matrix ( outline) for variety and nutrition is
2 beef
2 chicken or pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish
Yours might be different. I am trying to satisfy a meat eater, two semi- vegetarians and I eat about everything. I don't particularly like picky eTers and am trying to introduce the baby to a variety of foods within her mothers guidelines.
Week one
Chicken soup
Chicken breast
Steak
Tuna Caserole
Pizza
Mac and cheese
Beef vegetable soup
Chicken breast
BBQ thighs
Steak
Tacos
Salmon
Eggs
French cheese sandwich
Burritos
Chicken stir fry
Steak
Clam cakes
Meatballs and spaghetti
Sausage and potatoes
Cheese sandwiches, tomato, blue cheese and basil soup
Pork chops
Chicken pot pie
Meat loaf
Meat balls
Pizza
Split pea soup
Shrimp stir fry
Notes
There are some repeats because kids especially love some things. There are some things that do well to feed a split household. ( vegetarian/ meat eaters, )
Chicken is a mainstay. I can almost always find it at least once a month for a buck. I get ground beef for less than three dollars a pound in bulk and make taco meat, meatballs, meat loaf, and beef crumbles.
I got sausage with sales and coupons for 1.33. There is a recipe for pizza crust on an earlier post. Fast and easy.
I have been getting shrimp on sale on five dollar Fridays. Pork chops and pork loin is still about two dollars a pound. Eggs almost always are a bargain.
Obviously, prices have changed. This was from about a year ago. I can still get chicken cheap. Sausage has taken a hike and beef has gone through the roof! I can still find a minute steak for a decent price. Some cuts of beef I can find for four dollars. That is cheaper than good ground beef . When that happens, I make my own ground beef. ( really, my husband and I make it )
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Before I start the basic thing again, I thought I would do four weeks of main dishes on the cheap. you can eat a variety of meals and still stay on a thrifty budget. It's not all about the top ramen!! LOL
My matrix ( outline) for variety and nutrition is
2 beef
2 chicken or pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish
Yours might be different. I am trying to satisfy a meat eater, two semi- vegetarians and I eat about everything. I don't particularly like picky eTers and am trying to introduce the baby to a variety of foods within her mothers guidelines.
Week one
Chicken soup
Chicken breast
Steak
Tuna Caserole
Pizza
Mac and cheese
Beef vegetable soup
Chicken breast
BBQ thighs
Steak
Tacos
Salmon
Eggs
French cheese sandwich
Burritos
Chicken stir fry
Steak
Clam cakes
Meatballs and spaghetti
Sausage and potatoes
Cheese sandwiches, tomato, blue cheese and basil soup
Pork chops
Chicken pot pie
Meat loaf
Meat balls
Pizza
Split pea soup
Shrimp stir fry
Notes
There are some repeats because kids especially love some things. There are some things that do well to feed a split household. ( vegetarian/ meat eaters, )
Chicken is a mainstay. I can almost always find it at least once a month for a buck. I get ground beef for less than three dollars a pound in bulk and make taco meat, meatballs, meat loaf, and beef crumbles.
I got sausage with sales and coupons for 1.33. There is a recipe for pizza crust on an earlier post. Fast and easy.
I have been getting shrimp on sale on five dollar Fridays. Pork chops and pork loin is still about two dollars a pound. Eggs almost always are a bargain.
Obviously, prices have changed. This was from about a year ago. I can still get chicken cheap. Sausage has taken a hike and beef has gone through the roof! I can still find a minute steak for a decent price. Some cuts of beef I can find for four dollars. That is cheaper than good ground beef . When that happens, I make my own ground beef. ( really, my husband and I make it )
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Thursday, December 11, 2014
The ads
SAFEWAYS
Cream of mushroom soup .69
Ham 1.99
Oranges .99
Grapes 2.99
Berries 2.99
Kiwi 2-1
Ice cream 2/5
Five dollar Friday
Grapes
Chicken wings
Snack bites
Truffles 2/5
K cups
QFC
Chuck roast 3.99
Butter 2/5
K cups 5.99
Buy 4, save 4. Net prices
Pizza 4.49
GM cereals 1.49
Potatoes, frozen 1.99
8 pack yogurt 3.49
Classic pasta sauce 1.49
ALBERTSONS
Apples .99
Ham 1.97
Quarter deals
Yoplait .50
Tomato sauce 8 pz .25
Tomatoes 3/10
Salad 1.00
Pears 1.00
That's about all
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Note, I put k cups on because I know there are people that just buy them for holiday company. It is,not necessarily what is appropriate for a bRe bones budget! LOL.
I have not downloaded coupons yet, but I'm sire it would be worth your while to check the matchup sites and download coupons,com.
Cream of mushroom soup .69
Ham 1.99
Oranges .99
Grapes 2.99
Berries 2.99
Kiwi 2-1
Ice cream 2/5
Five dollar Friday
Grapes
Chicken wings
Snack bites
Truffles 2/5
K cups
QFC
Chuck roast 3.99
Butter 2/5
K cups 5.99
Buy 4, save 4. Net prices
Pizza 4.49
GM cereals 1.49
Potatoes, frozen 1.99
8 pack yogurt 3.49
Classic pasta sauce 1.49
ALBERTSONS
Apples .99
Ham 1.97
Quarter deals
Yoplait .50
Tomato sauce 8 pz .25
Tomatoes 3/10
Salad 1.00
Pears 1.00
That's about all
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Note, I put k cups on because I know there are people that just buy them for holiday company. It is,not necessarily what is appropriate for a bRe bones budget! LOL.
I have not downloaded coupons yet, but I'm sire it would be worth your while to check the matchup sites and download coupons,com.
Monday, December 8, 2014
Off the subject
I thought I would talk about Christmas decor today. Just to mix stuff up.
Last year I didn't put up the trees. We have a two and a half year old in the house. This yeR I put up one tree and I gathered every white decoration that I had collected over the years that wasn't breakable. I augmented them with six dollars worth of ornaments from the dollar store. I'm using it as a test for the dear granddaughter. She only got into the tree once. We had a discussion before, but she forgot. I reminded her sternly, and she has left it alone ever since. She was playing with her play mobile toys. The snowman told the tree that we don't touch the tree, we just look at it.
Decorations take in more if a presence when you group several together. It makes more of a statement for less. I started collecting santas years ago. I got santas for presents and added one Santa a year. Now the kitchen windowsill is full of santas. I made a valance out of some Christmas material that has santas making their lists.
I used to decorate a lot. Now, I have cut way back, but I still decorate because I think the grandchild needs to see the traditions.
I'm sorry all of my grandchildren aren't here to see them. They are missing out. I didn't have a grandmother. Both if them died before I could know them.
One year I was running a care center for mental patients. We had no budget for decorations. I bought a spray can of gold paint and a bolt of red ribbon. Anything that didn't move got spray painted and a red bow. We got donations of ornaments and a little elf made a chrostmas tree magically appear on our doorstep. It was a great Christmas. The residents folded readers digests to make a skirt for an angel and we pit them together and spray paints them gold. We brought in greens and pinecones and sprayed the pinecones with gold paint.
My daughter saw a video making stars out of paper just using scissors and a stapler. She works at a Christian school. She made stars for her classroom and one for a tree ornament. Almost no cost and equipment that any house, office or school usually has.
This year I made reindeer food and fixed boxes / bags for it for my daughters class and my granddaughters class. I made enough for cousins and the neighbourhood kids that were age appropriate. It's sometimes the little things that make a big difference. It doesn't have to cost a lot of money, just a little imagination and time. I'm years past I made snowman soup and designed a package. I think it was cheaper to make the snowman soup.
Thanks for stopping by.
I would love to hear of your traditions. Food!
Please share
Jane
Last year I didn't put up the trees. We have a two and a half year old in the house. This yeR I put up one tree and I gathered every white decoration that I had collected over the years that wasn't breakable. I augmented them with six dollars worth of ornaments from the dollar store. I'm using it as a test for the dear granddaughter. She only got into the tree once. We had a discussion before, but she forgot. I reminded her sternly, and she has left it alone ever since. She was playing with her play mobile toys. The snowman told the tree that we don't touch the tree, we just look at it.
Decorations take in more if a presence when you group several together. It makes more of a statement for less. I started collecting santas years ago. I got santas for presents and added one Santa a year. Now the kitchen windowsill is full of santas. I made a valance out of some Christmas material that has santas making their lists.
I used to decorate a lot. Now, I have cut way back, but I still decorate because I think the grandchild needs to see the traditions.
I'm sorry all of my grandchildren aren't here to see them. They are missing out. I didn't have a grandmother. Both if them died before I could know them.
One year I was running a care center for mental patients. We had no budget for decorations. I bought a spray can of gold paint and a bolt of red ribbon. Anything that didn't move got spray painted and a red bow. We got donations of ornaments and a little elf made a chrostmas tree magically appear on our doorstep. It was a great Christmas. The residents folded readers digests to make a skirt for an angel and we pit them together and spray paints them gold. We brought in greens and pinecones and sprayed the pinecones with gold paint.
My daughter saw a video making stars out of paper just using scissors and a stapler. She works at a Christian school. She made stars for her classroom and one for a tree ornament. Almost no cost and equipment that any house, office or school usually has.
This year I made reindeer food and fixed boxes / bags for it for my daughters class and my granddaughters class. I made enough for cousins and the neighbourhood kids that were age appropriate. It's sometimes the little things that make a big difference. It doesn't have to cost a lot of money, just a little imagination and time. I'm years past I made snowman soup and designed a package. I think it was cheaper to make the snowman soup.
Thanks for stopping by.
I would love to hear of your traditions. Food!
Please share
Jane
Thursday, December 4, 2014
This weeks ads
Here we go
ALBERTSONS
Grapes 1.99
London broil 3.99
Milk 2/5@@
Libby veggies 2/2@@
5lb potatoes .99@@
Buy 5, save 5, net prices
GM cereals, fiber one bars 2.69
Kellogg's cereals 1.99
Ice cream 2.49
Coffee dreamer .99
Kraft singles 1.99
Cake mix .99
K cups 4.99
Grey pompon 2.49
Digiorno 4.49
English muffins 2/3
Berries 3/10
SAFEWAYS
Milk 2.99
Peppermint ice cream 2/7
5 dollar Friday
Cheese pizza
Grapes 2 lbs
Boston cream cake
G cereal 3/5
Crisco oil
K cups
QFC
Oranges .69
Buy 4, save 4, net prices
GM cereal 1.49
Frozen potatoes 1.99
Pasta sauce 1.49, glass jar
Berries 2.99
That's about it
Be sure to cross off anything that is cheaper elsewhere. Note there are usually coupons for cereal , maybe pasta sauce.
Thanksmformstoppimgmby
Please,share
Jane
ALBERTSONS
Grapes 1.99
London broil 3.99
Milk 2/5@@
Libby veggies 2/2@@
5lb potatoes .99@@
Buy 5, save 5, net prices
GM cereals, fiber one bars 2.69
Kellogg's cereals 1.99
Ice cream 2.49
Coffee dreamer .99
Kraft singles 1.99
Cake mix .99
K cups 4.99
Grey pompon 2.49
Digiorno 4.49
English muffins 2/3
Berries 3/10
SAFEWAYS
Milk 2.99
Peppermint ice cream 2/7
5 dollar Friday
Cheese pizza
Grapes 2 lbs
Boston cream cake
G cereal 3/5
Crisco oil
K cups
QFC
Oranges .69
Buy 4, save 4, net prices
GM cereal 1.49
Frozen potatoes 1.99
Pasta sauce 1.49, glass jar
Berries 2.99
That's about it
Be sure to cross off anything that is cheaper elsewhere. Note there are usually coupons for cereal , maybe pasta sauce.
Thanksmformstoppimgmby
Please,share
Jane
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Crockpot!
We all know this time of year is crockpot mania. This is the time of yearning we all wish there was an extra six hours or so in a day.
I just found this web site. Crockpot.com.
Thousands of recipes. Program the type of food you want, the size if your cooker and the ingredient you want to use.
Enough said!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I just found this web site. Crockpot.com.
Thousands of recipes. Program the type of food you want, the size if your cooker and the ingredient you want to use.
Enough said!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Monday, December 1, 2014
Dinners
Tonight we are having sloppy joes, garlic fries and leftover spinach salad.
Spinach salad
Strawberries
Kiwi
Jicama
Spinach
I'm usually more organized for Christmas by now. My illnesses are kicking my butt. I did make reindeer food packets thos week end and have my list . Not having to go to work will help in the catching up. Some things that I can't physically do I'm going to deligate. If they don't get done, I guess it wasn't important enough to the person to have them done and well do without. LOL
Now is a good time to find easy meals to free time to get the mirage of extra projects done that make Christmas happen.
Our sloppy joes tonight are case in point. The hamburger was already fried and in the freezer. All I had to do was to bang it on the counter and put it on a fry pan. I added the ingredients for sloppy joes and let it summer. I put French fries in the oven on convection and got the bag of salad I had left over from yesterday out of the fridge. Dinner was ready on 20 moniters-- most of which was passive cooking,
Thanksmformstoppimgmby
Please,share
Jane
Spinach salad
Strawberries
Kiwi
Jicama
Spinach
I'm usually more organized for Christmas by now. My illnesses are kicking my butt. I did make reindeer food packets thos week end and have my list . Not having to go to work will help in the catching up. Some things that I can't physically do I'm going to deligate. If they don't get done, I guess it wasn't important enough to the person to have them done and well do without. LOL
Now is a good time to find easy meals to free time to get the mirage of extra projects done that make Christmas happen.
Our sloppy joes tonight are case in point. The hamburger was already fried and in the freezer. All I had to do was to bang it on the counter and put it on a fry pan. I added the ingredients for sloppy joes and let it summer. I put French fries in the oven on convection and got the bag of salad I had left over from yesterday out of the fridge. Dinner was ready on 20 moniters-- most of which was passive cooking,
Thanksmformstoppimgmby
Please,share
Jane
Shopping trip
Yesterday I braved the cold...LOL ... And went shopping. We just went to grocery outlet. I saved as much as I spent, Coffee is always a. Season. We got regular coffee and I got a package of k cups for three dollars. I always get two cups out of a pod.
Cheese continues to be a bargain. I got cookies for 4/1.00 and there are foit cookies on the package. Kinda remind me of the snowballs we got occasionally when we were kids-- a whole lot smaller .
Cream puffs were on a sale. Thought I would have them for holiday! The look on granddaughters face was priceless! Sunflower seeds are a treat for my husband. Yoplait was a reasonable cost.
Organic soup base and beer bread.
Sounds like a hodge lodge, but I spent 2/3 of the grocery money and saved as much as I spent. Shopping the.soecials that are truly soecials means that you done have to buy a weeks groceries. You have stock and can buy what is in sale that week. I have a turkey on the freezer.
Grocery outlet is not a bargain on everything, I link for certain things, Cheese and coffe are the main draws for us, Usually you can get five pounds of fries for a small amount too. Sometimes sweet potato fries.
Betty Crocker has a month of December meals on their e mail this week. Fast and easy. A lot of them call of a ready made,but most ofmthemti,emyou,can get enough of a inspiration to make it from scratch.
To answer a question I got, white sauce is what cream of mushroom soup is if you want to replicate a recipe without using a can.
I try to get Christmas work done before mid month. I am far behind other years because of ill health and having to rebuild the business. On the other hand, I don't have to go to work so I can get more done. Things will work put. I don't bake anymore. No one eats ot and my children bake.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Cheese continues to be a bargain. I got cookies for 4/1.00 and there are foit cookies on the package. Kinda remind me of the snowballs we got occasionally when we were kids-- a whole lot smaller .
Cream puffs were on a sale. Thought I would have them for holiday! The look on granddaughters face was priceless! Sunflower seeds are a treat for my husband. Yoplait was a reasonable cost.
Organic soup base and beer bread.
Sounds like a hodge lodge, but I spent 2/3 of the grocery money and saved as much as I spent. Shopping the.soecials that are truly soecials means that you done have to buy a weeks groceries. You have stock and can buy what is in sale that week. I have a turkey on the freezer.
Grocery outlet is not a bargain on everything, I link for certain things, Cheese and coffe are the main draws for us, Usually you can get five pounds of fries for a small amount too. Sometimes sweet potato fries.
Betty Crocker has a month of December meals on their e mail this week. Fast and easy. A lot of them call of a ready made,but most ofmthemti,emyou,can get enough of a inspiration to make it from scratch.
To answer a question I got, white sauce is what cream of mushroom soup is if you want to replicate a recipe without using a can.
I try to get Christmas work done before mid month. I am far behind other years because of ill health and having to rebuild the business. On the other hand, I don't have to go to work so I can get more done. Things will work put. I don't bake anymore. No one eats ot and my children bake.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
No ads yet!
I have in ads yet. I did find a Betty Crocker ap on my I pad. Ots 15000 recipes on a "book" and they are all catalogued. I found a yummy recipe for salad for thanksgiving. The Betty Crocker e mail came through with a whole bunch if cheese cake recipes for thanksgiving,,,yum!
The best part of thanksgiving is the leftovers. I have a turkey in the freezer and will make it after the holiday, This is a good time when the proce of the turkey's is cheap. Of you are shopping at Fred Meyer for chrostmas presents, with 150.00 including your groceries, the turkey is free. I don't usually spend 150.00 on groceries at one time, I'm not seeing many real bargains at Fred Meyers for groceries. I did replace our toaster ( the old one didn't toast one side) for 1/2 off and the good crock pot is 39.99 and you get a ten dollar gift card with it. I have a good crockpot, so I don't need one,
I have said many times that a crockpot is your best friend in the kitchen.
The easiest way to get a chicken cooked is to put an onion, roughly chopped, in the bottom of a crockpot. Dry your chicken, rub the skin with a dry rub, and place it dry in the crockpot . Cook on high for an hour a pound, Os will not give you an oven roasted type of chicken. The breast stays intact, but the part of the chicken that is under the broth is more like you would use for soup, or enchiladas. I used this recipe when the freezer quit and we had to cook many chicken fast! If you have no time, ot soma good way to get a chicken cooked and ready for numerous chicken recipes.
Your non passive cooking is about five minutes.
I play a game and see just how much I can get done while my oatmeal is cooking in the morning. You would be surprised! I only watch the microwave if I am melting chocolate or butter.
Speaking of butter, it is 2.50 at Fred Meyers. A good time to stock up. You can freeze it. Just in time for Christmas baking, I don't do much because no one eats it,
That's about all.
Thanks for stopping by
Please join and share
Jane
The best part of thanksgiving is the leftovers. I have a turkey in the freezer and will make it after the holiday, This is a good time when the proce of the turkey's is cheap. Of you are shopping at Fred Meyer for chrostmas presents, with 150.00 including your groceries, the turkey is free. I don't usually spend 150.00 on groceries at one time, I'm not seeing many real bargains at Fred Meyers for groceries. I did replace our toaster ( the old one didn't toast one side) for 1/2 off and the good crock pot is 39.99 and you get a ten dollar gift card with it. I have a good crockpot, so I don't need one,
I have said many times that a crockpot is your best friend in the kitchen.
The easiest way to get a chicken cooked is to put an onion, roughly chopped, in the bottom of a crockpot. Dry your chicken, rub the skin with a dry rub, and place it dry in the crockpot . Cook on high for an hour a pound, Os will not give you an oven roasted type of chicken. The breast stays intact, but the part of the chicken that is under the broth is more like you would use for soup, or enchiladas. I used this recipe when the freezer quit and we had to cook many chicken fast! If you have no time, ot soma good way to get a chicken cooked and ready for numerous chicken recipes.
Your non passive cooking is about five minutes.
I play a game and see just how much I can get done while my oatmeal is cooking in the morning. You would be surprised! I only watch the microwave if I am melting chocolate or butter.
Speaking of butter, it is 2.50 at Fred Meyers. A good time to stock up. You can freeze it. Just in time for Christmas baking, I don't do much because no one eats it,
That's about all.
Thanks for stopping by
Please join and share
Jane
Monday, November 24, 2014
Retailers dirty little,secrets!
As I have said before, the retailers have spent considerable money to research our habits and find ways to get us to spend more money.
Advertising multiples, when you can only by one item is one trick they use. Because something is 3/1.00 doesn't mean that you have to buy three.
The longer you spend in a store, the more money you will spend. That's why some retailers change things aroumd frequently. Costco is notorious for it. If you have the mind set that you are on the clock and want to get the most bang for your buck, you'll spend less time. It's a game. I want to save as much as I can in the least amount of time.
Impulse buying is the retailers profit. They figure that 70 percent of what we buy is impulse. Often it is the most expensive things in the store that you don't really need. We want the retailers to prosper but they can do it on someone else's dime who can afford it.
Create your own path through the store, if you don't need anything in an isle, don't go there. The true necessities are on the outside perimeter of the store.
Sometimes, what is truly on sale isn't the featured items up front.
Exercise the hands off rule. Studies say that if you touch it, you are most likely going to buy it.
It's a well known trick that if prices have to increase, the manufacturers will reduce the size of the package instead of outwardly increasing the price.
Know your prices, the bulk isle isn t always the cheapest price.
Keep in mind that foods are sold other places other than grocery stores. Many time you can find overstocks at the dollar store, big lots, Bartells and almost anywhere. Keep your eye open, and know your prices.
Pick your grocery store based on the prices, not how friendly the clerks are or how fancy the store is, or how uncrowded it is. think about it, there is a reason why the store is crowded. Either they have just forecasted that dreaded S word, or it's because they have the best prices. You go to the grocery store to purchase your food.
Stores charge manufacturers slotting fees. Basically they charge rent for the eye level shelves. You can just bet they are going to pass on the cost. Look UP and DOWN for the best buys.
Thanks for stopping by
please share
Jane
Advertising multiples, when you can only by one item is one trick they use. Because something is 3/1.00 doesn't mean that you have to buy three.
The longer you spend in a store, the more money you will spend. That's why some retailers change things aroumd frequently. Costco is notorious for it. If you have the mind set that you are on the clock and want to get the most bang for your buck, you'll spend less time. It's a game. I want to save as much as I can in the least amount of time.
Impulse buying is the retailers profit. They figure that 70 percent of what we buy is impulse. Often it is the most expensive things in the store that you don't really need. We want the retailers to prosper but they can do it on someone else's dime who can afford it.
Create your own path through the store, if you don't need anything in an isle, don't go there. The true necessities are on the outside perimeter of the store.
Sometimes, what is truly on sale isn't the featured items up front.
Exercise the hands off rule. Studies say that if you touch it, you are most likely going to buy it.
It's a well known trick that if prices have to increase, the manufacturers will reduce the size of the package instead of outwardly increasing the price.
Know your prices, the bulk isle isn t always the cheapest price.
Keep in mind that foods are sold other places other than grocery stores. Many time you can find overstocks at the dollar store, big lots, Bartells and almost anywhere. Keep your eye open, and know your prices.
Pick your grocery store based on the prices, not how friendly the clerks are or how fancy the store is, or how uncrowded it is. think about it, there is a reason why the store is crowded. Either they have just forecasted that dreaded S word, or it's because they have the best prices. You go to the grocery store to purchase your food.
Stores charge manufacturers slotting fees. Basically they charge rent for the eye level shelves. You can just bet they are going to pass on the cost. Look UP and DOWN for the best buys.
Thanks for stopping by
please share
Jane
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Suddenly Sunday
We went out to a German dinner in lieu of Oktoberfest. It was really good. I love getting a break from cooking, not that I have had a lot of that with breaking my hip and spending time in hospitals and rehab centers. I still ate dinner by watching the amount of carbs I ate. I had a taste if anything that was carb loaded and stuck to the cabbage and meat.
Fred Meyers has a small ad on the paper. Nothing spectacular except a butter
coupon and celery is .39. If you want bargains for thanksgiving dinner, you need to buy the stuff as you go. They sock it to you the week of thanksgiving. They don't out stuff in sale because they don't have too. They know you are going to to buy it anyway. Turkey is still free of you spend 150.00. I'm not seeing a restriction on what you buy, so Fred Meyers is the best bet for that because you can work on your Christmas list, you aren't restricted to buy 150.00 worth of food.
They have a crockpot brand crockpot for 39.99 and will give you a ten dollar got card with purchase.
I started this blog to help real people eat real food when left with the reality of a sparse budget. I am seeing a lot of websites out there that either profess that they are in a few dollars a month on the past or eat dinners that a Martian might eat, but most children I know wouldn't touch it woth a ten foot pole . I am trying to put real food on the table and still work under the USDA guidelines.
Obviously, the meat for the week is turkey. The same recipes for chicken can be side for turkey, we are going to family for thanksgiving, but I bought a turkey anyway. I got a freezer that was a bit smaller than the one we had before and I stocked veggies and fruit when they were on sale. I got French fries for a buck, a dollar and a half per big savings. Since we have them about once a week, that should take is into the new year-- or not! LOL my granddaughters favorite foods, French fries and rice noodles - go figure!
I digress.
I guess that's all.
Thanks for stopping by. please share and join.
Jane.
Fred Meyers has a small ad on the paper. Nothing spectacular except a butter
coupon and celery is .39. If you want bargains for thanksgiving dinner, you need to buy the stuff as you go. They sock it to you the week of thanksgiving. They don't out stuff in sale because they don't have too. They know you are going to to buy it anyway. Turkey is still free of you spend 150.00. I'm not seeing a restriction on what you buy, so Fred Meyers is the best bet for that because you can work on your Christmas list, you aren't restricted to buy 150.00 worth of food.
They have a crockpot brand crockpot for 39.99 and will give you a ten dollar got card with purchase.
I started this blog to help real people eat real food when left with the reality of a sparse budget. I am seeing a lot of websites out there that either profess that they are in a few dollars a month on the past or eat dinners that a Martian might eat, but most children I know wouldn't touch it woth a ten foot pole . I am trying to put real food on the table and still work under the USDA guidelines.
Obviously, the meat for the week is turkey. The same recipes for chicken can be side for turkey, we are going to family for thanksgiving, but I bought a turkey anyway. I got a freezer that was a bit smaller than the one we had before and I stocked veggies and fruit when they were on sale. I got French fries for a buck, a dollar and a half per big savings. Since we have them about once a week, that should take is into the new year-- or not! LOL my granddaughters favorite foods, French fries and rice noodles - go figure!
I digress.
I guess that's all.
Thanks for stopping by. please share and join.
Jane.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
The ads
Here are the ads for this week.
ALBERTSONS
Turkey BOGO. 1.19 gross price with a 35.00 purchase not incl turkey
Ham 1.99
Butter 2/5@@
Tomatoes, cup, 3/10
Coupons
Coffee 7.99
Triscuit 3/5
Cake mix .99
Canned veggies 2/1
10 lens potatoes ,99
QFC
Turkey .69 with 30 dollar adtl purchases
Broccoli .99
Tillamook cheese 5.99
Blues 2.99
Pie 3.99
Butter 2.99
SAFEWAYS
Turkey .69 with 35.00 purchase adtl
Free with 150.00 purchase
Green beans 1.99
Red Barron pizza 3/10
Barilla pasta 1.00
Five dollar Friday
Grapes 3/5
Cheese pizza
Eng muffins 3/5
Ice cream 2/5
Shrimp
Chicken broth 10/5
That's about it
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
ALBERTSONS
Turkey BOGO. 1.19 gross price with a 35.00 purchase not incl turkey
Ham 1.99
Butter 2/5@@
Tomatoes, cup, 3/10
Coupons
Coffee 7.99
Triscuit 3/5
Cake mix .99
Canned veggies 2/1
10 lens potatoes ,99
QFC
Turkey .69 with 30 dollar adtl purchases
Broccoli .99
Tillamook cheese 5.99
Blues 2.99
Pie 3.99
Butter 2.99
SAFEWAYS
Turkey .69 with 35.00 purchase adtl
Free with 150.00 purchase
Green beans 1.99
Red Barron pizza 3/10
Barilla pasta 1.00
Five dollar Friday
Grapes 3/5
Cheese pizza
Eng muffins 3/5
Ice cream 2/5
Shrimp
Chicken broth 10/5
That's about it
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Saving time in the kitchen
The holidays are approaching , sooner than we think or possibly want.
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
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
Saturday, November 15, 2014
turkey prices in a nutshell,
Turkey prices - the price in everybody's mind .
QFC .69 with thirty dollar purchase not including turkey
SAFEWAYS .69'with thirty five dollar purchase not incl turkey
Fred Meyers. Free if you spend 150.00
.45 if u spend 100.00
.69 if u spend fifty. All not including the turkey
With coupon in ad.
Apples .99
Eggs. 4/5@@
Triscuit 3:5@@
Mayonaise 2/5@@
Tyson bacon 2.99@@
Sausage 2/5@@
Truffles 2/5@@
5!lbs potatoes .99
Pears .99
Frozen entrees .88
That's about it .
Thanks for stopping bum
Please,share,
Jane
.
QFC .69 with thirty dollar purchase not including turkey
SAFEWAYS .69'with thirty five dollar purchase not incl turkey
Fred Meyers. Free if you spend 150.00
.45 if u spend 100.00
.69 if u spend fifty. All not including the turkey
With coupon in ad.
Apples .99
Eggs. 4/5@@
Triscuit 3:5@@
Mayonaise 2/5@@
Tyson bacon 2.99@@
Sausage 2/5@@
Truffles 2/5@@
5!lbs potatoes .99
Pears .99
Frozen entrees .88
That's about it .
Thanks for stopping bum
Please,share,
Jane
.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Venting. On food
The USDA has a food pyramid that we all grew up with. Our great grandmothers used it by intuition.
Our mothers and their siblings live to be ninty. I don't think I want to live to be ninty, I won't have enough money. LOL.
The point being people believe every propaganda that comes their way. It is popular to take on every fad diet to be special and fit in with the crowd. It used to be a symptom of the young. Now the not so young are on the band wagon. And, they are passionate about it.
The truth is, whenever you take a food group out of your diet , you are throwing the good out with the self perceived bad. Unless you are really disciplined and have a degree in nutrition, you are playing with fire. A lot of diseases are based on vitamins and minerals that our diets are lacking and it's not always the best to get them out of a bottle.
If three percent of the farms in the us are organic certified, who is going to eat the other 97 percent of fruits and veggies . Are you really princess enough to believe that you should be entitled to the top three percent! And, if is pesticide free, does that mean you get the pests! And, most families on a budget can't afford five dollars a gallon for milk! Most organic I have found is twice the price of regular food.
Just eat a balanced diet in moderation. The simple truth is that our ancestors have been using the food pyramid for years, intensional or not. It works. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Thanks for a stopping by
Please share
Jane
Our mothers and their siblings live to be ninty. I don't think I want to live to be ninty, I won't have enough money. LOL.
The point being people believe every propaganda that comes their way. It is popular to take on every fad diet to be special and fit in with the crowd. It used to be a symptom of the young. Now the not so young are on the band wagon. And, they are passionate about it.
The truth is, whenever you take a food group out of your diet , you are throwing the good out with the self perceived bad. Unless you are really disciplined and have a degree in nutrition, you are playing with fire. A lot of diseases are based on vitamins and minerals that our diets are lacking and it's not always the best to get them out of a bottle.
If three percent of the farms in the us are organic certified, who is going to eat the other 97 percent of fruits and veggies . Are you really princess enough to believe that you should be entitled to the top three percent! And, if is pesticide free, does that mean you get the pests! And, most families on a budget can't afford five dollars a gallon for milk! Most organic I have found is twice the price of regular food.
Just eat a balanced diet in moderation. The simple truth is that our ancestors have been using the food pyramid for years, intensional or not. It works. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Thanks for a stopping by
Please share
Jane
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)