Kitchen management day,

Other vlogs are talking about spring cleaning .    Do people really still sprimg clean ?  I remember my mother using the utility cart to gather her supplies and a big bucket  of spic  n span to spring clean.   These days, a lot of people work outside the home and time is in short supply.  I think that's a good argument for zone cleaning,  

Kitchen management takes a different approach and cleans a little at a time. Cleaning one drawer or cabinet at a time gets  the job done in pieces.  

For anyone that doesn't know what kitchen management is , or os prepping and cleaning for the week ahead.   It saves a lot of time and you are doing the clean  up once.   Meal time can be hectic and having a head start in dinner is a great advantage,  

1. Go over the plans for the week.   Schedule an easy dinner for those days you know are going to be especially busy.    
2. Chop anything that can be chopped ahead of time,    A green salad can be made and out on a bowl with a oaoer towel in the bottom and you can eat on it all week,    This won't necessarily work if  you aremisong organic veggies.   
3. Clean the fridge and organize .   Putting the same kinds of things in a shelf saves how noting time: dairy, leftovers, condiments amd bottles that are too tall. 
4. Clean the meat drawer and nitemwhat needs to be eaten,    
5. We have amcheese drawer. Do the cheese bins need to be filled.   Grate cheese? 
6. Bread dough in the bread bucket? 
7. Make bread? 
8. Precook any meat that is going to be used  in the next two days.   
9. Make cookies or any granola bars etc that you will need.    I have been saving any bits from the bottom of cereal. Pretzels etc for adds into rice crispy treats.   Anything that sounds good.   
10. Pick one extra thing,    The oven? The top of the Fridge! , the microwave?   For a deep clean - organize the pantry.?    
11. Wash the counters and the outside of any appliances.    
12. Premake or load a school lunch basket for the week.    When granddaughter had to bring lunch, we fixed a basket in a lower cabinet  with fruit cups, cereal bars, yogurt, spoons, napkins etc so she could load her lunch box.   
13. Wash the floor .

Starting the week organized saves a lot of hassle and time. 

Fred Meyer and Winco

Today, we went to FM and Winco to fill in with specials and coupons,    Total 14.56. Total for the month is close to fifty dollars  a week and that includes stocking .  

Winco
Taco shells
Blue bunny ice cream cones with coupon
Jasmine rice -5 lbs ( to try )


Fred Meyers

Strawberries
Green beans
Radishes
Cottage cheese
Lettuce
Cucumbers

That's it.   We did som shopping alreadymthis week, a just filled in a few holes.  

 

Meal plans -march 27

Make a plan, or plan to fail.   Meal plans are a way to keep on track and make your life easier.   Our meal plans don't necessarily happen on a specific day, bit most of the time they  happen,  plans change and we still need to punt every now and then.

• Spicy peanut chicken (BC) , rice , mandarin oranges
• Pack food - cheese and crackers to potluck.   
• Spaghetti and red sauce, parm, green beans 
• Baked cod , rice mix rice, honey-ginger carrots 🥕 
• Buffalo chicken pizza 🍕 
• Tacos  , refried beans, rice 🌮 
• Breakfast for dinner.: blueberry waffles, sausage, fruit 🍉 

Notes : 

1. Spicy peanut chicken is in the in line Betty Crocker cookbook.   Rice 🍚 from bulk (.03 serving) mandarin oranges 🍊Are on sale and there are coupons out there. 
2. Cheese and crackers ( pot luck) 
3. Spaghetti and red sauce : red sauce was .84 at Safeways with the basket coupon. Speghetti is .69 at FM. Fresh parm was on sale at FM a few weeks ago.  My terminology for parm is any hard cheese that is the cheapest when I need to replenish stock.  Parm, Romano, Asiago......green beans I'm still working in .33 from Winco.    
4. Baked cod , (Safeways ) seasoned rice mix homemade, carrots 🥕 cooked with honey and ginger - gotta have some color on an otherwise white plate!   
5.  Buffalo chicken pizza 🍕: blue cheese dressing (or ranch) chicken shreds that are marinated in a hot sauce, motts, diced red peppers, blue cheese. 
6. Tacos , homemade refried beans (pressure cooker, rice 🍚 with salsa.   
7. Breakfast 4 dinner : blueberry waffles scratch, sausage from  last weeks FM, berries.   

Numbers 4 and 6 are the priciest, but the rest are well within the low side of a five dollar budget.   

They average. By averaging, you can afford more variety. Trying something new ( spicy peanut chicken ) is another way to avoid boredom.    

Fred Meyers - tomorrow - comparing ground meats

Not much there.   Good time to stock dairy

Boneless chuck roast 2.97

FF Ground turkey 2/5
Strawberries 2/4
Milk .99 including chocolate -limit 10
Sour cream , small 1.00

Sea PAC seafood BOGO $$

Bumble bee tuna or Kroger pasta .69

Cantaloupe 2.50
Cucumbers 2/.99


3.99 for 20 percent hamburger --NOTE : its 199 at Safeways , not in a chub and with the basket coupon, it makes it 1.69.  Just de-fat it.    De-fating  can take as much as 17 percent of the fat away.

To test prices on the various amounts of fat on hamburger. Take each price and times it by 1.xx , the XX is the amount of fat  listed.  This finds the net price.

20 percent hamburger at 1.99 is basically 2.40
7 percent turkey at 2.50 is 2.68
7 percent hamburger at 3.28 is 3.51

After de-fating  the 20 percent hamburger, I am showing no  visible that.  There was at least an 1/2 inch of fat in the bottom of a four quart pan that I drained the fat into.

Groceries in the cheap: a different way of buying your groceries.

Groceries on the cheap takes a different approach to shopping for groceries.  The end result is that you always have food on the house and you have paid about 1/2 price for your food.

Instead of meal planning and buying what you will need to prepare your meals and perhaps missing something, you buy basics and meal plan from your basics.  

Everyone has a set number of recipes that they make for dinner,    Most families I know eat Italian and a form of Mexican -- kid friendly dishes.  

First : write a list of kthe items that you purchase  on a regular basis to make dinners.  Everyone has a group of 12-15 items that are shelf ready or frozen that they use in a regular basis to make meals.
For instance : ours are :

• Hamburger - preferably 7 percent fat
• Pork loin to be cut up at home, 
• Chicken breasts with ribs. 
• Cheese , can be frozen in grated form. 
• Sausage , cooked and frozen 
• Diced tomatoes 
• Mild green chillis 
• Dry beans
• Flour 
• Sugar 
• Rice 
• Corn
• Green beans 
• Oatmeal
• Pasta
• Pasta.sauce 

Having a master list with the RBP ( rock bottom prices  for those items makes it easy to rotate your purchases and only buy what's truly on sale.  Rotate your proteins on a monthly to six week basis.  When something is on a really good sale oroce, buy enough to last you for the number of times you will eat that protein source.  I.e.: if you cook chicken twice a week, you will need enough for 8 meals for the month.  Buy that protein in bulk - like a whole pork loin or a mega pack of chicken, and portion control it for the freezer.   This saves time and money.   

Know your prices and stock a determined amount when that particular oriduct goes on a good sale,   I I want to pay .50 for canned tomatoes, beans, and vegetables.   I mostly,buy fresh or frozen veggies and dry beans, but keep some for emergencies.    We use a lot ofmdoced tomatoes because I don't buy much tomato sauce or paste.    It keeps things simple.    When tomatoes go on sale form.50, I buy as much as they will let you buy or as much as I need to fill our shelf out to my limit.    

It's a way to always avoid that nasty F word ..... FULL PRICE.  Avoid it like the plague.    If you lay 1/2 price, you can maintain a stick and never get stuck without food on the house.   Having some basics means even if it snows or you are sick or any other disaster happens, you can still pull together a meal or more.    

Learning how to scratch cook efficientky is another key.  Unless it's efficient , many people with grow tired of scratch cooking,   It needs to be fast and easy.  This comes with time. 

Dissecting  the ads and going to the two best stores is your best bet for getting the Best possible  prices in your cart.   Also, you get the best produce of two stores .  Certain stores have things that they are notorious  for having the lowest prices on.  .   

The average cart is 50 percent drinks and junk.   Avoid drinks and junk.   Stick to milk and coffee/tea and no junk food.   

Friday Recipe day

Friday is recipe share day.

Last night we had sour cream chicken enchaladas.  

1. Use a cup of shredded or diced  up cooked chicken breast .   
2. Mix cooked chicken with grated cheese.  I usually keep Mexican blend on hand, 
3. Place chicken mixture on a flour tortilla in a line close  to one side.   Roll the tortilla up and place in a greased baking pan, side by side.(9X13) 
4. In a saucepan on the stovetop, melt 3 T butter and add 3T flour.   Cook roux slightly to take away the flour taste.  Add two cups chicken or vegetable stock and whisk  until thickened.   
5. Take pan off the heat and add 1/2 cup sour cream.   Stir until blended 
6. Add a can of diced mild green chilies, drained.   
7. Pour sauce over enchiladas, sprinkle with  more,cheese  and bake at 375 for 20 minutes . 

Dairy free?   

Use a little sauce and some chopped cooked broccoli, well drained to the chicken.   Omit the sour cream in the sauce.   

Winco haul with prices

Wimco short haul

Yoplait yogurt 8pack 3.68-100 coupon is 2.68
Tortilla chips 2.38 - extra large bag
Grape tomatoes .99
Betty Crocker apple cider cupcake mix - .98
Green grapes 198 lb
Mission corn tortillas 1.28
Bag of chocolate "rice crispier" 6.37


Total 24.45

Most of our grocery  hauls are between 25-30  a trip.   I average two stores a week.
This trip was to fill in the blanks,    We bought the cup cake mix last week.  It's .98 and has the mix for cupcakes and a frosting  packet.   Add oil, water and egg.    The rice crispies are for treats and are long term storage.   I try to keep one snack in the house, baked.   We always have fresh fruit.  

This week we dehydrated  eggs.  I haven't tried using them yet, I will before I do any more.    It pays to have  a back up plan.   Sunday, before we went to Freddies., granddaughter wanted pancakes.   I had nonfresh milk left.   Instead of running to the local store and laying full price or bothering the neighbors to bum a cup of milk, we made mom fat dry milk up and it worked.   I just measured the dry milk with the dry ingredients and added the liquid to the liquid ingredients,   Easy fix.  

Bullet Day - 10 things to make ; save money

This is ten  things that you can make in 15 minutes or less

• Cream soup base -3-4 ingredient recipe- saves cream soup at the cost of at least a dollar.    
• Taco seasoning - and you get just the amount of heat you want,   
• Croutons - why pay for someone else's dry bread :also bread for dressing . 
• Bread crumbs: they can cost as much as 2.40 and who knows how long they have been in the store.   
• Refrigerater bread,    Hands on time about 15 minutes - about a tenth of the cost of a bakery loaf.   
• Cocoa mix 
• Muffin mix 
• Baking mix 
• Gravy instead of a jar or mix 
• Cupcakes - cupcakes were six dollars a dozen for small cupcakes.   

Safeways 15 percent off with basket coupon. Haul

Safeways had a 4.00 off of 25.00 basket coupon and in ad coupons,
Spent 22.40 net

Pasta sauce - 24 ounces .84
Bread -2 loaves .84 total .42 each
London broil, net 2.35 a pound,  I made stew meat of it that was 5.99 a pound .   Savings of 3.64 a pound.
Hamburger was 1.69 a pound net.   I fried and de- boned  it.   Net six meals.   .82 a meal

1 lb  cod - wild - 4.25


A lot of protein for 22.40.  The "stew" meat alone would have been 24.00.


.

The ads - no mail ads, these are from the internet

Alberways

Just 4 you coupon 4.00 off 25.00


Strawberries 3.48 -2 lbs
1/2 Pork loin 1.69
Bread 2/1
Pasta sauce in glass .99@@
Peanut butter/preserves 2/5@@
Brewers 2.99@@
DiGiorno 4.99@@
Oatmeal canister 1.99@@


2 WEEK AD FOR QFC

Draper valley whole chicken .88
Strawberries 3/4
Chunky soup, .99$$
Large sour cream/ cottage cheese 2/5
Pork loin 1/2 1.99
Grapes 1.99
Romas or sweet onions .99
Ground turkey 7 percent 3.99 ( note ground beef is 3.28 for 7 percent )

Ideas day - Tuesday

 They see that Americans waste 50% of their food. If you add the fact that 50% of your food cart consists of  snacks and drinks, that would be a  hundred percent of your food. There's something wrong with those statistics. We however all know  and a lot of food is wasted in our country. Part of it is that we fill  plates  for our children and they eat  only part  of what's given to them. Use smaller plates and give them half of a portion. If they want more, give them more.  Another idea is to cut smaller children's sandwiches into shapes and save the bread scraps for bread pudding, bread crumbs , or croutons i.e. Dressing.   Portion control.

Find ways to use leftovers  in such a manner that you  don't know you're eating leftovers. I made chili  one day.  Two days later, the chilli became the topping for nachos after drained  it.    I added cheese, black olives, peppers.

 Chili can also be revisited with rice. Leftover rice can't be put in tomato soup.  Tomato-based sauces can't be added to soups or stews.

 Leftover vegetables can be added to soup.  The ends of the carrots and celery can make veggie stock or be addd to bones t make meat stock.   Of ylumdomt have  bought veggiesmr bines, save them up in the freezer.   Freeze in ice cube trays or a freezer bag,   Bags are best frozen sitting on a cardboard from the recycle bin,    Otherwise, it is hard to get it off the metal grate shelf of the freezer.

 Leftover hotdogs can't be sliced into coins and added to beans.

 Leftover chicken pieces and be quesadillas, burritos, chicken pot pie, chicken soup, chicken tacos ,  chicken noodle casserole.

 If you have an abundance of sour cream, you can put it in almost anything that calls for milk. Sometimes you need to dilute it with some water or milk.  Some  muffin recipes call for Greek yogurt. Sour cream is a good substitute. I have also added  sour cream to scrambled eggs.

 Sausage crumbles Can be  added to a quiche, leftover bits can be added to a pizza, or added to a pasta sauce or scrambled eggs.

Bits of veggies and chicken bones can become chicken stock.   Chicken stock is a couple of bucks a quart.   That two dollars can buy a couple of chicken breast.  

Think what can I do with this before you throw anything away.  The other mantra is keep a close look on the pantry and fridge to make sure you are eating things before they spoil.    Rotate canned stock.
Yes, this takes some time, but the reward is money in the bank and your family will eat better.

I now have it to the point where if I get a pan of bread in the oven. My husband will check it when the timer rings and uncover it and do the last step if I am busy in the front of the house.   LOL.  There is something about the smell of hot bread right out of the oven.

Kitchen management day

Kitchen management day,  

1. Clean fridge.   / organize.  
2. Dehydrate eggs,   This is an experiment.  If it works, I should be able to save eggs when they are a dollar a dozen and isle them when they are two dollars or more a dozen.
3. Slice cucumbers and tomatoes.   
4. Meals are easy thru Tuesday.   Wednesday is shopping day, but we don't need to go, I can finish kitchen management then.  
5. Wash kitchen floor.   
6. Make bread.   I made bread 🍞 Saturday and took it to the neighbor.   
7. Wash fruit
8. Prep a veggie for mondays dinner,   
9. 
   

Fred Meyers Haul (Kroger)!

Sunday is ad day at fred Meyers. My main focus was that we didn't have any fresh milk in the house,  I made pancakes for granddaughter with non fat dry,   It worked and I don't think she knew the difference.

Fred Meyers had a 10/10 sale, and you had to buy 10, mix or match, 

1. Marshmallows,  -2 ea - we love chocolate rice crispy Treats.  
2. Cream cheese -2 ea 
3. Crescent rolls - -3 ea 
4. Sausage -2 
5. A zero drink 

I was careful not to buy anything we wouldn't use and anything that was cheaper elsewhere.    I have a cracker crust and want to make a cream cheese pie for a special treat sometime soon.   

I have seen a taco pie on Facebook that would be good to try and we love putting a little cheese on them and rolling them up for a go to when having ansoup that lacks full protein,   Sausage is a given when we have breakfast for dinner,.  

Ice cream sandwiches were two dollars for 12.  .  

Blackberries were .99

Naval oranges were .99 - two large oranges were 150

Milk was .99 -!we got two regular and 1 chocolate,   

Total 18.43

Sunday meal plans

Having a couple of standbys helps a lot when making meal plans.  Part of the work osmdome for you.   Having a matrix is a good guideline to narrow your infinite possibilities.    We already know " Four plus one is five.   Four people. One dinner, Five  bucks.    That is the calculations to stay on a four dollar a day per person budget.  My mantra os that if you can stay on a low budget, spending more isn't hard.   LOL.   Meals aren't mecessarily in  chronological order.

1. Chicken parm , green vegetable 
2. Pizza 
3. Chicken and rice , salad 
4. Tacos, refried beans, Spanish rice 
5. Pork chops, dressing with apples and cranberries . Green vegetable 
6. Salmon patties. Baked potato, glazed carrots.   
7. Breakfast 4 Dinner  

Notes 

1. Chicken parm uses  spaghetti  (.49/2=.25) , chicken patties ( Foster farms- 1.80 ) pasta sauce ( .88/2=.44) green beans .33 -  2.82 
2. Pizza  uses.  Crust .(17, ) 1/4 of pasta sauce .(22) 1/2 of pepperoni .(25 ) 1/4 pound cheese (.50) total 1.14
3. Chicken and rice : rice is .03 a serving .(.12) chicken breast average 1.40 a pound.   ( 1.40) veggies (frozen mixes veggies (1.00/2=.50) total 2.02.  
4. Tacos 🌮: 1/2 lb hamburger ( 1.59) , taco shells ( .50) cheese (.25) lettuce, tomato ( .45) rice (.12) beans (.88) salsa ( .25) total 3.16 
5. Pork chops and dressing : pork chops ( 1.50) , dressing (1.00) apple  (.35) veggie (.50) total (3.35)
6. Salmon patties : salmon patties (2.33) potatoes 🥔 ( .40) green beans (.33) total 3.06
7. Breakfast 4 dinner  : French toast ( .43) fruit (3.00) total 3.43 

Total : 18.98.   Does not include small amounts of staple items. It also would cost more if you are eating seconds or are feeding a teenage boy. LOL.  Either case, you are still well below the 5.00 a day amount ( 35.00) . 

Tomorrow Fred Meyers ad

specials for Fred Meyers

Grapes 149
Blackberries,.99
Milk .99
Oranges .99
Bread 4/5
Chunky soup , crackers .99$$

A lot of the veggies  are cheaper at Winco.    Peppers are well under a dollar.   Last I was there they were fifty eight cents for red and sixty eight for green.  

Recipe: shrimp stir fry

This is a recipe that, obviously, cost more than five dollars.    It works because several other recipes during the week are a lot less ( average) .  

1 bag of shrimp. 

2 carrots , sliced thin 

2 celery ribs. Sliced thin, 

1 red pepper 

1 small onion or 1/2 a large onion, cut in half, then sliced. 

1 pkg top ramen, cooked without the seasoning packet 

Soy sauce to taste 

Olive oil or vegetable oil for cooking 

• Cook shrimp of raw and clean . 
• In skillet with sides or wok. Stir fry veggies until soft.  
• Add in cooked shrimp and cooked ramen noodles.  
• Season with soy sauce to taste.   

Note : we can get frozen stir fry veggies at times and I have found them with a .35 coupon.  
You could substitute cooked chicken breast or thighs cut into small pieces instead of the shrimp
I used red pepper, celery and carrot.   I would add mushrooms, green pepper  and onion if my husband ate them.   

Bullet day - five safety nets -in progress

It's  always a good idea 💡 to have a few go to dimmers that can be cooked in a hurry for days when a ))$. Storm happens.  Face or, life isn't perfect or scripted and ):;? Storms happen to the best of us.   If your mission is to keep your food budget low, having a plan helps.

• Low sodium chunky soups go on sale and you can find generous coupons,   Mymanswe to they are so bad for you is that take out usually is bad for you and a whole lot more hassle and money,   I recently got progresso chunky  soups  for .75.   Two cans with a little water fed three of us.   
• Foster Farms chicken patties are another item that can have coupons and be on sale.   Five dollars will make several meals for three people.   Chicken parm?    Chicken sandwiches.   Chicken salad ( just cut strips from the patties.   They cook in two minutes in the microwave, better cooked in the oven,  
• Keeping my a frozen  pizza , again bought on sale with coupons and s a good back up.   
• With already cooked hamburger in the freezer, you can make tacos in a flash,   
• Loaded baked potatoes take I utes in the microwave and you can make a bar with leftovers etc from the fridge: frozen broccoli, sour cream, cheese, chilli, bacon 🥓? 

Friday recipe - skillet Mac n cheese

Skillet dinners are quick and easy,   Sausage and bratts were in sale at Fred Meyers for two dollars.   I know, it's a fat storm ..  you don't eat it Every Day!  


Mac and cheese with sausage.  

3 cups chicken or veggie broth ( preferable homemade)
8 ounces small shell macaroni
Frozen peas
1/2 pound sausage,   Partially boil to get some of the fat out  and slice .
8 ounces shredded cheese- A blend of some part skim Motts is preferable.

In deep sided skillet, bring stock to a boil.  Add pasta and boil until a dente  about six minutes.
Add peas and sliced sausage . Cover and cook until pasta is done.
Remove from heat and stir in cheese.

Serves 4

Winco haul.

Winco haul.   Winco does not have ads.

Jose ole tacquidos   3.48
Chicken chow mein 3.96
V 8 juice 4.96
Ragu pasta sauce 1.57

All of these things have coupons to go with them that total 3.75.
10 lbs potatoes 1.98
5 lbs carrots 1.98
Apple cider cupcake mix with frosting .98
2lns carrots .98
Bell peppers , red .58
Engkish cucumber .78
Bananas 2.16   4.5 pounds
Total 21.81


About my average basket total.  

Bullet day

bullet  day : things you can cook that save time and energy.   Every household has times when saving time and energy -- yours or the grid is a welcome sight,

• Bake potatoes in the slow cooker.   Wash potatoes 🥔.,dry and coat with olive oil and rub with koshure or sea salt or your favorite seasoning,    Place on slow cooker and cook on low.   Start checking for doneness at four hours.  Note : a baked potato bar is a good way to use up leftovers and children can help.   My granddaughter loves to clean veggies.   I put vomegar on the water and she uses a vegetable brush that looks like a ladybug.  
• Betty Crocker and readers digest cook  book has a lot of foil packet dinners.  You can wrap food in parchment first of foil bothers you.  It kits you custom dinners to individuals preferences and you have almost no dishes to do.    http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/green-chile-cheddar-burger-foil-packs/6d3f0544-8702-42b6-8424-ddcef8f23745?utm_source=Email_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BC_03_15_2017&vcode=AQAAAAAN1ybNS-9j26q6mS3BVdiDOUxX7QqEQ-CYVForZlYxAzuIgCJQUpSRMd3iScz1qRet5L-qkZrI6F8YE2eiAbqECPv1pmPRdpnSETiSRhpu0g
• Skillet suppers.    Cooking 🍳 a whole meal in a skillet saves dishes to wash and time.   One of the best meals I did when we were  camping was sausage, peppers, and potatoes.   I would add onions if my hubby ate them.    There are a lot of skillet  meals on Pinterest and on line.   Personally, I would avoid meal boxes because their per ounce price is high and you add all the basic ingredients anyway.  The ingredients read like a who's who of ingredients that you can't pronounce. 
• freezer meals can be made in bulk and placed in the slow cooker with very little effort.   Bulk meat made in bulk dinners  can save time and money when time  is in short supply.   
• One of my favorite tricks for summer dinners to beat the heat in the kitchen is to make a variety of salads on the week end and add a BBQ or quick main protein to go with.   Hamburger , hot dog, bbq chicken etc.