Spring has sprung and summer is not far behind....well, maybe in the Pacific Northwest.
One of my time saving and beat the heat tricks for summer is to make salads on Sunday and add a entre each day during the week. It doesn't cover the entire work week, but it gets us through to mid week anyway. That way I don't have to cook in the hot kitchen. The entre can be BBQ d outside.
Potato Salad
2.5 pounds red potatoes
1 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup red peppers, chopped
2 hard cooked eggs, chopped
1 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup mustard
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayo
Salt and pepper.
cook and cool potatoes, cut into quarters
Add chopped veggies
Mix dressing ingredients .
Dress the salad.
Serves 8
Shrimp pasta salad
4cups cooked pasta shells, chilled
1 pound shrimp, cleaned and cut into thirds
1 cup frozen peas
1 bunch green onions, cleaned and sliced
1T dried parsley
1 small carton lemon yogurt
1 cup mayo
Salt and pepper
Mix ingredients together.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Four plus one is five
Better, cheaper, faster
You get paid for shopping , not for cooking.
Jane
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
Wolves in sheep's clothing
Something I saw on another blog reminded me of when My daughter and I dissected a hamburger meal box. I don't quite understand why if the government made Nabisco change the name of their vanilla wafers because they had no vanilla in them, why there can be products with the name "cheese " in them when they have no cheese.
I have become a label reader. I buy few convenience foods because they jack up the price of food. I read labels because I am diabetic and I am really careful about how many carbs I ingest. There are hidden carbs in just about everything. I am leery of anything that has ingredients that sound like they should belong in a science lab.
Cheese whey is the byproduct of making cheese. After they take the solids and fat out of milk, it is what is left. It is good food, and has protein in it, but it is NOT CHEESE.
I never met a cheese I didn't like, and I never met a cheese than had no cholesterol.
I do keep a couple of mixes on the boat for emergency rations. I did get a hamburger meal box with real processed cheese. It is not something we generally use, but I got them for a buck and on the boat, you have to have emergency rations in case you get stuck with no food access. I have been known to add kidney beans to cheeseburger macaroni.
Not great, but better than nothing?!LOL
I am not doing any serious grocery shopping. I do have a WinCo coupon, so I am very tempted. I usually get about 6o percent savings. The first of May we are going to try an experiment and live from the stock on hand only adding perishables and a minimal amount of anything else. I want to see how far I can go. I am leery of paring down too far, the prices on some things are rising. I have averaged spending 70.00 a week and our stock is growing. It is time.
I made a formula for meal plans for our family. Your plan may be different.I am working with a daughter that is vegetarian , a grandaughter that only eats chicken, and a husband that doesn't like pork or chicken. I have resorted to cooking a variety of meals so that we are balanced.
2 beef
2 chicken or pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish
1) Nachos
2) pasta with meatballs
3) pork roast
4) sausage , potatoes and peppers
5) loaded tomato soup, quesadas
6) vegetable bean soup
7) scallops
Scallops were on five dollar Friday.
Vegetable bean soup is on another blog --easy and cheap to balance the scallops.
Roasted red pepper and tomato soup loaded with tomatoes, blue cheese and basil. ( basic soup about 2 dollars at Costco.
Sausage was 2.28, peppers .50 at grocery outlet
Burger batch cooked, 2.75 a pound that was on B1G1 at Safeway.
pork Roast 1.79 a pound at QFC last week.
All of these meals average less than five dollars a meal.
Four plus one is five.
better, cheaper, faster
You get paid for shopping, not cooking!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I have become a label reader. I buy few convenience foods because they jack up the price of food. I read labels because I am diabetic and I am really careful about how many carbs I ingest. There are hidden carbs in just about everything. I am leery of anything that has ingredients that sound like they should belong in a science lab.
Cheese whey is the byproduct of making cheese. After they take the solids and fat out of milk, it is what is left. It is good food, and has protein in it, but it is NOT CHEESE.
I never met a cheese I didn't like, and I never met a cheese than had no cholesterol.
I do keep a couple of mixes on the boat for emergency rations. I did get a hamburger meal box with real processed cheese. It is not something we generally use, but I got them for a buck and on the boat, you have to have emergency rations in case you get stuck with no food access. I have been known to add kidney beans to cheeseburger macaroni.
Not great, but better than nothing?!LOL
I am not doing any serious grocery shopping. I do have a WinCo coupon, so I am very tempted. I usually get about 6o percent savings. The first of May we are going to try an experiment and live from the stock on hand only adding perishables and a minimal amount of anything else. I want to see how far I can go. I am leery of paring down too far, the prices on some things are rising. I have averaged spending 70.00 a week and our stock is growing. It is time.
I made a formula for meal plans for our family. Your plan may be different.I am working with a daughter that is vegetarian , a grandaughter that only eats chicken, and a husband that doesn't like pork or chicken. I have resorted to cooking a variety of meals so that we are balanced.
2 beef
2 chicken or pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish or shellfish
1) Nachos
2) pasta with meatballs
3) pork roast
4) sausage , potatoes and peppers
5) loaded tomato soup, quesadas
6) vegetable bean soup
7) scallops
Scallops were on five dollar Friday.
Vegetable bean soup is on another blog --easy and cheap to balance the scallops.
Roasted red pepper and tomato soup loaded with tomatoes, blue cheese and basil. ( basic soup about 2 dollars at Costco.
Sausage was 2.28, peppers .50 at grocery outlet
Burger batch cooked, 2.75 a pound that was on B1G1 at Safeway.
pork Roast 1.79 a pound at QFC last week.
All of these meals average less than five dollars a meal.
Four plus one is five.
better, cheaper, faster
You get paid for shopping, not cooking!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The gist of it
Every month I write about the basics of groceries on the cheap for anyone that wants a refresher or for new people.
I feed our family on 1/2 of the USDA stats for thrifty food. I have done it for years and was in the Woman's Day years ago when my children were teens.
1/2 price cooking takes a three-pronged approach.
1) plan and organize
2) shopping
3) scratch cooking
PLAN AND ORGANIZE
1) develop your own recipe book of main dishes that use an inexpensive form of protein. Start with seven, and increase it to fourteen so you have some variety. For us that protein would be cheese, pork. Chicken, some cuts of beef, beans.
2) make a list of staples that you use often. For us that would be beans, some green beans and corn, pasta, pasta sauce, diced tomatoes. Some tuna, instant mashed potatoes, refried beans.
3) create a price book or a spread sheet on these products. You should have ten or fifteen items max.
Note the item and the size of the package, the place you bought it,the price and the date. Pretty soon you will have a good idea of the lowest rock bottom price of that item. When you find that price buy
A) as many as you can afford to buy
B) as many as the store will let you buy. Or
C) as many as you need to replenish your stock, whichever comes first.
SHOPPING
This is not about hoarding. If I use something Once a week, I keep 24. once a month , I keep 6. I keep one ahead of things like mustard, catsup, mayo etc. I don't want to run to the store when I run out.
When the grocery ads for the chain stores come out. I sit down with a piece of computer paper, divide it in fourths and head each fourth with the name of a chain store nearby. I go through the ads and write down everything that is on sale that is on my target list, and any fruit, veggie, or perishable we eat and any meat that is a good price. Then I cross off anything that is more expensive than elsewhere and anything I don't need. Now pick The two stores that have the best buys on what you need. Plan your trip so you use the least gas. Take your list, get in , and get out. The longer you spend in a store, the more you will spend. Avoid impulse buys. be sure and take the ads with you. .
We have several stores clustered together. I can incorporate the dollar store,the pharmacy, and maybe big lots or
Grocery outlet in the same trip. I almost always hit the two chain stores. If it is convenient, I hit others,
there are certain things that we buy at the alternative stores, and we can get in and out quickly. If we are short on time, we divide and conquer. We hit Costco, the bakery outlet and WinCo once every four to six weeks.
Costco is close by so we can hit it when we are running out of things. The others are several towns away, so they are on a longer cycle.
We seldom spend more than an hour or so shopping a week.
1/2 price foods leaves no room for a lot of snack foods, pop, chips, etc.
After your shopping trip, jot down seven meals. Just the main dish, nothing time consuming or fancy, I do this after because sometimes while shopping you find something real l y cheap or what you planned to buy is not good.
SCRATCH COOKING
Ready made foods are a sure way to bust your budget! It doesn't take a lot of time to cook from scratch. There are all kinds of tricks to make your time in the kitchen short.
1) batch cook
2) marathon cook
3) stair step cooking
4) slow cooker or pressure cooking
5) cooking fast foods
Marathon cooking is cooking a months worth of foods in a weekend. Shop one day and cook the next. I went to a class on it years ago. I don't have the stamina for it, and we enjoy fresh fruits and veggies. There are books on it.
Batch cooking works for me. I buy meat when it is the lowest price. It is hard to judge the ever skyrocketing costs of beef, but chicken and pork aren't bad. Usually, I find one meat a week. I cook it that day, or the next day.
Portion it into meal sized packages and freeze. I get good hamburger when it is B1G1 and do the whole thing. It creates less waste and less clean up. I can spend the time to defat it. Defatting hamburger can make it have less fat than boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Directions are on an earlier blog. I make hamburger crumbles, taco meat, meatballs, meatloaf. Sausage is cheapest at Costco , I fry it and defat it as soon as I get it home.
I also make my own taco seasoning, and other mixes. Another way to jack up food prices.
Stair step cooking is cooking a double batch of something and saving some for later in the week. A double batch of rice can be for Mexican rice one day and the base for sweet and sour pork or chicken or beef tips another.
Slow cookers are your best friend in the kitchen. I loved coming home to the smell of dinner when I walked in the door after a long day! I still love the concept, I just don't have a sense of smell! LOL
I have a recipe on the blog for almost FREE pizza!
I want to be in and out of the kitchen in about twenty minutes not including passive cooking. Love it when I can shove something in an oven or slow cooker and walk away to do mail management or wash a load of clothes etc.
In the summer when our east facing kitchen gets hot, ( did I say that in the Pacific NW)I like to make a bunch of salads on Sunday and then cook hot dogs, hamburgers, or chicken on the grill. salads last well into the week.
EASY and my husband does the grilling!!!
The main thing is to not buy anything ready made. A few things are as cheap or cheaper to buy ready made.
I buy tortillas on sale. Ditto refried beans, instant mashed potatoes, pasta sauce (Hunts ) or another can that I found at WinCo. I buy bread and sandwich rolls at the bakery outlet unless I find them cheaper somewhere else.
DELI chicken and Hamburger Meal boxes are about the most expensive items in the store. ...well maybe not if you shop at whole paycheck type stores. LOL My daughter and I thorally investigated hamburger meal box. it's on a blog last summer-- it's a real eye opener. Deli chicken is another topic.
My manta. Better, cheaper, faster!
If you spend more time on the front end of the GET A MEAL ON THE TABLE TRAIN, and less on the back end, you will be better off. You get PAID for shopping, you don't get paid for cooking.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I feed our family on 1/2 of the USDA stats for thrifty food. I have done it for years and was in the Woman's Day years ago when my children were teens.
1/2 price cooking takes a three-pronged approach.
1) plan and organize
2) shopping
3) scratch cooking
PLAN AND ORGANIZE
1) develop your own recipe book of main dishes that use an inexpensive form of protein. Start with seven, and increase it to fourteen so you have some variety. For us that protein would be cheese, pork. Chicken, some cuts of beef, beans.
2) make a list of staples that you use often. For us that would be beans, some green beans and corn, pasta, pasta sauce, diced tomatoes. Some tuna, instant mashed potatoes, refried beans.
3) create a price book or a spread sheet on these products. You should have ten or fifteen items max.
Note the item and the size of the package, the place you bought it,the price and the date. Pretty soon you will have a good idea of the lowest rock bottom price of that item. When you find that price buy
A) as many as you can afford to buy
B) as many as the store will let you buy. Or
C) as many as you need to replenish your stock, whichever comes first.
SHOPPING
This is not about hoarding. If I use something Once a week, I keep 24. once a month , I keep 6. I keep one ahead of things like mustard, catsup, mayo etc. I don't want to run to the store when I run out.
When the grocery ads for the chain stores come out. I sit down with a piece of computer paper, divide it in fourths and head each fourth with the name of a chain store nearby. I go through the ads and write down everything that is on sale that is on my target list, and any fruit, veggie, or perishable we eat and any meat that is a good price. Then I cross off anything that is more expensive than elsewhere and anything I don't need. Now pick The two stores that have the best buys on what you need. Plan your trip so you use the least gas. Take your list, get in , and get out. The longer you spend in a store, the more you will spend. Avoid impulse buys. be sure and take the ads with you. .
We have several stores clustered together. I can incorporate the dollar store,the pharmacy, and maybe big lots or
Grocery outlet in the same trip. I almost always hit the two chain stores. If it is convenient, I hit others,
there are certain things that we buy at the alternative stores, and we can get in and out quickly. If we are short on time, we divide and conquer. We hit Costco, the bakery outlet and WinCo once every four to six weeks.
Costco is close by so we can hit it when we are running out of things. The others are several towns away, so they are on a longer cycle.
We seldom spend more than an hour or so shopping a week.
1/2 price foods leaves no room for a lot of snack foods, pop, chips, etc.
After your shopping trip, jot down seven meals. Just the main dish, nothing time consuming or fancy, I do this after because sometimes while shopping you find something real l y cheap or what you planned to buy is not good.
SCRATCH COOKING
Ready made foods are a sure way to bust your budget! It doesn't take a lot of time to cook from scratch. There are all kinds of tricks to make your time in the kitchen short.
1) batch cook
2) marathon cook
3) stair step cooking
4) slow cooker or pressure cooking
5) cooking fast foods
Marathon cooking is cooking a months worth of foods in a weekend. Shop one day and cook the next. I went to a class on it years ago. I don't have the stamina for it, and we enjoy fresh fruits and veggies. There are books on it.
Batch cooking works for me. I buy meat when it is the lowest price. It is hard to judge the ever skyrocketing costs of beef, but chicken and pork aren't bad. Usually, I find one meat a week. I cook it that day, or the next day.
Portion it into meal sized packages and freeze. I get good hamburger when it is B1G1 and do the whole thing. It creates less waste and less clean up. I can spend the time to defat it. Defatting hamburger can make it have less fat than boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Directions are on an earlier blog. I make hamburger crumbles, taco meat, meatballs, meatloaf. Sausage is cheapest at Costco , I fry it and defat it as soon as I get it home.
I also make my own taco seasoning, and other mixes. Another way to jack up food prices.
Stair step cooking is cooking a double batch of something and saving some for later in the week. A double batch of rice can be for Mexican rice one day and the base for sweet and sour pork or chicken or beef tips another.
Slow cookers are your best friend in the kitchen. I loved coming home to the smell of dinner when I walked in the door after a long day! I still love the concept, I just don't have a sense of smell! LOL
I have a recipe on the blog for almost FREE pizza!
I want to be in and out of the kitchen in about twenty minutes not including passive cooking. Love it when I can shove something in an oven or slow cooker and walk away to do mail management or wash a load of clothes etc.
In the summer when our east facing kitchen gets hot, ( did I say that in the Pacific NW)I like to make a bunch of salads on Sunday and then cook hot dogs, hamburgers, or chicken on the grill. salads last well into the week.
EASY and my husband does the grilling!!!
The main thing is to not buy anything ready made. A few things are as cheap or cheaper to buy ready made.
I buy tortillas on sale. Ditto refried beans, instant mashed potatoes, pasta sauce (Hunts ) or another can that I found at WinCo. I buy bread and sandwich rolls at the bakery outlet unless I find them cheaper somewhere else.
DELI chicken and Hamburger Meal boxes are about the most expensive items in the store. ...well maybe not if you shop at whole paycheck type stores. LOL My daughter and I thorally investigated hamburger meal box. it's on a blog last summer-- it's a real eye opener. Deli chicken is another topic.
My manta. Better, cheaper, faster!
If you spend more time on the front end of the GET A MEAL ON THE TABLE TRAIN, and less on the back end, you will be better off. You get PAID for shopping, you don't get paid for cooking.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The ads
Here are the ads. I actually got them on time!?!!!
QFC
Breyers 1/2 off
Strawberries 2/4
Franz bread 1/2 off
Hebrew national 2/7
Fuji apples 1.00
Pears 1.00
ALBERTSOMS
beef top roumd 1.99
27 percent ground beef 1.99
Lettuce 1.00
Cheese 4.99@@@
Fryers .79. Limit 2 @@@
5# potatoes .79@@@
Veggie sale 1.00
Oranges
Peppers ea
Tomato
Zucchini
Avocados. Ea
Apples
Romaine ea
Cucumbers 1.00 ea
Slaw. Ea
TOP
20 percent beef 1.99
10 percent 4.00
7 percent 4.00
Beans 15/10
Cucumbers .79
Broccoli 1.00
SAFEWAYS
Potroast 2.99
Strawberries 1.99
Apples .99
5 dollar Friday
Brats
That's about all.
Notes. Remember to cross off anything you don't want or use. Or anything that is more expensive, remember, to compare ground beef prices, multiply the price by 1.XX. XX is the percentage of fat. Make it a double digit. 7 percent is .07. Then compare the prices.
@@@ denotes bring store coupon. This product may be rationed.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share, I'm close to a milestone!!!
Jane
QFC
Breyers 1/2 off
Strawberries 2/4
Franz bread 1/2 off
Hebrew national 2/7
Fuji apples 1.00
Pears 1.00
ALBERTSOMS
beef top roumd 1.99
27 percent ground beef 1.99
Lettuce 1.00
Cheese 4.99@@@
Fryers .79. Limit 2 @@@
5# potatoes .79@@@
Veggie sale 1.00
Oranges
Peppers ea
Tomato
Zucchini
Avocados. Ea
Apples
Romaine ea
Cucumbers 1.00 ea
Slaw. Ea
TOP
20 percent beef 1.99
10 percent 4.00
7 percent 4.00
Beans 15/10
Cucumbers .79
Broccoli 1.00
SAFEWAYS
Potroast 2.99
Strawberries 1.99
Apples .99
5 dollar Friday
Brats
That's about all.
Notes. Remember to cross off anything you don't want or use. Or anything that is more expensive, remember, to compare ground beef prices, multiply the price by 1.XX. XX is the percentage of fat. Make it a double digit. 7 percent is .07. Then compare the prices.
@@@ denotes bring store coupon. This product may be rationed.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share, I'm close to a milestone!!!
Jane
Apples.....and plums!
Apples are one of the foods that don't seem to be effected by the rising food prices.
German Apple Cake
3 eggs
2 Cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups peeled chopped tart apples
Beat eggs, sugar, oil and. Vanilla
Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones.
Fold on apples.
Pour into greased 9X13 pan.
Bake at 350 -55-60 minutes or until
It tests done.
Notes. I would use fake sugar to reduce the calories and make it more diabetic friendly.
German Plum Tart
1/2 cup butter
4T sugar, divided
1egg yolk
1cup flour
2 pounds plums
Ceeam butter and 3 T sugar. Beat in egg yolk. Add flour until mixture forms a soft dough.
Press in bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch pie plate,
Arrange plum 1/2s cut side down in plate on top of crust. Sprinkle with remaining sugar
Bake at 350 25-45 minutes until crust is golden brown and fruit is tender.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
German Apple Cake
3 eggs
2 Cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups peeled chopped tart apples
Beat eggs, sugar, oil and. Vanilla
Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones.
Fold on apples.
Pour into greased 9X13 pan.
Bake at 350 -55-60 minutes or until
It tests done.
Notes. I would use fake sugar to reduce the calories and make it more diabetic friendly.
German Plum Tart
1/2 cup butter
4T sugar, divided
1egg yolk
1cup flour
2 pounds plums
Ceeam butter and 3 T sugar. Beat in egg yolk. Add flour until mixture forms a soft dough.
Press in bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch pie plate,
Arrange plum 1/2s cut side down in plate on top of crust. Sprinkle with remaining sugar
Bake at 350 25-45 minutes until crust is golden brown and fruit is tender.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Monday, April 22, 2013
Monday Madness
Yesterday I went to the goodwill. Not much there. My husband got a call from family that needed his truck to move a spring and mattress. As luck would have it, I foumd an estate sale down the street from family. I got books,a plate and a swing for my grandaughter and a dozen Taste of Homes for 7 bucks.
We, then went to the rest of our planned trip. I got the supply I needed and we checked out big lots,..zero and went on to grocery outlet. I have to applaud grocery outlet for designating a parking spot for veterans. We got a few things. I got peppers for .50 and parm cheese and seasoned grated cheese. It really perks up Mac and cheese.
Peppers on a large can were 1.29.
I usually do a blog on the ads, and meals from the ads. Once a month I do the basics. I thought I would start and take a food item and explore ideas of what you can do with it.
Ham cubes are inexpensive. A bag will last three meals.
Sometimes I can find them at grocery outlet, but I found them at WinCo last week.
You can...use them in...
omlettes
Quiche with cheese
Split pea soup with carrot
Potato soup with ham
Pizza with pineapple and spinach
In Cobb or club salad
I found a recipe for pasta .
1 pound linguini, or spaghetti.
Ham cubes
1 T butter
2 cups frozen peas
1-1/2 cups parm or Romano
1/3 cup milk or cream
Cook the pasta and drain.
On a skillet, sauté ham in butter. Add peas and heat through. Toss with drained pasta. Add parm and cream.
Serve immediately.
Notes.
This would be good with artichokes too. Blanched celery would stretch it. The microwave pasta cooker would make it really fast. Passive cooking time means you can get a salad made and the table ser and still have time for another chore before you put things together.
I made rice pudding yesterday from a recipe I saw on Facebook. It was really food. I think it is better warm than cool. Really easy and mostly passive cooking.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
We, then went to the rest of our planned trip. I got the supply I needed and we checked out big lots,..zero and went on to grocery outlet. I have to applaud grocery outlet for designating a parking spot for veterans. We got a few things. I got peppers for .50 and parm cheese and seasoned grated cheese. It really perks up Mac and cheese.
Peppers on a large can were 1.29.
I usually do a blog on the ads, and meals from the ads. Once a month I do the basics. I thought I would start and take a food item and explore ideas of what you can do with it.
Ham cubes are inexpensive. A bag will last three meals.
Sometimes I can find them at grocery outlet, but I found them at WinCo last week.
You can...use them in...
omlettes
Quiche with cheese
Split pea soup with carrot
Potato soup with ham
Pizza with pineapple and spinach
In Cobb or club salad
I found a recipe for pasta .
1 pound linguini, or spaghetti.
Ham cubes
1 T butter
2 cups frozen peas
1-1/2 cups parm or Romano
1/3 cup milk or cream
Cook the pasta and drain.
On a skillet, sauté ham in butter. Add peas and heat through. Toss with drained pasta. Add parm and cream.
Serve immediately.
Notes.
This would be good with artichokes too. Blanched celery would stretch it. The microwave pasta cooker would make it really fast. Passive cooking time means you can get a salad made and the table ser and still have time for another chore before you put things together.
I made rice pudding yesterday from a recipe I saw on Facebook. It was really food. I think it is better warm than cool. Really easy and mostly passive cooking.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Sunday Dinner
since the pork I bought has a May 10th pull date, we are going to have the chicken first. I plan to roast it off in my " new" kitchen....well I now have ceiling lights and lights in the oven. My kitchen aid lights are not available off the shelf. . They have to be ordered and take a full 10 days to get here. heads upnfor anyone with a fairly new kitchenaid wall oven. They are also 8 dollars EACH. it wouldn't be a bad idea to order them ahead so you have a spare and didn't have to go without like I did. Of course not having ceiling lights didn't help! LOL
Tuna Sub sandwiches
Sub sandwich bums
Garlic oil
2 cans albacore tuna, drained.
Sliced red onion rings
Sliced hot pepper rings
Chopped artichoke hearts
Capers, rinsed
Black olives
White cheese
Slice Buns lengthwise
Pull some bread out of the center of the bun. Reserve for breadcrumbs.
Brush both sides of buns with oil.
Stuff the bread with the remaining ingredients
put top on bread loaf.
Note: tuna is on sale at Bartells for 1.19. if onions are too sharp in taste, soak them in ice water.
Roasted red peppers could be substituted for the hot peppers
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Tuna Sub sandwiches
Sub sandwich bums
Garlic oil
2 cans albacore tuna, drained.
Sliced red onion rings
Sliced hot pepper rings
Chopped artichoke hearts
Capers, rinsed
Black olives
White cheese
Slice Buns lengthwise
Pull some bread out of the center of the bun. Reserve for breadcrumbs.
Brush both sides of buns with oil.
Stuff the bread with the remaining ingredients
put top on bread loaf.
Note: tuna is on sale at Bartells for 1.19. if onions are too sharp in taste, soak them in ice water.
Roasted red peppers could be substituted for the hot peppers
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Best Laid plans number one!!!!
I had no intention on going shopping today. my sister sent me her coupon for WinCo. Ten dollars off of fifty dollars worth of food. We started to go and the car wouldn't run. My husband took it to our local repairman and he had it running in five minutes, so off we went again. We drove to Everett, shopped and got back and put things away in plenty of time for my doc appointment-like in an hour and ten minutes. I spent a net of 36.00. I didn't count my husbands beef jerkey meat he shares with friends. After the doctors, I went to QFC ans got a pork loin for 1.69 a pound and a chicken for .89 a pound. They wanted more for leg quarters at WinCo than the .88 for a whole chicken at QFC.
I will give my daughter the other WinCo coupon to use. Ill try to start using pantry and freezer down next week.
Meals from the shopping trip and the pantry.
Formuls
2 beef
2 pork. Chicken
2 vegetarian
1 fish
1) Ham quiche , mixed berry compote.
2) roast chicken
3) salmon,
4) tacos
5) sliders
6) split pea soup
7) Mac and cheese
I have apples, oranges, strawberries, blueberries, grapes
Radishes, broccoli, lettuce, romaine, red potatoes, reg potatoes
Carrots, celery, cucumbers, asparagus, lemons tomatoes
Regular canned foods and frozen foods.
I have green veggie boxes. They keep veggies fresher longer so everything gets used up and you reuse the plastics over and over.
I will give my daughter the other WinCo coupon to use. Ill try to start using pantry and freezer down next week.
Meals from the shopping trip and the pantry.
Formuls
2 beef
2 pork. Chicken
2 vegetarian
1 fish
1) Ham quiche , mixed berry compote.
2) roast chicken
3) salmon,
4) tacos
5) sliders
6) split pea soup
7) Mac and cheese
I have apples, oranges, strawberries, blueberries, grapes
Radishes, broccoli, lettuce, romaine, red potatoes, reg potatoes
Carrots, celery, cucumbers, asparagus, lemons tomatoes
Regular canned foods and frozen foods.
I have green veggie boxes. They keep veggies fresher longer so everything gets used up and you reuse the plastics over and over.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Friday
It's finally Friday.
I purchased a bisquick cookbook at work for a buck and a Rachel Ray one for .75. They are like new. I have a lot of cookbooks. This particular one tells of the history behind bisquick. My mother didn't use bisquick until we were grown and I taught her what chicken pot pie was. LOL. Bisquickmcame to be in 1931 when a salesman for General Mills discovered that a cook on a train had put some ingredients together so that he could make biscuits faster.m He brought the concept back to the Chemists at General Mills. Over the years they have perfected it to be more healthy.
I have a recipe for home made , but it calls for shortening.m I don't know if they have a healthy alternative for that yet or not. I haven't used shortening in years.
Bisquick is pretty cheap at Costco. My family loves impossible pie and it is easy and quick and uses bits of veggies and meat.
This particular cookbook was published in 2008. It has the basics of waffles, pancakes, biscuits etc, but it also has some innovative things like breakfast pinwheels, cobblers, banana blueberry bread (another one of our favorites and healthy too.) Main dish chicken dishes and lots more.m You can also find recipes on Betty Crocker web site.
30 minute weeknight dinners is a chapter I am going to explore. I would bet that I can get them down to 20 minutes with already preped meat.
There is a section for the fat police! LOL
Turkey cheeseburger melts, vegetable stew etc.
my mantra: If you spend more time on the front end of the "get a meal on the table train" and less time on the back end you will be better off. Essentially, you are being paid for shopping, not for cooking.
This week, I don't have to shop at all. I will take inventory of the perishables and maybe hit the fresh veggie market after I make meal plans up from the meat in the freezer. it's about time we pared it down to defrost it.
I think I'll make a game to seemhowmfarmwemcan go with what's in the freezer. It should show a truer picture of how much the food we eat costs. I know that I have a large stock at the moment spending about 70.00 a week average.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Feed your family better, cheaper, faster.
I purchased a bisquick cookbook at work for a buck and a Rachel Ray one for .75. They are like new. I have a lot of cookbooks. This particular one tells of the history behind bisquick. My mother didn't use bisquick until we were grown and I taught her what chicken pot pie was. LOL. Bisquickmcame to be in 1931 when a salesman for General Mills discovered that a cook on a train had put some ingredients together so that he could make biscuits faster.m He brought the concept back to the Chemists at General Mills. Over the years they have perfected it to be more healthy.
I have a recipe for home made , but it calls for shortening.m I don't know if they have a healthy alternative for that yet or not. I haven't used shortening in years.
Bisquick is pretty cheap at Costco. My family loves impossible pie and it is easy and quick and uses bits of veggies and meat.
This particular cookbook was published in 2008. It has the basics of waffles, pancakes, biscuits etc, but it also has some innovative things like breakfast pinwheels, cobblers, banana blueberry bread (another one of our favorites and healthy too.) Main dish chicken dishes and lots more.m You can also find recipes on Betty Crocker web site.
30 minute weeknight dinners is a chapter I am going to explore. I would bet that I can get them down to 20 minutes with already preped meat.
There is a section for the fat police! LOL
Turkey cheeseburger melts, vegetable stew etc.
my mantra: If you spend more time on the front end of the "get a meal on the table train" and less time on the back end you will be better off. Essentially, you are being paid for shopping, not for cooking.
This week, I don't have to shop at all. I will take inventory of the perishables and maybe hit the fresh veggie market after I make meal plans up from the meat in the freezer. it's about time we pared it down to defrost it.
I think I'll make a game to seemhowmfarmwemcan go with what's in the freezer. It should show a truer picture of how much the food we eat costs. I know that I have a large stock at the moment spending about 70.00 a week average.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Feed your family better, cheaper, faster.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Thursday Thursday
This should be fun. I just found the dictation button on my reader that I got for free because my other one quit.
Breakfast Casserole
1 pound cooked and defatted sausage , set out to room temperature.
2tsp onion powder.
10 large eggs
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
half a teaspoon of pepper
One teaspoon minced garlic
one loaf day old country white bread ,cut into 1.5 inch cubes (about 12 cups )
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Add onion powder to cooked sausage that has been crumbled.
Whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper and garlic powder in large bowl.
Add sausage mixture and remaining ingredients. stir.
Butter a 9X13 pan. Empty bowl into prepared pan. refrigerate one hour or overnight covered with foil.
Bake at 350 degrees 45 minutes still covered.
Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes until done and browned.
A quick pre made breakfast. Actual prep time is a minimum. The rest is passive cooking. I would serve it with a fruit compote and a muffin.
If you don't eat pork, or are on a restricted diet, you could substitute egg beaters and turkey sausage. it would be interesting to know the difference between the fat content between defatted pork sausage and turkey sausage.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Ps. 1/2 cup of turkey sausage has 4 grams of fat.
1/2 cup of pork sausage defatted has less than 10 grams of fat to the best of my calculations.
I serving of the casserole has 2 ounces of meat, or about 5 grams of fat. 1gram more than if you had a turkey sausage patty . 1pound of sausage is quite generous. You could cut it o 3/4 of a pound .
Breakfast Casserole
1 pound cooked and defatted sausage , set out to room temperature.
2tsp onion powder.
10 large eggs
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
half a teaspoon of pepper
One teaspoon minced garlic
one loaf day old country white bread ,cut into 1.5 inch cubes (about 12 cups )
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Add onion powder to cooked sausage that has been crumbled.
Whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper and garlic powder in large bowl.
Add sausage mixture and remaining ingredients. stir.
Butter a 9X13 pan. Empty bowl into prepared pan. refrigerate one hour or overnight covered with foil.
Bake at 350 degrees 45 minutes still covered.
Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes until done and browned.
A quick pre made breakfast. Actual prep time is a minimum. The rest is passive cooking. I would serve it with a fruit compote and a muffin.
If you don't eat pork, or are on a restricted diet, you could substitute egg beaters and turkey sausage. it would be interesting to know the difference between the fat content between defatted pork sausage and turkey sausage.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Ps. 1/2 cup of turkey sausage has 4 grams of fat.
1/2 cup of pork sausage defatted has less than 10 grams of fat to the best of my calculations.
I serving of the casserole has 2 ounces of meat, or about 5 grams of fat. 1gram more than if you had a turkey sausage patty . 1pound of sausage is quite generous. You could cut it o 3/4 of a pound .
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Wednesday
I have the late shift today. Found this recipe for minestrone.
2T olive oil
1/4 cup chopped onion
Salt, pepper
2tsp chopped garlic
2 T tomato paste
4 carrots, sliced
2stalks celery,sliced
1 potato, peeled and cubed
Thyme
1 can white beans, ringed and drained
2 quarts water
1cup pasta
2cups spinach
Sauté onion in oil with salt and pepper and garlic. Add tomato paste. Cook for two minutes. Add some water and remaining veggies. Cook until veggies are crisp tender. Pour into slow cooker and add the remaining water and the beans.
Cook on low 8-10 hours. Add spinach and cooked pasta. Cook on high 15-20 minutes or until spinach is wilted.
Serve with Pam and a hard crusty bread or breadsticks.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
2T olive oil
1/4 cup chopped onion
Salt, pepper
2tsp chopped garlic
2 T tomato paste
4 carrots, sliced
2stalks celery,sliced
1 potato, peeled and cubed
Thyme
1 can white beans, ringed and drained
2 quarts water
1cup pasta
2cups spinach
Sauté onion in oil with salt and pepper and garlic. Add tomato paste. Cook for two minutes. Add some water and remaining veggies. Cook until veggies are crisp tender. Pour into slow cooker and add the remaining water and the beans.
Cook on low 8-10 hours. Add spinach and cooked pasta. Cook on high 15-20 minutes or until spinach is wilted.
Serve with Pam and a hard crusty bread or breadsticks.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The ads
i got the ads in today's mail!,
SAFEWAYS
B1G1
Top sirloin steak
Sirloin tip
whole chickens
No prices posted, mix and match
FIVE DOLLAR FRIDAY
deli ham and cheese
Sub
Boston cream cake
3 lbs strawberries
ALBERTSONS
Chicken leg portions. .88
Apples .99
Blackberries 2:5
Strawberries z 2/5
QFC
Strawberries 2/4
Milk 2/5
Regs 2/3
Chicken .88 lb. not in ad.
Dreyers2.49. Buy 5 mix annd match
Morning star. 2.99
Dover sole 6.
Cucumbers 1.
Pork loin 1.69
Apples 1
Oranges 1.
TOP
London broil B1G1. Nets 2.75
Pork loin roast nets 2.75
Chili. 1.00
Milk 2.49
Strawberries 2/5
Romaine 2.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
SAFEWAYS
B1G1
Top sirloin steak
Sirloin tip
whole chickens
No prices posted, mix and match
FIVE DOLLAR FRIDAY
deli ham and cheese
Sub
Boston cream cake
3 lbs strawberries
ALBERTSONS
Chicken leg portions. .88
Apples .99
Blackberries 2:5
Strawberries z 2/5
QFC
Strawberries 2/4
Milk 2/5
Regs 2/3
Chicken .88 lb. not in ad.
Dreyers2.49. Buy 5 mix annd match
Morning star. 2.99
Dover sole 6.
Cucumbers 1.
Pork loin 1.69
Apples 1
Oranges 1.
TOP
London broil B1G1. Nets 2.75
Pork loin roast nets 2.75
Chili. 1.00
Milk 2.49
Strawberries 2/5
Romaine 2.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Tuesday and Terrific
I have written the same paragraph twice I'm response to the naysayers . They can't understand the concept of saving. if you spend 25.00, you spend 25.00. If you loose 10 pounds, You LOOSE ten pounds. If you waste 25.00, you waste 25.00. What a concept! Waste it, save it? The jar is either half empty or half full! LOL
basically, I started writing this blog so people on SNAP that were running out of money before they ran out of month got some help in making informed decisions at the grocery store. Some people that are not on SNAP have incorporated the savings into their budget, enjoyed a new time saving recipe, or a technique to get out of the kitchen faster. Whatever you take from it, I hope I am helping people.
I don't advertise on my blog, I am doing this to try to help .
One of the ways to save on ground beef is to be mindful of the prices and the fat content of the beef. The TRUE price is the amount of the meat per pound TIMES 1.XX. The XX is the amount of fat content it has. Remember if you defat hamburger, you are pouring it down the drain. better in the house pipes than yours!!
If another cut of beef is cheaper than good hamburger, grind your own. If you don't have a kitchen aid grinder attachment, you can get the grinders that our great grandmothers had pretty cheap at an antique store or flea market or in our grannies attic!
Another option.
Freeze chuck roast for about 15 minutes. Cut in in large chunks and pulse chop on the food processor 20 - 22 times until roughly chopped. Rough chop is more tender and juicy. You can add seasoning if you like. Shape into patties or batch cook.
Roasted onion topping for hamburgers.
Chop 1 small onion
Drizzle with olive oil
Sprinkle with salt
Toss
Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes until tender.
You can put in the beef mixture before grilling, or add to mayo for on top of the cooked burger.
Other ideas
Teriyaki burgers with pineapple.
Jalapeño burgers
Blue cheese burgers
Any idea?
I'm trying to low carb and lower my blood sugars lately.
Yesterday I had a lettuce wrap with cheese, bacon and tomato . And some fruit for lunch.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
basically, I started writing this blog so people on SNAP that were running out of money before they ran out of month got some help in making informed decisions at the grocery store. Some people that are not on SNAP have incorporated the savings into their budget, enjoyed a new time saving recipe, or a technique to get out of the kitchen faster. Whatever you take from it, I hope I am helping people.
I don't advertise on my blog, I am doing this to try to help .
One of the ways to save on ground beef is to be mindful of the prices and the fat content of the beef. The TRUE price is the amount of the meat per pound TIMES 1.XX. The XX is the amount of fat content it has. Remember if you defat hamburger, you are pouring it down the drain. better in the house pipes than yours!!
If another cut of beef is cheaper than good hamburger, grind your own. If you don't have a kitchen aid grinder attachment, you can get the grinders that our great grandmothers had pretty cheap at an antique store or flea market or in our grannies attic!
Another option.
Freeze chuck roast for about 15 minutes. Cut in in large chunks and pulse chop on the food processor 20 - 22 times until roughly chopped. Rough chop is more tender and juicy. You can add seasoning if you like. Shape into patties or batch cook.
Roasted onion topping for hamburgers.
Chop 1 small onion
Drizzle with olive oil
Sprinkle with salt
Toss
Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes until tender.
You can put in the beef mixture before grilling, or add to mayo for on top of the cooked burger.
Other ideas
Teriyaki burgers with pineapple.
Jalapeño burgers
Blue cheese burgers
Any idea?
I'm trying to low carb and lower my blood sugars lately.
Yesterday I had a lettuce wrap with cheese, bacon and tomato . And some fruit for lunch.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Monday, April 15, 2013
Zero waste?
The non consumer is talking about zero waste. I think it will be a while before we get to zero waste. Like maybe even never. It would be hard to incorporate no packaging into shopping on the cheap. Many packages can be recycled. I don't buy much that is individually packaged. We bought most of our veggies at the fresh food market and our town is already plastic bag free. bags that you bring to the store have to be washed frequently to keep from contanimating your food. I am sure that my daughter is zero waste, because she comes over and uses my kitchen so she doesn't have to wash dishes by hand! no room for a dishwasher in her unit!
Now, of people would discourage shoplifting, we could do away with the bubble packages that are a bear to open and fill the landfill. LOL. Costco is not very earth friendly. They do recycle boxes and I recycle them again at the store. it is hard to put a set of dishes in a brown paper bag.
Almost all of our garbage can be recycled. I think this movement is talking avout not using any packaging at all.
I am not sure in this day and age that that idea is sustainable in the burbs. It is a noble idea, I just don't know how practical it is for the average home. We will start by getting everything that can br recycled in the recycle bin and taking our packaging to the store to be used again.
On to other topics. I'm not sure what people want to see on this blog there's a comment section on the bottom. You can comment anonymously. please let me know what you want to read about. Recipes? Techniques to get out of the kitchen faster? Where to find the best prices? The basic plan? meal plans? I can't tell by the amount of hits . Sometimes I am inundated with spam.
Meal plans and the recipes that correlate with them can be found At www.womansday.com/meals. Some of them wouldn't fly with my family. A lot of them wouldn't have flown with my parents. Some of them would be interesting to try.
My husband has been really good about critiquing my experiments! LOL
Stair-stepping meals are a good way to not have waste and be more efficient in the kitchen.
Roasted salmon can become a salmon cassarole or be in a salad.
Rice can be Spanish rice with Mexican or Sweet and sour chicken or pork or braised beef on rice.
rice has a short fridge life, use it within 2 days . Dirto beans. Rice pudding???
We all know about Roasted chicken, chicken pot pie, chicken burritos, chicken noodle soup, terriaki chicken, chicken salad, white pizza.....
Batch cooking meat especially is a good time saver. If you batch cook groumd meat at your leisure, you will be more likely to spend the time to de fat it. defatted ground beef has LESS fat than boneless, skinless chicken breast.
Having a few very quick meals at your disposal is a good way to beat the I have no time and have had a hard day blues! For us that is tacos or a hot sandwich. It used to be roast beef a jus. it is getting harder to find a sirloin roast on sale these days. pulled pork or BBQ pork is a option.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Now, of people would discourage shoplifting, we could do away with the bubble packages that are a bear to open and fill the landfill. LOL. Costco is not very earth friendly. They do recycle boxes and I recycle them again at the store. it is hard to put a set of dishes in a brown paper bag.
Almost all of our garbage can be recycled. I think this movement is talking avout not using any packaging at all.
I am not sure in this day and age that that idea is sustainable in the burbs. It is a noble idea, I just don't know how practical it is for the average home. We will start by getting everything that can br recycled in the recycle bin and taking our packaging to the store to be used again.
On to other topics. I'm not sure what people want to see on this blog there's a comment section on the bottom. You can comment anonymously. please let me know what you want to read about. Recipes? Techniques to get out of the kitchen faster? Where to find the best prices? The basic plan? meal plans? I can't tell by the amount of hits . Sometimes I am inundated with spam.
Meal plans and the recipes that correlate with them can be found At www.womansday.com/meals. Some of them wouldn't fly with my family. A lot of them wouldn't have flown with my parents. Some of them would be interesting to try.
My husband has been really good about critiquing my experiments! LOL
Stair-stepping meals are a good way to not have waste and be more efficient in the kitchen.
Roasted salmon can become a salmon cassarole or be in a salad.
Rice can be Spanish rice with Mexican or Sweet and sour chicken or pork or braised beef on rice.
rice has a short fridge life, use it within 2 days . Dirto beans. Rice pudding???
We all know about Roasted chicken, chicken pot pie, chicken burritos, chicken noodle soup, terriaki chicken, chicken salad, white pizza.....
Batch cooking meat especially is a good time saver. If you batch cook groumd meat at your leisure, you will be more likely to spend the time to de fat it. defatted ground beef has LESS fat than boneless, skinless chicken breast.
Having a few very quick meals at your disposal is a good way to beat the I have no time and have had a hard day blues! For us that is tacos or a hot sandwich. It used to be roast beef a jus. it is getting harder to find a sirloin roast on sale these days. pulled pork or BBQ pork is a option.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Dinner
I made enchalada sauce from scratch tonight for dinner for our enchiladas. I made a recipe from the food channel. It called for chicken stock, but I used water so that I could make the vegetarians happy. it was spicy. We like spicy and the baby are her noodles instead. Imfilled whole wheat tortillas with beans, rice, green chilis and jalapeño jack cheese. We topped them with lettuce,tomato, black olives and sour cream. Very filling.
I have been experimenting with new recipes a lot lately.
When we went to happy hour last week, I had stuffed chicken with asparagus and a cesear salad. They just took a couple of whole leaves of romaine with shaved parm, they added a couple of anchovies( I gave them to my husband. )
And a lemon wedge. The chicken was poumded thin. A bread stuffing with dried cranberries was spread on it and it was rolled up and cooked. They served it with asparagus cooked al dente.
They also cook salmon with a shrimp stuffing and drizzle balsamic vinegar over top. I saw a reduced balsamic vinegar on a cooking show last week. I think it was The Chew. They grilled romaine and drizzled it with reduced balsamic vinegar.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
I have been experimenting with new recipes a lot lately.
When we went to happy hour last week, I had stuffed chicken with asparagus and a cesear salad. They just took a couple of whole leaves of romaine with shaved parm, they added a couple of anchovies( I gave them to my husband. )
And a lemon wedge. The chicken was poumded thin. A bread stuffing with dried cranberries was spread on it and it was rolled up and cooked. They served it with asparagus cooked al dente.
They also cook salmon with a shrimp stuffing and drizzle balsamic vinegar over top. I saw a reduced balsamic vinegar on a cooking show last week. I think it was The Chew. They grilled romaine and drizzled it with reduced balsamic vinegar.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sunday Salads
its Sunday and again, I don't have a clue what to write about. I have enjoyed 50 to 80 hit days for a while now. yesterday was a bummer and the Russian porn queens were back in a vengeance. It was an angry birds kind of day.LOL
Went to Costco yesterday to get the things that I forgot. Thats what I get for not writing a list.
we had chicken sausage with Gouda and apple, peppers, and red potatoes for dinner --one pot meal. We had mixed berries for desert.
We eat a lot of one pot meals because they are quick and easy and the clean up is easy too. Precooking meat is another way to make clean up after meal time easier. I am old and I run out of gas by the time dinnertime rolls around especially if I have worked that day. When the children were little, it was always a hectic time of day.
One of the other advantages of shopping two stores is that if the produce looks bad at one store, you have another alternative.
remember, you get paid for shopping, not for cooking. I still want tasty, good nutrition, I just don't want the time consuming work. If you are a person that loves to cook and has the time, I think that it is great! I just don't have the energy and time these days and suspect other people are in the same boat.
Enough rambling...
I am going to make yesterday's French toast recipe (the ome nobody looked at) for breakfast this morning. I got blueberries at costco yesterday.
summer is coming-- well maybe in the Pacific NW!?!LOL.
Salad for dinner on the deck is a pleasant relaxing experience.
Chicken chopped salad
4 - 4ounces boneless skinless chicken breast pieces
1T cumin
1t paprika
1/8 teaspoon of red pepper
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
6 cups gourmet salad greens
3 tablespoons white vinegar
2 tablespoons orange marmalade
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tsp olive oil
Lemon wedges optional
Place chicken breast half between two sheets of waxed paper. Flatten with meat mallet. Place spices and dash of salt and pepper in a large Ziploc bag add chicken and shake to coat.
grill chicken 3 minutes a side or until done.
Place greens on a large bowl.
Combined vinegar, marmalade ,soy sauce and olive oil and stir with a whisk .
Pour salad dressing over greens and toss.
Place chicken on top of each individual plate.
I might add some parm cheese, nuts ? water chestnuts?
Anything with an Asian flair that would taste good and serve with a roll.
Taco Salad
Mix a heaping cup of cooked taco meat with 3/4 cup salsa heat through on low heat on the stove or in the microwave, covered.
Place lettuce on each plate. Place some meat mixture on each plate. Add chopped tomato, grated cheese, tortilla Chips, chopped green onion.
Black olives would be good too. I would serve with salsa and sour cream.
Shrimp and orzo salad
1cup uncooked orzo
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon olive oil
half a teaspoon dried oregano
2 cups diced seeded tomatoes
1cup frozen peas, thawed
1/2cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1pound medium shrimp cooked and peeled.
Cook and drain orzo.
Mix together salad dressing ingredients
Toss orzo, remaining ingredients together.
Toss with dressing.
Chill about 4 hours.
That's all for today.
Please share. Comment???
Thanks for stopping by
Jane
Went to Costco yesterday to get the things that I forgot. Thats what I get for not writing a list.
we had chicken sausage with Gouda and apple, peppers, and red potatoes for dinner --one pot meal. We had mixed berries for desert.
We eat a lot of one pot meals because they are quick and easy and the clean up is easy too. Precooking meat is another way to make clean up after meal time easier. I am old and I run out of gas by the time dinnertime rolls around especially if I have worked that day. When the children were little, it was always a hectic time of day.
One of the other advantages of shopping two stores is that if the produce looks bad at one store, you have another alternative.
remember, you get paid for shopping, not for cooking. I still want tasty, good nutrition, I just don't want the time consuming work. If you are a person that loves to cook and has the time, I think that it is great! I just don't have the energy and time these days and suspect other people are in the same boat.
Enough rambling...
I am going to make yesterday's French toast recipe (the ome nobody looked at) for breakfast this morning. I got blueberries at costco yesterday.
summer is coming-- well maybe in the Pacific NW!?!LOL.
Salad for dinner on the deck is a pleasant relaxing experience.
Chicken chopped salad
4 - 4ounces boneless skinless chicken breast pieces
1T cumin
1t paprika
1/8 teaspoon of red pepper
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
6 cups gourmet salad greens
3 tablespoons white vinegar
2 tablespoons orange marmalade
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tsp olive oil
Lemon wedges optional
Place chicken breast half between two sheets of waxed paper. Flatten with meat mallet. Place spices and dash of salt and pepper in a large Ziploc bag add chicken and shake to coat.
grill chicken 3 minutes a side or until done.
Place greens on a large bowl.
Combined vinegar, marmalade ,soy sauce and olive oil and stir with a whisk .
Pour salad dressing over greens and toss.
Place chicken on top of each individual plate.
I might add some parm cheese, nuts ? water chestnuts?
Anything with an Asian flair that would taste good and serve with a roll.
Taco Salad
Mix a heaping cup of cooked taco meat with 3/4 cup salsa heat through on low heat on the stove or in the microwave, covered.
Place lettuce on each plate. Place some meat mixture on each plate. Add chopped tomato, grated cheese, tortilla Chips, chopped green onion.
Black olives would be good too. I would serve with salsa and sour cream.
Shrimp and orzo salad
1cup uncooked orzo
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon olive oil
half a teaspoon dried oregano
2 cups diced seeded tomatoes
1cup frozen peas, thawed
1/2cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1pound medium shrimp cooked and peeled.
Cook and drain orzo.
Mix together salad dressing ingredients
Toss orzo, remaining ingredients together.
Toss with dressing.
Chill about 4 hours.
That's all for today.
Please share. Comment???
Thanks for stopping by
Jane
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Suddenly Saturday
Yesterday was grocery shopping day. In an hour and forty-five minutes.
Went to the fresh food market.
Went to Safeways
Went to the discount store for business supplies
And went to another store for supplies
And on to Costco for meds and some cheese.
I got asparagus for a dollar a pound. purchased jicama so that my grandaughter could taste it for the first time.
Some squash and salad greens.
On to Safeways for the rest of the veggies I needed and scallops on sale for five bucks among other buys.
the discount store still has no runners, but I was fruitful at the second store.
I'm still well under budget.
Breakfast for dinner is a way to cut costs...the kids think it is a special treat!
Baked French Toast
1/4 cup melted butter
4 eggs
1cup milk
1tsp vanilla
Nutmeg
8 slices Texas toast.
Pour butter in baking pan, coat bottom of pan.
Mix remaining ingredients EXCEPT bread in a bowl.
Dip bread in bowl coating both sides
Place on buttered pan.bake at 375 for 20 minutes.
Serve with syrup or blueberries or another fruit in season.
That's all for today
Thanksnformstopping by
Please share
Jane
Went to the fresh food market.
Went to Safeways
Went to the discount store for business supplies
And went to another store for supplies
And on to Costco for meds and some cheese.
I got asparagus for a dollar a pound. purchased jicama so that my grandaughter could taste it for the first time.
Some squash and salad greens.
On to Safeways for the rest of the veggies I needed and scallops on sale for five bucks among other buys.
the discount store still has no runners, but I was fruitful at the second store.
I'm still well under budget.
Breakfast for dinner is a way to cut costs...the kids think it is a special treat!
Baked French Toast
1/4 cup melted butter
4 eggs
1cup milk
1tsp vanilla
Nutmeg
8 slices Texas toast.
Pour butter in baking pan, coat bottom of pan.
Mix remaining ingredients EXCEPT bread in a bowl.
Dip bread in bowl coating both sides
Place on buttered pan.bake at 375 for 20 minutes.
Serve with syrup or blueberries or another fruit in season.
That's all for today
Thanksnformstopping by
Please share
Jane
Friday, April 12, 2013
Friday
Again, I have writers block. The fresh food stand is open for the spring and summer. Usually this time of year it is usually a lot of shrubs and some food. But, I think we will go since it can be on the way to Safeways. Top has herbs for a herb garden for 4/5.00. I might have to plant my porch tub.
Meals from the ads
Our basis is
2 beef
2 Chicken or Pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish
1) salmon , mashed potatoes, salad.
2) Mac and cheese, broccoli
3) eggs, hash browns, berry cup with yogurt. Toast
4) Pork chops, stuffing, salad, green beans
5) chicken sausage, peppers, red potatoes, hard crusty bread
6) enchiladas , chopped salad.
7) London broil, baked potatoes, green salad
Notes I found enchilada sauce by google ing the food network. Emeril has one.
I got salmon for a dollar a portion last week.
Mac and cheese is a good way to clean out the cheese bin.
Stuffing uses up all those bread ends.
Chicken sausage is the lowest price at grocery outlet.
London broil is 2.99 at Safeways. Thinly slice for stroganoff ( raw)the unused portion, or a cooked for a jus sandwiches , or grind for ground beef. It only comes in the giant economy size. Or, share the cost with another family member or close neighbor.
1-1/4 cups enchilada sauce
3/4 pound ( 12 ounces cooked taco meat )
1-1/2 cups grated cheese ( Mexican blend? Or cheddar)
1/2 can chopped green chilies
Chopped onion
8 corn tortillas
Pour 1/2 the sauce in a baking dish
Combine in a bowl the meat, chilies, onion and 1/2 of the cheese.
Fill each tortilla with 1/2 cup of mixture. Roll up and place
seam side down in baking dish.
Pour remaining sauce over tortillas, sprinkle with remaining cheese and a few peppers.
Cover with foil and bake at 3:5o for 26 minutes or until cheese is melted and enchiladas are hot.
Serve with chopped lettuce and tomato and sour cream.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Meals from the ads
Our basis is
2 beef
2 Chicken or Pork
2 vegetarian
1 fish
1) salmon , mashed potatoes, salad.
2) Mac and cheese, broccoli
3) eggs, hash browns, berry cup with yogurt. Toast
4) Pork chops, stuffing, salad, green beans
5) chicken sausage, peppers, red potatoes, hard crusty bread
6) enchiladas , chopped salad.
7) London broil, baked potatoes, green salad
Notes I found enchilada sauce by google ing the food network. Emeril has one.
I got salmon for a dollar a portion last week.
Mac and cheese is a good way to clean out the cheese bin.
Stuffing uses up all those bread ends.
Chicken sausage is the lowest price at grocery outlet.
London broil is 2.99 at Safeways. Thinly slice for stroganoff ( raw)the unused portion, or a cooked for a jus sandwiches , or grind for ground beef. It only comes in the giant economy size. Or, share the cost with another family member or close neighbor.
1-1/4 cups enchilada sauce
3/4 pound ( 12 ounces cooked taco meat )
1-1/2 cups grated cheese ( Mexican blend? Or cheddar)
1/2 can chopped green chilies
Chopped onion
8 corn tortillas
Pour 1/2 the sauce in a baking dish
Combine in a bowl the meat, chilies, onion and 1/2 of the cheese.
Fill each tortilla with 1/2 cup of mixture. Roll up and place
seam side down in baking dish.
Pour remaining sauce over tortillas, sprinkle with remaining cheese and a few peppers.
Cover with foil and bake at 3:5o for 26 minutes or until cheese is melted and enchiladas are hot.
Serve with chopped lettuce and tomato and sour cream.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Thursday... The weekend looms
I read an old cookbook on my break yesterday.It was the history of Campbell's soups. Very fun to read. brings back old memories.I can remember chicken noodle soup. We lived four blocks from the school, so I came home for lunch.
Sometimes Mom would buy bean and bacon soup.
There were many good recipes that could be adapted to be scratch recipes and the basic green bean cassarole and tuna noodle.Some nostalgia still reigns.
There is a recipe for chicken enchiladas. It calls for enchilada sauce. Modes anyone know a recipe for easy enchilada sauce? Buying sauce jacks up the price too much.
They make my sausage and bean soup by substituting the beans for pasta and flip flopping the balance of tomato and broth. Add sausage and chicken cubes .
Tomato soup spice cake. Never had it, I can't picture what it would taste like and what to substitute for the shortening. has anybody tasted it before?
Combine red potato, broccoli, red pepper, green onion and lemon juice .
I read last night that red potatoes have 34 carbs for a three inch one ! Guess it is 1/2 a potato for me....bummer!
Regular russets are much more carb friendly!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Sometimes Mom would buy bean and bacon soup.
There were many good recipes that could be adapted to be scratch recipes and the basic green bean cassarole and tuna noodle.Some nostalgia still reigns.
There is a recipe for chicken enchiladas. It calls for enchilada sauce. Modes anyone know a recipe for easy enchilada sauce? Buying sauce jacks up the price too much.
They make my sausage and bean soup by substituting the beans for pasta and flip flopping the balance of tomato and broth. Add sausage and chicken cubes .
Tomato soup spice cake. Never had it, I can't picture what it would taste like and what to substitute for the shortening. has anybody tasted it before?
Combine red potato, broccoli, red pepper, green onion and lemon juice .
I read last night that red potatoes have 34 carbs for a three inch one ! Guess it is 1/2 a potato for me....bummer!
Regular russets are much more carb friendly!
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
The Ads
The ads for this week.
TOP
Hagan veggies, beans, and diced tomatoes 15/10.00....67 ea
7 percent hamburger 3.99***
Pan bread 1.79@YO@@@
5# potatoes 1.00@@
Hormel chicken sausage 3.99
Asparagus 1.29
QFC
BUY 5
Dryers 2.49
Cheerios 1.99
Best foods 2.79
Strawberries 2/4
Hills hire farm smoked sausage 2/5
Country ribs 1.99
Raspberries 2.99
ALBERTSONS
Strawberries 3/3.99
Milk 2.49
Thurs-Sunday
Manwich, tomatoes, pasta sauce .68 limit six
Tillamock ice cream 2/5
Cucumbers .69
Carrots .79
SAFEWAYS
London broil 2.99
Bottom round roast 2.99
7 percent hamburger 2.99
Apples .99
Strawberries 2.00
5 dollar Fridays
8 lbs naval oranges
Jiff 40 ounces. Limit 2
Hunts pasta sauce 1.00****
Grapes 2.99
Mushrooms 1.79
That's about it. ***note the variations in prices
@@@@denotes a coupon in the store flyer.
Be sure to cross off everything that is higher priced elsewhere andmanythingnyou don't want or need.
Now pick the best two. Sometimes like last week, there were only ome for us. We shopped the alternative stores to fill in.
2.99 isn't bad for 7 percent hamburger, but last weeks 2.75 is better.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
TOP
Hagan veggies, beans, and diced tomatoes 15/10.00....67 ea
7 percent hamburger 3.99***
Pan bread 1.79@YO@@@
5# potatoes 1.00@@
Hormel chicken sausage 3.99
Asparagus 1.29
QFC
BUY 5
Dryers 2.49
Cheerios 1.99
Best foods 2.79
Strawberries 2/4
Hills hire farm smoked sausage 2/5
Country ribs 1.99
Raspberries 2.99
ALBERTSONS
Strawberries 3/3.99
Milk 2.49
Thurs-Sunday
Manwich, tomatoes, pasta sauce .68 limit six
Tillamock ice cream 2/5
Cucumbers .69
Carrots .79
SAFEWAYS
London broil 2.99
Bottom round roast 2.99
7 percent hamburger 2.99
Apples .99
Strawberries 2.00
5 dollar Fridays
8 lbs naval oranges
Jiff 40 ounces. Limit 2
Hunts pasta sauce 1.00****
Grapes 2.99
Mushrooms 1.79
That's about it. ***note the variations in prices
@@@@denotes a coupon in the store flyer.
Be sure to cross off everything that is higher priced elsewhere andmanythingnyou don't want or need.
Now pick the best two. Sometimes like last week, there were only ome for us. We shopped the alternative stores to fill in.
2.99 isn't bad for 7 percent hamburger, but last weeks 2.75 is better.
Thanks for stopping by
Please share
Jane
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