When we looked at the Frugal Foodie Challenge entries and tried to choose just three, the head judge (aka Rob) couldn't pick just three - they all looked (and sounded) delicious! So ... we're making all seven entries!
And that brings me to my Tip of the Week. Since I'm cooking SEVEN full meals this week, I needed to buy a lot of ingredients. Thing is, all of the recipes use mozzarella, and some of them repeat on other things. So, I "consolidated" my grocery list - figured out how many of each item (for example, chicken breasts) I needed and purchased accordingly. If I had planned seven meals for the week that had no major ingredients in common, I probably would have spent $100+ dollars on the shopping trip - things like beef, chicken, fish, pork, etc all add up quickly.
However, because I was able to use the same ingredients in several different dishes (i.e. chicken), I spent less because I could buy in larger quantities.
Another great example of this is when I had first started the blog - anyone remember the Neverending Can of Tuna?? (To make a long story short, I made meals for almost 2 weeks out of a 5-pound can of tuna fish). Because I didn't have to shop for multiple protein sources, I saved a TON of money!
The other area in which clustering can save a few dollars is on expensive specialty ingredients. For example, I never use pesto. Until this week, I'd never bought it before. The reason - it's almost $5 in our grocery store and it takes a lot to eat it all. However, if I had three recipes (or even two) that called for pesto, I can split its cost out over several meals and use an expensive ingredient - without spending a ton or wasting food.
Have you ever tried clustering? Does it work for you? Why or why not? Leave me a comment!!
Showing posts with label cost-cutting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cost-cutting. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
New (Old) Cookbook!
One of my decisions at the beginning of this year was to try and make our meals healthier.
One of the cookbooks I remember, growing up, is my mother's American Dietetic Association Cookbook. It was an old one, and, according to my mother, has gotten "too complicated" of recent years. She bought it to help my (diabetic) grandmother eat healthier. However, all of the recipes in this cookbook are simple, but healthy - not too much sugar, carbs, or fats.
So, after a quick consultation with my mother to get an ISBN for her copy of the cookbook, off to Half.com I went. This is the perfect website for frugal cookbook shoppers - I found a "like-new" copy, price tag and dust jacket still intact for $3.99. How could I resist? So ... I present to you, my new (old) cookbook:
One of the cookbooks I remember, growing up, is my mother's American Dietetic Association Cookbook. It was an old one, and, according to my mother, has gotten "too complicated" of recent years. She bought it to help my (diabetic) grandmother eat healthier. However, all of the recipes in this cookbook are simple, but healthy - not too much sugar, carbs, or fats.
So, after a quick consultation with my mother to get an ISBN for her copy of the cookbook, off to Half.com I went. This is the perfect website for frugal cookbook shoppers - I found a "like-new" copy, price tag and dust jacket still intact for $3.99. How could I resist? So ... I present to you, my new (old) cookbook:
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Apple-Cranberry Strusel Muffins
So, earlier this week we were grocery shopping and I did something TOTALLY out of character: impulse buying. Well, sort of. I was doing a great job of sticking to my list, but then I came across the grapes, which I was intending to buy for snacking purposes. But they were $4 a pound. Seriously! So, they were a no go. However, they were right next door to this little display of 12oz bags of fresh cranberries. I like cranberry - so I bought a bag.
But then what to do with them? Rob really doesn't love cranberry sauce, and I don't know how to make it anyway. I should bake them into something. But what? A quick search turned up the idea that you can use them as a replacement for some of the apples in any recipe calling for apple. So I made a few alterations to a recipe in one of my favorite "cookbooks" - the Taste of Home Bread Bonanza (which is really just a magazine).
COST: $3.45
Flour - $0.30
Sugar - $0.30
Baking Powder - $0.10
Baking Soda - $0.10
Cinnamon - $0.05
Salt - Neg.
Eggs - $0.20
Sour Cream - $0.50
Butter - $0.40
Apples - $0.75
Cranberries - $0.75
INGREDIENTS:
Muffins:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups diced peeled apples (I used a Johnagold - yes, just one - it was huge!)
3/4 cup whole fresh cranberries
Topping:
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons cold butter
DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. (I just put them all into the KitchenAid Mixer)
In another bowl, beat the eggs, sour cream, and butter. (Just rapid whisking)
Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. (Turn the mixer on to STIR, let it mix up the dry ingredients, then pour in the wet ones.)
Pour in diced apples and cranberries, stir in briefly.
Pour into greased muffin tins to 2/3 full.
Preheat oven to 400.
For topping, combine sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Use pasty blender to cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle a rounded teaspoonfull over each muffin.
Bake at 400 for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean (you may want to test this before 18 minutes, my oven temp is consistently low and 18 minutes was perfect for me.)
Cool 5 minutes in pans, then transfer to wire racks. Serve warm. Yield - 16 muffins (I actually got 21, but they were VERY randomly sized)
Monday, January 7, 2008
Coupons - Worth The Trouble?
Okay, I know I'm going to take a lot of flack for this post from the frugal community. I admit that what I have to say here is probably anti-thetical to all that a true frugal-hack would say. But here it is:
Coupons do not save me money.
There, it's out. Here's the deal: I'll use an example from our newspaper yesterday. In one of the coupon inserts there were ads for money off tomatoes, butter, cooking spray, peanut butter, guacamole, yogurt, cottage cheese and almonds. Of course, most of these coupons were for $0.35 or so per item. And these are name-brand items. The problem: In most cases, I can still get a generic for less than the name-brand with the coupon. Sadly.
Of the aforementioned list of items, I have the need (and the space) for 1 thing. I do need cooking spray. And I prefer PAM. And the coupon was for $1.00 off. Could be useful. The problem: When I go the the grocery store with PAM on my list - will I remember to take the coupon with me? And more importantly, will I remember to use it? Coupons are a great money-saver ... for very organized people. Which I am not.
Finally - the cost analysis. If I buy a newspaper for $1.25 so that I can get (and maybe use) a coupon worth $0.35 - who is the idiot consumer?? That would be me.
Yes, there are people (and you read about them all the time on various blogs, online news stories, etc) who have the time, organizational skills, and patience to successfully clip coupons, use them on triple-coupon day at the grocery store, and walk away with $200 worth of groceries for $35.
I am not one of those people. They don't work for me - but I'd love to try them again ... if you have any tips for me on successful coupon-using, please leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you, and I'll try each method suggested and write a follow-up piece in a month to let you all know how it turned out.
Coupons do not save me money.
There, it's out. Here's the deal: I'll use an example from our newspaper yesterday. In one of the coupon inserts there were ads for money off tomatoes, butter, cooking spray, peanut butter, guacamole, yogurt, cottage cheese and almonds. Of course, most of these coupons were for $0.35 or so per item. And these are name-brand items. The problem: In most cases, I can still get a generic for less than the name-brand with the coupon. Sadly.
Of the aforementioned list of items, I have the need (and the space) for 1 thing. I do need cooking spray. And I prefer PAM. And the coupon was for $1.00 off. Could be useful. The problem: When I go the the grocery store with PAM on my list - will I remember to take the coupon with me? And more importantly, will I remember to use it? Coupons are a great money-saver ... for very organized people. Which I am not.
Finally - the cost analysis. If I buy a newspaper for $1.25 so that I can get (and maybe use) a coupon worth $0.35 - who is the idiot consumer?? That would be me.
Yes, there are people (and you read about them all the time on various blogs, online news stories, etc) who have the time, organizational skills, and patience to successfully clip coupons, use them on triple-coupon day at the grocery store, and walk away with $200 worth of groceries for $35.
I am not one of those people. They don't work for me - but I'd love to try them again ... if you have any tips for me on successful coupon-using, please leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you, and I'll try each method suggested and write a follow-up piece in a month to let you all know how it turned out.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Chocolate Snack Cake with Milk Chocolate Frosting
I made this cake as a "birthday cake" for my father. Admittedly, I had already made him a pie, but who am I to refuse such a nice man? I found the recipe in my Betty Crocker Cookbook (Bridal Edition)
, which is a great cookbook for newlyweds, as a lot of the recipes are easy and don't require much knowledge or fancy ingredients. This cake drew good reviews from everyone who tried it (namely myself, my mom and dad, and Rob), and it was certainly easy enough to make. An excellent choice for a "quick" dessert recipe.The unusual thing about this recipe is that it does not include a lot of the ingredients you think of as "staples" in cakes - notably EGGS. So if you know anyone with an egg allergy, this is a great choice!
COST: $2.30
Flour - $0.30
Sugar - $0.15
Cocoa - $0.35
Baking Soda - $0.10
Salt - $0.05
Vegetable Oil - $0.25
Vinegar - $0.10
Vanilla - $0.10
Water - FREE
Butter - $0.35
Powdered Sugar - $0.50
Milk - $0.05
INGREDIENTS:
Cake:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon (I used 1 teaspoon) vanilla
1 cup cold water
Frosting:
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla
DIRECTIONS
Cake:
Heat oven to 350F. Grease bottom and side of 8 inch square pan.
In medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. In small bowl, stir oil, vinegar and vanilla until well mixed (this should be vigorous - you are mixing oil and vinegar). Vigorously stir oil mixture and water into flour mixture for 1 minute or until well-blended (small lumps are okay - do not overmix). Immediately pour into pan.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (mine took 38 minutes). Cool 15 minutes before frosting.
Frosting:
Melt butter (I used a microwave, a small saucepan over medium heat would also work). Add cocoa and mix in. Stir in remaining ingredients until smooth. Pour over cake, then spread with spatula if necessary.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Christmas Day
Our menu this year was varied, but only cost us $25.88 total. The reason? Free food from HEB!! They have these "meal-deals", where if you buy a certain item, all the other items that would typically go with that item as part of a meal are free. This year the item was spiral-sliced ham. We bought a 9.5 lb half-ham for the $25.88 and got everything else for free. Whoo!!
COST: $25.88
Honey Baked Ham - $25.88
Canned Peas - FREE with Coupon
Canned Corn - FREE with Coupon
Cranberry Jelly - FREE with coupon
Salad - FREE with coupon
Mashed Potatoes - already in pantry (approx $0.14)
Gravy - made from ham drippings - FREE
The only thing in this photo that we paid for was the ham. And the crackers and dip, but those technically weren't part of the meal. We were just using those as "pre-meal-waiting" munchies.
Cat says, "Merry Christmas!"
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Frugal Grocery Shopping Tip of the Week
Here's a new feature I'm adding to the blog. We go grocery shopping every week (or so). Each time I shop I find a new way to save money, so I will highlight my "discoveries" for you when that happens.
This week's idea: use the Price Per Unit (PPU) cost on the shelf tag to your advantage.
Many people go to the grocery store and try to save a few bucks by buying bigger sizes or generic products. Often, this is a good idea, but not always. The easiest way to save money is by calculating the PPU of each item in the category.
For example, we bought tuna this week (for those of you who've been with me since the beginning, this is the first time I've even WANTED to eat tuna in a couple of months.) The selection of tuna available in our local HEB is mind boggling. Honestly, I didn't realize a person needed so many different flavors and varieties of something so simple! But I digress. Between store brands and bigger sizes, you'd think I'd need to buy another 5-lb can, right? Not exactly. When I figured out the PPU of the tuna, the cheapest option turned out to be: Chicken of the Sea. In the small can. No, really. Name brand tuna in a smaller size was cheaper than the giant can of off-brand.
How does one calculate all this? Well, you simply divide the cost in dollars (or your currency of choice) by the (in this case) number of ounces in the can. Or number of eggs in the box, or whatever your "unit" happens to be. However, unless you're my husband, mental math (particularly division) isn't always easy, especially when you're in the middle of the grocery store, blocking the aisle with your cart while you think. No one likes a cart blocker, so what do you do? It's not really practical to carry a calculator through the supermarket (although I bet there are at least a couple of people out there who do.) So ...
Behold the shelf tag!!
This simple little tag shows you how much an item costs, right? Well, see that smaller number on the upper left (your tag's placement may vary)? It's the PPU, calculated out FOR YOU by the grocery store! Now, not all grocery stores do this - but most (including Wal-Mart) generally include this information somewhere on the shelf tag. No mental cartwheels required!
In the tuna example above, the cheapest large can of tuna was PPUed at $0.11 per ounce. Not bad, right? Except the Chicken of the Sea cans I purchased were PPUed at $0.08 per ounce. I not only have smaller packaging - a plus when you're only cooking for two - but I pay less, as well.
So next time you're at the grocery store, remember that a little bit of math (or reading, depending on your grocer) can save you a lot of money!
This week's idea: use the Price Per Unit (PPU) cost on the shelf tag to your advantage.
Many people go to the grocery store and try to save a few bucks by buying bigger sizes or generic products. Often, this is a good idea, but not always. The easiest way to save money is by calculating the PPU of each item in the category.
For example, we bought tuna this week (for those of you who've been with me since the beginning, this is the first time I've even WANTED to eat tuna in a couple of months.) The selection of tuna available in our local HEB is mind boggling. Honestly, I didn't realize a person needed so many different flavors and varieties of something so simple! But I digress. Between store brands and bigger sizes, you'd think I'd need to buy another 5-lb can, right? Not exactly. When I figured out the PPU of the tuna, the cheapest option turned out to be: Chicken of the Sea. In the small can. No, really. Name brand tuna in a smaller size was cheaper than the giant can of off-brand.
How does one calculate all this? Well, you simply divide the cost in dollars (or your currency of choice) by the (in this case) number of ounces in the can. Or number of eggs in the box, or whatever your "unit" happens to be. However, unless you're my husband, mental math (particularly division) isn't always easy, especially when you're in the middle of the grocery store, blocking the aisle with your cart while you think. No one likes a cart blocker, so what do you do? It's not really practical to carry a calculator through the supermarket (although I bet there are at least a couple of people out there who do.) So ...
Behold the shelf tag!!
This simple little tag shows you how much an item costs, right? Well, see that smaller number on the upper left (your tag's placement may vary)? It's the PPU, calculated out FOR YOU by the grocery store! Now, not all grocery stores do this - but most (including Wal-Mart) generally include this information somewhere on the shelf tag. No mental cartwheels required!
In the tuna example above, the cheapest large can of tuna was PPUed at $0.11 per ounce. Not bad, right? Except the Chicken of the Sea cans I purchased were PPUed at $0.08 per ounce. I not only have smaller packaging - a plus when you're only cooking for two - but I pay less, as well.
So next time you're at the grocery store, remember that a little bit of math (or reading, depending on your grocer) can save you a lot of money!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Thanksgiving ... on a Budget!
I will have a picture of this year's Thanksgiving feast at my house, but for now I will have to describe it only (Rob took the photos and they're still on his camera.)
We woke up late on Thanksgiving day. Very late. It was really nice to sleep in. Then Rob went outside to build a deck (photos to come ... still in progress), and I commenced making my cinnamon roll coffee cake (photos and recipe below). While that was in the rising stages, I put together the ingredients for a pumpkin pie. It went into the oven as soon as the coffee cake was done.
Next it was prepping the main meal. Our menu for Thanksgiving day (since it was just the two of us) was: Roasted Cornish Game Hens, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Cranberry Sauce, Crescent Rolls, and Pumpkin Pie. All to be served with Sparkling Apple Cider to drink.
Now, how does all that work into my $25 a week budget, you may ask? Well, here it is, broken down:
COST: $20.14
Roasted Cornish Game Hens: 2 for $5
Stuffing: 1 loaf bread - $0.69, 1 cup diced celery - $0.50, 1 stick butter - $.50, 1/2 onion - $0.25. TOTAL - $1.94
Mashed Potatoes: 8 potatoes - $0.50, 1/2 cup milk - $0.50. TOTAL - $1.00
Green Bean Casserole: 2 cans green beans - $1.25, milk - $0.50, Cream of Mushroom soup - $0.99, French's Onions - $2.49 TOTAL - $5.23
Cranberry Sauce: $0.99
Crescent Rolls: $1.49
Pumpkin Pie: Most ingredients already in pantry. $1.50 (approx) in new ingredients
Sparkling Apple Cider: $2.99
And yes, we had plenty of leftovers.
After the meal was served at about 7:00, we rested a bit and then put up our Christmas decorations (another blog post to follow this one). The house looks beautiful and festive, and all's right with the world. I love Christmas. :)
We woke up late on Thanksgiving day. Very late. It was really nice to sleep in. Then Rob went outside to build a deck (photos to come ... still in progress), and I commenced making my cinnamon roll coffee cake (photos and recipe below). While that was in the rising stages, I put together the ingredients for a pumpkin pie. It went into the oven as soon as the coffee cake was done.
Next it was prepping the main meal. Our menu for Thanksgiving day (since it was just the two of us) was: Roasted Cornish Game Hens, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Cranberry Sauce, Crescent Rolls, and Pumpkin Pie. All to be served with Sparkling Apple Cider to drink.
Now, how does all that work into my $25 a week budget, you may ask? Well, here it is, broken down:
COST: $20.14
Roasted Cornish Game Hens: 2 for $5
Stuffing: 1 loaf bread - $0.69, 1 cup diced celery - $0.50, 1 stick butter - $.50, 1/2 onion - $0.25. TOTAL - $1.94
Mashed Potatoes: 8 potatoes - $0.50, 1/2 cup milk - $0.50. TOTAL - $1.00
Green Bean Casserole: 2 cans green beans - $1.25, milk - $0.50, Cream of Mushroom soup - $0.99, French's Onions - $2.49 TOTAL - $5.23
Cranberry Sauce: $0.99
Crescent Rolls: $1.49
Pumpkin Pie: Most ingredients already in pantry. $1.50 (approx) in new ingredients
Sparkling Apple Cider: $2.99
And yes, we had plenty of leftovers.
After the meal was served at about 7:00, we rested a bit and then put up our Christmas decorations (another blog post to follow this one). The house looks beautiful and festive, and all's right with the world. I love Christmas. :)
Monday, November 5, 2007
Grocery Shopping
Well, to make my $100 budget for the month, that limits R & I to $25 per week, including tax, for groceries. This is not really a lot of money. That's why I was shocked when we bought our groceries for the week yesterday and spent: $16.64
Yes, you read that right. Sixteen dollars and sixty four cents. With the exception of the steak and cod (which we already have in the freezer and didn't need), that buys EVERYTHING we need for an entire week of meals. And we could've probably gotten the steak and cod for under budget, also.
I love a victory like that - it makes me feel really smart. We went to the grocery store with a list. And stuck to it (mostly). We bought, besides the dinner groceries, 2 two-liters of pop and a bag of corn flakes. We also forgot to buy more oatmeal (turns out we're a little short for the week.) So I will send R to the store tonight for oatmeal, and we'll be all set. Amazing!!
Yes, you read that right. Sixteen dollars and sixty four cents. With the exception of the steak and cod (which we already have in the freezer and didn't need), that buys EVERYTHING we need for an entire week of meals. And we could've probably gotten the steak and cod for under budget, also.
I love a victory like that - it makes me feel really smart. We went to the grocery store with a list. And stuck to it (mostly). We bought, besides the dinner groceries, 2 two-liters of pop and a bag of corn flakes. We also forgot to buy more oatmeal (turns out we're a little short for the week.) So I will send R to the store tonight for oatmeal, and we'll be all set. Amazing!!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Pasta with Veggies and Tuna in Cream Sauce
Surprise, surprise ... more tuna! I'm down to only 2 pounds still left, thanks to a lot of tuna salad, some tuna melts, this recipe, and a few cat snacks (I know ...) This recipe was good, but I'd have liked it better without the tuna. We got the veggies as leftovers from dinner with friends of ours a few days ago. Had to use them somehow. This recipe was great and really easy - and it has the added benefit of being a "one-dish" meal. I love those.
COST: $1.40
Egg Noodles: $0.75
Milk: $0.15
Neufchatel: $0.50
Veggies: FREE
Tuna: FREE
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 bag of wide egg noodles (I like Inn Maid)
1/4 cup milk
4 oz (half brick) Neufchatel cheese
Steamed veggies (use the amount you like - I had about 2 cups)
1 can tuna
Salt & Pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
In saucepan, boil egg noodles according to package directions. When about 5 minutes of cook time remain, add veggies. When noodles are done, drain veggies and pasta in colander. In same pan as you used for the pasta, heat milk and neufchatel cheese (stirring regularly) over medium heat until neufchatel is completely melted. Add salt and pepper to taste, then stir in tuna. Allow to simmer over low heat until desired consistency is reached. Pour over pasta and veggies in serving dish and toss to coat.
COST: $1.40
Egg Noodles: $0.75
Milk: $0.15
Neufchatel: $0.50
Veggies: FREE
Tuna: FREE
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 bag of wide egg noodles (I like Inn Maid)
1/4 cup milk
4 oz (half brick) Neufchatel cheese
Steamed veggies (use the amount you like - I had about 2 cups)
1 can tuna
Salt & Pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
In saucepan, boil egg noodles according to package directions. When about 5 minutes of cook time remain, add veggies. When noodles are done, drain veggies and pasta in colander. In same pan as you used for the pasta, heat milk and neufchatel cheese (stirring regularly) over medium heat until neufchatel is completely melted. Add salt and pepper to taste, then stir in tuna. Allow to simmer over low heat until desired consistency is reached. Pour over pasta and veggies in serving dish and toss to coat.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Oops Cookies
So, about 2 days ago, I found this recipe for "Poor Man's Candy" - basically a potato, powdered sugar, and some peanut butter. I know, it sounds gross, but I was fascinated and couldn't figure out what it would taste like. So I decided to try it out (after all, potatoes are cheap!).
I bake two small potatoes in the microwave, peel them, mash them up. But they weren't smoothing out like I imagined that they should. So ... I added a little water (NOT in the recipe) and whipped them into smooth-looking mashed potatoes. Then I started adding powdered sugar. This is when I discovered why there wasn't any water in the recipe. Turns out, powdered sugar draws the moisture out of the potatoes so they are "self-moistening". Well, if you've already added water ... you get, essentially, sweet potato soup. The more powdered sugar I added, the soupier the mixture got. Ooops.
Well, obviously, that wasn't going anywhere, so then Rob suggested that we should just make cookies out of the mixture. So I added some flour, a little oil, an egg, some baking soda, and some vanilla. Oh, and about 1/2 a bag of chocolate chips.
I poured the whole mess onto a greased cookie sheet and baked it for 10 minutes at 350.
I got ... chocolate chip cookie bars ... but with the oddest texture you've ever tried! They're almost indescribable in texture. Somewhere between a fried clam and bubble gum. Tasted good, but really wierd to eat. :)
Oh, and incidentally, Rob asked me last night when I'm going to make them again. So they get, overall, a B+ from the both of us. Ooops.
I bake two small potatoes in the microwave, peel them, mash them up. But they weren't smoothing out like I imagined that they should. So ... I added a little water (NOT in the recipe) and whipped them into smooth-looking mashed potatoes. Then I started adding powdered sugar. This is when I discovered why there wasn't any water in the recipe. Turns out, powdered sugar draws the moisture out of the potatoes so they are "self-moistening". Well, if you've already added water ... you get, essentially, sweet potato soup. The more powdered sugar I added, the soupier the mixture got. Ooops.
Well, obviously, that wasn't going anywhere, so then Rob suggested that we should just make cookies out of the mixture. So I added some flour, a little oil, an egg, some baking soda, and some vanilla. Oh, and about 1/2 a bag of chocolate chips.
I poured the whole mess onto a greased cookie sheet and baked it for 10 minutes at 350.
I got ... chocolate chip cookie bars ... but with the oddest texture you've ever tried! They're almost indescribable in texture. Somewhere between a fried clam and bubble gum. Tasted good, but really wierd to eat. :)
Oh, and incidentally, Rob asked me last night when I'm going to make them again. So they get, overall, a B+ from the both of us. Ooops.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Milk ... How Much Is Too Much??
So, as I'm trying to cut back the grocery budget, it occurs to me that we're spending almost a tenth of our grocery budget PER MONTH on milk. With milk at $4.25 a gallon (or MORE), and our consumption rate at 2 gallons per month ... that's almost $10, out of a $100 budget.
That just won't do.
But how do we cut back on milk? Do we start drinking less milk? Do I start skipping it on cereal, in coffee, as an ingredient?
Nope!! I found a solution. Dried milk!! I can buy nonfat milk - the equivalent of about 3 gallons (I think) for less than $2.00! All I have to do is mix in the water and presto - instant milk!
And, using the non-fat powder to make the equivalent of skim milk - I save on calories, but improve on the taste. Powdered dry milk is creamier than skim ... so a little better tasting!
I don't know whether to applaud myself or wonder what kind of an idiot didn't think of this sooner.
That just won't do.
But how do we cut back on milk? Do we start drinking less milk? Do I start skipping it on cereal, in coffee, as an ingredient?
Nope!! I found a solution. Dried milk!! I can buy nonfat milk - the equivalent of about 3 gallons (I think) for less than $2.00! All I have to do is mix in the water and presto - instant milk!
And, using the non-fat powder to make the equivalent of skim milk - I save on calories, but improve on the taste. Powdered dry milk is creamier than skim ... so a little better tasting!
I don't know whether to applaud myself or wonder what kind of an idiot didn't think of this sooner.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Tuna, Tuna, Everywhere!!
So, as you may have noticed in my previous post, we are now the proud owners of one 5-lb can of tuna from Sam's Club. Believe it or not, it was a "gift" from some friends of ours. (Long story.)
Anyhow, to make a long story short, what does one do with 5 lbs of tuna? I've already made tuna-noodle-casserole with it. Beyond tuna salad and tuna melts, anyone have some genious ideas for what to do with the rest of the can? I still have almost 4.5 lbs left!! I need help.
Oh, and expect LOTS of tuna recipes this week. :)
Anyhow, to make a long story short, what does one do with 5 lbs of tuna? I've already made tuna-noodle-casserole with it. Beyond tuna salad and tuna melts, anyone have some genious ideas for what to do with the rest of the can? I still have almost 4.5 lbs left!! I need help.
Oh, and expect LOTS of tuna recipes this week. :)
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
The Budget Gourmet
So, we're trying to cut back on our grocery costs to save up for our big move to Alaska. This means that I'm going to be baking and cooking more, and we're headed for the "rice & beans" diet. So ... in an effort to be cost-conscious, I'm going to be listing approximate manufacturing costs on each dish that I serve.
You'll also be finding more bread, main dishes, and "food crafts" - like jams & jellies - on the menu. I want to make our grocery budget (for 2 people) less than $100 per month. I can do this. Once I get to under $100, I want to make it $75 per month and see if I can do that. :)
Wish me luck, and if you have any suggestions for "cheap" meals, let me know!!
You'll also be finding more bread, main dishes, and "food crafts" - like jams & jellies - on the menu. I want to make our grocery budget (for 2 people) less than $100 per month. I can do this. Once I get to under $100, I want to make it $75 per month and see if I can do that. :)
Wish me luck, and if you have any suggestions for "cheap" meals, let me know!!
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