When stretching a food budget, buying meat on sale or clear-out is essential. But sometimes that means having to cook a lot of meat right away. I have mentioned investment cooking to friends before and they often roll their eyes. "Who has time to spend all day in the kitchen?" "That's so much work!" I guess there is a style of investment cooking that would make me say those same things, but that is totally not my style.
So, I'd like to call my style "Minor Investment" cooking. Yes, it takes a little more time than cooking one meal, but truly just a little bit. The reward is a jump start on three or more other meals because the meat is already cooked. It's really like planning for leftovers. I have several plans that I use, but never all at once. I don't like eating similar things back to back, so I usually freeze the other three meals and use them later. Theoretically, you could have a month's worth of dinners if you did them all. Most of these ideas I got from Women's Day magazine back when I first got married. We actually eat a lot of Asian food now, so I use these less often. However, they have survived the test of time.
I am not really a follow-a-recipe type of person. I usually wing it. These are not really recipes listed below; simply the plan with ingredients. If you want recipes, let me know. Also, if you see mushrooms listed and you know me, you know I don't actually put those in my food - but to each his own.
Here are my Minor Investment meal plans:
Stew
Make a basic beef stew recipe (only meat, broth, onions, and garlic). Divide into 5 batches - use one and freeze four.
Meal 1 - Traditional Stew: add sliced carrots, sliced celery, cubed potatoes, beef broth, tomato sauce, oregano, basil
Meal 2 - Tex-Mex Stew: add frozen corn, cilantro, chili powder, cumin, salsa (serve with corn bread)
Meal 3 - Asian Stew: add frozen broccoli, red bell pepper strips, ginger, soy sauce (serve with rice)
Meal 4 - Moroccan Stew: add cubed butternut squash, chopped spinach, tomato sauce, cumin, cinnamon, ground red pepper (serve with couscous)
Meal 5 - French Stew: add baby carrots, mushrooms, beef broth, red wine, thyme (serve with French bread)
Chicken
Make a basic creamed chicken recipe (chicken, onions, celery, carrots, milk/cream). Divide into 4 batches - use one and freeze three.
Meal 1 - Creamed chicken over noodles: egg noodles
Meal 2 - Chicken chowder: add rice, sweet potato, sausage, corn, and creamed chicken (can be made at the same time as creamed chicken and frozen as a complete meal)
Meal 3 - Chicken pot pie: add peas and mushrooms, top with canned biscuits and bake
Meal 4 - Chicken lasagna: with spinach layer, cheese layer, and chicken layer
Chili
Make your favorite basic chili recipe (I use ground turkey and black beans). Divide into 4 batches - use one and freeze three.
Meal 1 - Chili (serve with cornbread or tortilla chips)
Meal 2 - Mexican Rice: chili, rice, corn, shredded cheese
Meal 3 - Tortilla pie: similar to lasagna - layers of tortillas(corn or flour), chili, and cheese in a pie plate
Meal 4 - Burritos: chili, tortillas, salsa, shredded cheese, sour cream, etc.
Meat Loaf
Use your favorite recipe and make enough for 4 meals for your family. Divide into 4 batches - use one and freeze three (before freezing - thinly slice, crumble, or cube based on which meals you choose).
Meal 1 - Traditional meatloaf: serve with vegetables and mashed potatoes
Meal 2 - Meatloaf sandwiches: thinly sliced meatloaf with rye bread, tomato, lettuce, onion, and mustard; serve with salads
Meal 3 - Stuffed peppers: crumbled meatloaf with rice, tomato sauce, and spices, cooked in a bell pepper; serve with a green salad
Meal 4 - Spaghetti and meatballs: cubed meatloaf with marinara sauce and spaghetti; serve with a green vegetable or green salad (You could also do meatball subs.)
Meal 5 - Swedish meatballs: cubed meatloaf with mushroom gravy and egg noodles; serve with a green vegetable or green salad
Turkey
Roast a turkey! (not just for Thanksgiving - anytime turkey is cheap) Freeze leftovers in bags.
Meal 1 - Turkey pot pie: add leftover veggies, gravy (or cream sauce) and top with stuffing or biscuits
Meal 2 - Turkey tetrazzini: add noodles, cream sauce, peas, and mushrooms
Meal 3 - Turkey soup: add vegetables and broth (make broth from the bones), could also add rice or noodles
Meal 4 - Turkey chili: add crushed tomatoes, corn, onions, peppers, spices
Meal 5 - Turkey & rice casserole: add wild rice, leftover veggies, cream sauce and thyme
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
The blessing of free
I just have to share another story of blessing and provision.
We have been wanting to get another bed, something larger for my teenage son that could double as a guest bed. Mattresses are so expensive - ouch! We had company coming for the weekend and thought maybe we should just give in and make the purchase... when out of the blue we received an email about a free bed. Coincidence? I think not.
That same week, as we were looking over the budget that was stretched too thin, a dear friend showed up with several boxes of food. It was a blessing that was neither expected nor asked for but that's what made it so special.
"Your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Matt 6:8
We have been wanting to get another bed, something larger for my teenage son that could double as a guest bed. Mattresses are so expensive - ouch! We had company coming for the weekend and thought maybe we should just give in and make the purchase... when out of the blue we received an email about a free bed. Coincidence? I think not.
That same week, as we were looking over the budget that was stretched too thin, a dear friend showed up with several boxes of food. It was a blessing that was neither expected nor asked for but that's what made it so special.
"Your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Matt 6:8
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Plan ahead
I have found this to be true - kids are always hungry when they are away from home. Planning ahead for this can save a lot of money. We take food and water any time we are leaving home for more than a very brief time. Keeping a stash in the family van can help, too.
We recently drove to Florida for Thanksgiving. I planned ahead for the long trip by packing sandwiches, snacks, and bottles of water (non-disposable of course). This not only saved us time by not having to stop so often, but it also saved us from spending money at convenience stores and fast food restaurants. On the way back home however, I did not plan ahead. We ended up spending almost $60 on food that day. Now, you may say that's not bad for six people, but honestly I was just as happy with my sandwich from home.
Many people don't know that you can take your own food and drinks into a lot of places. We have always brought food and reusable water bottles to Disney World. This year we took our own food and water to the State Fair. I know some may think that takes some of the fun out of it. So, we usually plan for one meal or special snack to be bought there but the real hunger gets satisfied by reasonably priced food from home. A little planning can be a budget saver.
We recently drove to Florida for Thanksgiving. I planned ahead for the long trip by packing sandwiches, snacks, and bottles of water (non-disposable of course). This not only saved us time by not having to stop so often, but it also saved us from spending money at convenience stores and fast food restaurants. On the way back home however, I did not plan ahead. We ended up spending almost $60 on food that day. Now, you may say that's not bad for six people, but honestly I was just as happy with my sandwich from home.
Many people don't know that you can take your own food and drinks into a lot of places. We have always brought food and reusable water bottles to Disney World. This year we took our own food and water to the State Fair. I know some may think that takes some of the fun out of it. So, we usually plan for one meal or special snack to be bought there but the real hunger gets satisfied by reasonably priced food from home. A little planning can be a budget saver.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Bread for less dough
I remember my mom taking me to the "day-old bread store" as we used to call it. Mostly I remember begging for the sweet goodies they sold there for next-to-nothing. Some family traditions should definitely be passed on. The price of bread these days is enough to give me a heart attack. The bakery outlet is just what the doctor ordered.
I like to go to the Flowers store. They have a large variety of bread products priced from 99 cents to about two dollars. I never have problems finding whole wheat bread for 99 cents, even the double-fiber variety. When they get a large shipment in, they run "buy one, get one free" specials. They even sell bagels, English muffins, and tortillas at 99 cents. Of course, my kids like to go in and beg for the sweet stuff - some things never change.
The best deal at Flowers is if you spend $5, you get another loaf free. Our family goes through a lot of bread, so spending five bucks has never been a problem. They also have a punch card system. They punch one star for every dollar you spend and after 50 punches you get $5 off your next order. It does take a while to fill a punch card, because after all, the bread is cheap!
I like to go to the Flowers store. They have a large variety of bread products priced from 99 cents to about two dollars. I never have problems finding whole wheat bread for 99 cents, even the double-fiber variety. When they get a large shipment in, they run "buy one, get one free" specials. They even sell bagels, English muffins, and tortillas at 99 cents. Of course, my kids like to go in and beg for the sweet stuff - some things never change.
The best deal at Flowers is if you spend $5, you get another loaf free. Our family goes through a lot of bread, so spending five bucks has never been a problem. They also have a punch card system. They punch one star for every dollar you spend and after 50 punches you get $5 off your next order. It does take a while to fill a punch card, because after all, the bread is cheap!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
My favorite large store
Even though I have belonged to several different membership club stores over the years, I am usually unimpressed with the savings I find there. So, when I moved to a city with three different membership club stores, I had no plan to join one of them. I was previously a member of two of them, but had never even heard of the third. Luckily my friends gave me the 411 and now I'm sold.
BJ's is by far the best membership club store around. I quickly did the math and realized that their promise of "The savings on milk alone could pay for your membership" was indeed true. They consistently have the best price (by a long shot) on milk in town. They also have the best price on gas, which is a huge savings in no time.
BJ's is the only membership club that not only accepts manufacturer's coupons but has amazing store coupons as well. Members receive a monthly coupon book in the mail and there are additional coupons in the store. You can stack manufacturer and store coupons. Plus you can use up to three manufacturer coupons as long as there is more than one bar code in/on the product.
The membership comes in two levels: a regular or "Inner Circle" membership and a "BJ's Rewards" membership. The rewards membership costs more up front, but like the name suggests you earn 2% back on all purchases. These rewards are in the form of a coupon that can be used only at BJ's. To increase your savings, apply for the BJ's credit card which gives another 2% back on BJ's purchases (1% on purchases elsewhere) for a total of 4% back.
My favorite part, to tell the truth, is when they mark down fresh foods such as meat and cheese. I love the fresh ravioli but can't swallow the price - until it's marked down 50%. Then I stock up! It's best to go in the morning to get these markdown deals. Not everything at BJ's is a good savings but there really are rewards with this membership.
BJ's is by far the best membership club store around. I quickly did the math and realized that their promise of "The savings on milk alone could pay for your membership" was indeed true. They consistently have the best price (by a long shot) on milk in town. They also have the best price on gas, which is a huge savings in no time.
BJ's is the only membership club that not only accepts manufacturer's coupons but has amazing store coupons as well. Members receive a monthly coupon book in the mail and there are additional coupons in the store. You can stack manufacturer and store coupons. Plus you can use up to three manufacturer coupons as long as there is more than one bar code in/on the product.
The membership comes in two levels: a regular or "Inner Circle" membership and a "BJ's Rewards" membership. The rewards membership costs more up front, but like the name suggests you earn 2% back on all purchases. These rewards are in the form of a coupon that can be used only at BJ's. To increase your savings, apply for the BJ's credit card which gives another 2% back on BJ's purchases (1% on purchases elsewhere) for a total of 4% back.
My favorite part, to tell the truth, is when they mark down fresh foods such as meat and cheese. I love the fresh ravioli but can't swallow the price - until it's marked down 50%. Then I stock up! It's best to go in the morning to get these markdown deals. Not everything at BJ's is a good savings but there really are rewards with this membership.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
My favorite little store
I was introduced to Aldi by a good friend a few years ago. A small grocery store from Germany may sound strange. If you haven't tried it - you are missing out.
It's a small store primarily because they carry mostly their own brand of everything. I was skeptical at first, since couponing had gotten my family used to name brand foods. However, I haven't tried anything yet that I don't like. Carrying only one brand of each item makes shopping fast and easy. The produce department is small, too. Even so, they carry all of the basics and at very low prices.
There are few things I do not buy at Aldi because I can get them cheaper somewhere else. Milk, eggs, and meat are not priced very low. Occasionally, they will go on sale and they do mark down meat when it gets close to the sell date. As a general rule though, they are too expensive.
They have awesome sale and clearance prices. Since their everyday prices are already so low, a sale price is usually amazing. When I find clearance items, I buy them by the case. They also have what they call "seasonal items" which can be everything from German treats to non-food items. It makes my shopping trip a little more exciting to find these fun items.
Aldi is different from most grocery stores in a few ways. One, they do not accept coupons. This makes sense since they don't carry name brands. Still, their everyday prices are quite low. Not couponing also helps me get in and out quickly. Second, they only take cash or debit cards; no checks or credit cards. Third, they do not bag your groceries nor do they provide bags. They have bags for sale, but that would ruin the whole point of saving money! So, bring your re-usable shopping bags. Last, they purposefully have few employees to save you more money. This includes no one to bring carts in from the parking lot. They have the European style shopping carts to solve this problem. You put in a quarter to get a cart, and when you return the cart you get your quarter back. As long as you keep these few things in mind, I'm sure you'll love Aldi, too.
It's a small store primarily because they carry mostly their own brand of everything. I was skeptical at first, since couponing had gotten my family used to name brand foods. However, I haven't tried anything yet that I don't like. Carrying only one brand of each item makes shopping fast and easy. The produce department is small, too. Even so, they carry all of the basics and at very low prices.
There are few things I do not buy at Aldi because I can get them cheaper somewhere else. Milk, eggs, and meat are not priced very low. Occasionally, they will go on sale and they do mark down meat when it gets close to the sell date. As a general rule though, they are too expensive.
They have awesome sale and clearance prices. Since their everyday prices are already so low, a sale price is usually amazing. When I find clearance items, I buy them by the case. They also have what they call "seasonal items" which can be everything from German treats to non-food items. It makes my shopping trip a little more exciting to find these fun items.
Aldi is different from most grocery stores in a few ways. One, they do not accept coupons. This makes sense since they don't carry name brands. Still, their everyday prices are quite low. Not couponing also helps me get in and out quickly. Second, they only take cash or debit cards; no checks or credit cards. Third, they do not bag your groceries nor do they provide bags. They have bags for sale, but that would ruin the whole point of saving money! So, bring your re-usable shopping bags. Last, they purposefully have few employees to save you more money. This includes no one to bring carts in from the parking lot. They have the European style shopping carts to solve this problem. You put in a quarter to get a cart, and when you return the cart you get your quarter back. As long as you keep these few things in mind, I'm sure you'll love Aldi, too.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Good Coffee
Admittedly, I am a coffee snob. There is nothing better than the sound and smell of coffee beans grinding in the morning... or afternoon, or evening for that matter. Good coffee can be hard to come by when you are trying to spend small. It seems like everywhere I turn someone has a Starbucks or Caribou cup in their hand. All I see are dollar signs. I do love a splurge at Starbucks, but at three to five bucks a cup - I know why "bucks" is in their name!
On the other hand, I don't want Folgers either. So, my husband and I embarked on a coffee journey to spend small and still live large. Our journey ended at World Market. They have great tasting whole bean (and ground if you prefer) coffee at a decent price. What's more they have a terrific coffee rewards program that makes the price even better. For every 6 bags of coffee you buy, you get one free. Or if you really want to save, and we do, only buy coffee on Wednesdays when you get double points. That way you only have to buy 3 bags to get one free. They have 10% off coupons in the Sunday paper from time to time and they have coupons for your birthday when you join the rewards program.
Wednesday deal:
3 bags of 24oz at $9.99 = $29.97 (or $26.97 with coupon)
plus 12oz free
that's 84oz for $29.97 or $0.36/oz (or $0.32/oz with coupon)
Compare to:
Folgers ground without a coupon is about $0.26/oz
Starbucks whole bean without a coupon is about $0.65/oz
So, for just a little more than cheap ground coffee, we get quality whole bean coffee. It's worth every penny.
On the other hand, I don't want Folgers either. So, my husband and I embarked on a coffee journey to spend small and still live large. Our journey ended at World Market. They have great tasting whole bean (and ground if you prefer) coffee at a decent price. What's more they have a terrific coffee rewards program that makes the price even better. For every 6 bags of coffee you buy, you get one free. Or if you really want to save, and we do, only buy coffee on Wednesdays when you get double points. That way you only have to buy 3 bags to get one free. They have 10% off coupons in the Sunday paper from time to time and they have coupons for your birthday when you join the rewards program.
Wednesday deal:
3 bags of 24oz at $9.99 = $29.97 (or $26.97 with coupon)
plus 12oz free
that's 84oz for $29.97 or $0.36/oz (or $0.32/oz with coupon)
Compare to:
Folgers ground without a coupon is about $0.26/oz
Starbucks whole bean without a coupon is about $0.65/oz
So, for just a little more than cheap ground coffee, we get quality whole bean coffee. It's worth every penny.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Eat In, Not Out - Breakfast
I woke up to the smell of bacon. My amazing husband made breakfast this morning. French toast, bacon, fresh fruit, and coffee... delicious! We are always looking for ways to save money and this morning was no exception. We decided to figure out how much breakfast cost. Here was the breakdown:
Loaf of bread - $0.65
6 Eggs - $0.50
12oz Bacon - $3.50
Fruit - $2.00
TOTAL - $6.65
It's a little more difficult to figure the exact cost of the syrup we used and the coffee we drank. However, we figured that it cost at most $1.25 per person for our family of six. And we had leftovers!
Consider the option of eating out. Last week this same amazing husband took me out for breakfast for my birthday. Being the frugal people we are, we took a coupon. Buy one meal and two drinks, get a meal free. Even with this coupon we ended up spending $20 including the tip. That's $10 a person compared to $1.25. Maybe it's occasionally acceptable for my birthday or other special occasion, but eating out often will certainly bust your budget. To be honest, our homemade breakfast tasted just as good and for the price you just can't beat it.
Loaf of bread - $0.65
6 Eggs - $0.50
12oz Bacon - $3.50
Fruit - $2.00
TOTAL - $6.65
It's a little more difficult to figure the exact cost of the syrup we used and the coffee we drank. However, we figured that it cost at most $1.25 per person for our family of six. And we had leftovers!
Consider the option of eating out. Last week this same amazing husband took me out for breakfast for my birthday. Being the frugal people we are, we took a coupon. Buy one meal and two drinks, get a meal free. Even with this coupon we ended up spending $20 including the tip. That's $10 a person compared to $1.25. Maybe it's occasionally acceptable for my birthday or other special occasion, but eating out often will certainly bust your budget. To be honest, our homemade breakfast tasted just as good and for the price you just can't beat it.
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