I write another blog at http://ourcompactlife.blogspot.com
It's a personal blog of our life, and though not frequently updated, does give a better glimpse into who we are. I will be making an attempt, as a New Year Resolution of sorts, to blog a minimum of once a week.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Birthday!
Today, Liam turned a year old! We are so excited, and have a small party planned for tomorrow.
Today also marks the brokest we have been in our entire relationship. Like, borrowing money from my dad for gas broke. We moved about 120 miles from where we lived before, and Seth started a new job. Which is awesome, but he won't get his first paycheck until February. And I didn't realized he'd be at a location twice the distance from his actual job during training, so no amount of budgeting would have prepared us. Moving ended up costing significantly more than we anticipated, so we ran right out of money. My mom's housewarming gift to us is a gift card to a grocery store, so we're ok on that front. And Seth will get his last check from his old job next week. So, it's a temporary thing. But, pretty embarrassing to be 27, married, a parent myself, and having to borrow money from my dad. Ah, well.
So, what are we doing for the littlin's party? Domino's has a deal for 3 medium pizzas for $5.55 each. So, we're getting pizzas, bread sticks, some soda, and cupcakes. It's pretty much just my parents and close family/friends, so I didn't feel a need to go all out. In total, the party will cost us about $50, and we're anticipating 15ish people. Now, we really don't have that to spend. But, I refuse to cancel my son's first birthday party. I did a cost comparison, and it'd cost us just about as much to buy all the ingredients for pizza and cupcakes, so we're buying them premade. I thought about doing a veggie tray or some chips and dip, but we really cannot afford to do that. My sister has offered to pick up a few things, so I may take her up on that for some veggies we can cup up for a nice tray. I realize my food list for the party isn't at all healthy.. but I don't think eating crap is too awful once in a while. ;-)
And, all in all, I think it'll be a nice party. We get to show our new place, celebrate a milestone with the people we love most, and spend some much needed time relaxing.
So, we moved HERE . We live in a lime green cottage. Liam has a bedroom, we have a loft, and the downstairs bedroom is an office/craft room. I'll do a vid tour at some point.
Today also marks the brokest we have been in our entire relationship. Like, borrowing money from my dad for gas broke. We moved about 120 miles from where we lived before, and Seth started a new job. Which is awesome, but he won't get his first paycheck until February. And I didn't realized he'd be at a location twice the distance from his actual job during training, so no amount of budgeting would have prepared us. Moving ended up costing significantly more than we anticipated, so we ran right out of money. My mom's housewarming gift to us is a gift card to a grocery store, so we're ok on that front. And Seth will get his last check from his old job next week. So, it's a temporary thing. But, pretty embarrassing to be 27, married, a parent myself, and having to borrow money from my dad. Ah, well.
So, what are we doing for the littlin's party? Domino's has a deal for 3 medium pizzas for $5.55 each. So, we're getting pizzas, bread sticks, some soda, and cupcakes. It's pretty much just my parents and close family/friends, so I didn't feel a need to go all out. In total, the party will cost us about $50, and we're anticipating 15ish people. Now, we really don't have that to spend. But, I refuse to cancel my son's first birthday party. I did a cost comparison, and it'd cost us just about as much to buy all the ingredients for pizza and cupcakes, so we're buying them premade. I thought about doing a veggie tray or some chips and dip, but we really cannot afford to do that. My sister has offered to pick up a few things, so I may take her up on that for some veggies we can cup up for a nice tray. I realize my food list for the party isn't at all healthy.. but I don't think eating crap is too awful once in a while. ;-)
And, all in all, I think it'll be a nice party. We get to show our new place, celebrate a milestone with the people we love most, and spend some much needed time relaxing.
So, we moved HERE . We live in a lime green cottage. Liam has a bedroom, we have a loft, and the downstairs bedroom is an office/craft room. I'll do a vid tour at some point.
Monday, November 7, 2011
How Time Flies..
Between growing baby, school, house, and getting some sort of structure in our life (bwahahaha.. yeah, oook), blogging has taken a serious back burner. So, while I beg for forgiveness for not posting the 20 or so $5 dinner and other stuff I have waiting to be posted, here's some family photos. And, yes, our moose of a child is only 10 months old.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Hide Your Veggies: Picky Eater Edition
I think every household has that one adorable thorn in its side. The picky eater. This person would usually live on chicken nuggets and some form of potato if they were allowed to. They balk at many foods, but mainly VEGETABLES! RAWR!
How do I deal with a picky eater? My solution is simple: If you don't want what I've prepared ,you have two options. Make yourself a bowl of cereal, or go hungry. I try to cook healthy, delicious meals. Anyone who doesn't want to eat them doesn't have to, but I bet you'll be hungry come breakfast time.
I try not to make foods with ingredients my husband doesn't like. He (and I) dislike mushrooms, he doesn't care for raw tomatoes, and I don't care for raw onions or peppers. We're not fans of fish, okra, or fresh spinach. So I don't make meals with those things. The baby doesn't care for cauliflower, so I don't try to feed it to him. I'll try again in a couple months.
Here's the issue for some people though: They have a family member or spouse who doesn't like vegetables, or fresh fruit, or whatever other entire group of food. If Seth was against eating an entire food group, the only option I'd see fit was making 2 separate dinners. But not ME making two separate meals. If he doesn't want to eat the delicious meal I've made, he can cook his own food. I'm not a short order cook, and I'm not sacrificing the nutritional needs of my kids because he's a big baby. ;-)
A parent with extremely picky tastes with no real reason is setting their children up to be picky eaters. If all you eat are steak and mashed potatoes, you're setting your kids up to be obese, diabetic, and nutritionally deficient. This can affect how their growing brains and bodies function. Seriously. Am I harsh? You betcha. But seriously, being a big baby is not setting a good example for our kids.
Not everyone is willing to take that direct approach, so there's a few options for you too.
1- Make your eaters eat half a serving of whatever food group they're refusing. ("If you eat half your beans/peas/carrots, I'll leave you alone, BUT, you don't get any more helpings of anything else unless you eat the entire veggie serving.")
2- Enlist your spouse to help show the kids that food x is delicious. If your spouse is the picky eater, I like my household option up above there.
3- Hide 'em! Puree a bag of frozen mixed veggies and put it in your pasta sauce. Or in your meatloaf or meatballs. Mashed potatoes can have cooked cauliflower mixed in and no one will know the difference.
4- Try to find out what the issue is. If someone doesn't like the flavor of the broccoli you're putting in a casserole, ask them to help you decide on a suitable substitute. They don't like kidney bean chili? Try a creamy chicken and white bean version. They're going to have to start eating like a normal person who is appreciative of the food placed in front of them. They'll need to make a list of foods they're willing to eat that is reasonable for you to prepare, and nutritous.
5- When all else fails, cook for you! I make homemade mac and cheese and many other casseroles with not ah int of veggies in it. Then I'll make a veggie I like on the side. I love green beans, so I cook them for me. Seth doesn't like them very much, so he doesn't eat any. When Liam gets old enough to notice Daddy not eating his veggies, Seth will be choking down those green beans, to set a good example, whether he likes it or not. ;-)
How do I deal with a picky eater? My solution is simple: If you don't want what I've prepared ,you have two options. Make yourself a bowl of cereal, or go hungry. I try to cook healthy, delicious meals. Anyone who doesn't want to eat them doesn't have to, but I bet you'll be hungry come breakfast time.
I try not to make foods with ingredients my husband doesn't like. He (and I) dislike mushrooms, he doesn't care for raw tomatoes, and I don't care for raw onions or peppers. We're not fans of fish, okra, or fresh spinach. So I don't make meals with those things. The baby doesn't care for cauliflower, so I don't try to feed it to him. I'll try again in a couple months.
Here's the issue for some people though: They have a family member or spouse who doesn't like vegetables, or fresh fruit, or whatever other entire group of food. If Seth was against eating an entire food group, the only option I'd see fit was making 2 separate dinners. But not ME making two separate meals. If he doesn't want to eat the delicious meal I've made, he can cook his own food. I'm not a short order cook, and I'm not sacrificing the nutritional needs of my kids because he's a big baby. ;-)
A parent with extremely picky tastes with no real reason is setting their children up to be picky eaters. If all you eat are steak and mashed potatoes, you're setting your kids up to be obese, diabetic, and nutritionally deficient. This can affect how their growing brains and bodies function. Seriously. Am I harsh? You betcha. But seriously, being a big baby is not setting a good example for our kids.
Not everyone is willing to take that direct approach, so there's a few options for you too.
1- Make your eaters eat half a serving of whatever food group they're refusing. ("If you eat half your beans/peas/carrots, I'll leave you alone, BUT, you don't get any more helpings of anything else unless you eat the entire veggie serving.")
2- Enlist your spouse to help show the kids that food x is delicious. If your spouse is the picky eater, I like my household option up above there.
3- Hide 'em! Puree a bag of frozen mixed veggies and put it in your pasta sauce. Or in your meatloaf or meatballs. Mashed potatoes can have cooked cauliflower mixed in and no one will know the difference.
4- Try to find out what the issue is. If someone doesn't like the flavor of the broccoli you're putting in a casserole, ask them to help you decide on a suitable substitute. They don't like kidney bean chili? Try a creamy chicken and white bean version. They're going to have to start eating like a normal person who is appreciative of the food placed in front of them. They'll need to make a list of foods they're willing to eat that is reasonable for you to prepare, and nutritous.
5- When all else fails, cook for you! I make homemade mac and cheese and many other casseroles with not ah int of veggies in it. Then I'll make a veggie I like on the side. I love green beans, so I cook them for me. Seth doesn't like them very much, so he doesn't eat any. When Liam gets old enough to notice Daddy not eating his veggies, Seth will be choking down those green beans, to set a good example, whether he likes it or not. ;-)
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Grocery Shopping.. and recipes!
My husband brings home a decent amount of money. Plenty for us to live on, as well as some splurges. My reason for budgeting our household supplies so tightly is that it's the one area of our life where I do have some flexibility. Most of our other expenses are a set amount. We love to go visiting family, we love our electronic gadgets, and we love me being able to stay home with Liam. So, here we go. This will be sort of scattered, but I'm struggling to give this list of tips form.
I budget $200 per pay period for groceries, household/cleaning supplies, stuff for Liam, and hygiene products.At my next shopping trip, I'll itemize a list to show what we bought, and how we'll use it- as well as a general meal plan. I don't plan meals really. I keep a constant supply of certain things in the house and wing it when I buy other stuff. (More on that in a later post.)
Occasionally, we do go over- and that's why we also have a 'discretionary' budget. That's for movies, eating out, extra gas, birthday gifts, etc. I also dip into that budget for grocery overages.
Part of the reason I do that is because I'll see a great deal on something we use regularly and snap up as much as I can. I'll buy 20lbs of 'reduced for quick sale' beef or whatever and freeze it if I have the room. Even if that's 2 months worth of meat, at the low price it allows me wiggle room in my budget throughout that time.
I NEVER buy things we don't use a regular basis- even if they are on sale. For example, it takes us 6 months to use a bag of white flour, so buying a bunch just because they're on sale and will save me a dollar isn't saving me anything when they just take up freezer space I could use for other things.
Here's the way I cut our food costs as low as they are:
Payday- Pull your budget in cash. I cannot overspend if all I have is the cash in my hand.
List- Make your grocery list, and then rewrite it by priority.
Shop- Use a calculator. Keep track of what you're spending so far. When you hit your limit, stop putting things in your cart. I promise, your bottom listed things can be substituted.
A CHALLENGE:
Go look in your cupboards the night before grocery shopping. Either make a list of everything you have in your fridge and cupboards, or just pull it all out and set it on a table/counter/clean floor. Start creating meals with what you have on hand. When you've paired up everything you can, see what's left. Then make a list- using up those ingredients before adding new things. A few times a year I do this- and find we can often skip an entire shopping trip- or more. I took us 3 weeks on only spending about $40 to supplement what we had in the house. Try supercook.com . You input what you have on hand, and it shows you recipes with those ingredients.
A PLAN:
If you're here, you're wanting to reign in your grocery spending. Start with the basics. You don't need filet mignon. You don't need steak. Cheaper cuts of meat can be just as delicious if prepared well.
1- Buy your food in bulk. At Wegmans, we pay $1.99/lb for both boneless skinless chicken breasts and ground beef. Take it home, and portion it up. A portion of meat should be about 4oz. per person, or about 25% of the entire meal if meat is the only protein you're using. We pack it all into baggies and freeze. Buying the 10lb bag of cheese and freezing it in quart sized bags can save about 50-60% per pound! Same with pepperoni and many other things.
2- Buy frozen produce. Frozen produce is often fresher and cheaper than what's in the 'fresh produce' section. Frozen produce is usually processed immediately after being harvested, whereas "fresh" produce often gets picked too soon and is often left to ripen on trucks during transport. The alternative to this is local farm markets which often have very reasonable prices. Look into markets in your area, as well as co-ops. 50% of your meal should be non-starch veggies and that last 25% starch (potatoes, bread, pasta, rice, etc.), plus a serving of either dairy or fruit.
3- Learn to stretch your pennies. My meatballs and burgers are up to 50% breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. I only use 80/20 beef. (Fat is essential to EVERY meal! Fat is what makes you feel full, and keeps you feeling satisfied. Additionally, 80/20 beef makes for a much moister meatball or burger.) Taco meat can be made using 1/2 meat and 1/2 lentils. I love the texture and flavor. 2-3 nights a week, find other sources of protein outside of meat. There's hundreds of ways to use beans, and even a homemade mac and cheese packs nearly as much protein as a piece of meat would.
4- Minimize your use of convenience foods. For health reasons alone, this is a good idea. But, the cost savings are substantial too. I'll be posting a lot of easy, FAST, recipes in the following weeks. (Note: I do use pre-shredded cheese. At Wegmans, it ends up cheaper than the bricks if I buy a huge package.)
5- DIY. I use a lot of chicken stock for various things. And I always make my own. Here's how:
First, I save all my veggie scraps- skins, peelings, the ends of celery, skins and end of onions, pretty much any scrap that isn't a potato. Then, I save every chicken scrap- bones, skin, fat, wing tips. I even save the carcass if we get a rotisserie chicken. All of that goes into a gallon size freezer bag. When I have two full bags, I make stock. Everything goes into a 12qt stock pot, which is then filled to a inch from the top with water. I also toss in about 2T each of pepper, salt, and garlic powder. Then I simmer it, uncovered, all day- adding water if I need to. By the evening, it should be about reduced by half. I let it cool, then shove the whole pot in the fridge. In the morning, I scrape the fat off (and save it for flavoring mashed potatoes and other dishes) and see the texture of the stock. It should be like Jell-O. If it's not, throw it back on to boil for a few hours. If it is, heat it just up to liquid, then strain it over a colander into another bowl/pot. Toss the veggies and chicken scraps and then portion and freeze the stock. This can work for chicken, beef, or even veggie stock. It's literally using garbage and providing a base for soup, stew, gravy, sauce, etc.
6- Be conscious of what you're buying. Check the sale flyer if you want- but DO NOT buy things just because they're on sale. You don't need to eat garbage or buy 30 liters of soda pop. I don't check the sale paper, nor do I use coupons. I simply prioritize our list and buy what I know we can afford. There's an issue in my area (and others I'm sure) of kids passing out in school- usually in the last half of the month. These are food stamp kids with parents who buy crap and not enough food to last the month. So they end up having their school lunch as their only meal. They're starving and end up getting sick and passing out at school. Typical food stamps for a family of 4 are more than my monthly budget to cover ALL household expenses, and we've never come close to running out of food.
7- Meal plan. Some people will benefit from meal planning. There is software all over the internet, but I prefer the pen and paper method myself. Again, take stock of what you have and build meals around that. Then make a list based on what you're lacking. Do your best to provide wholesome meals for your family. Your children don't need sugary overpriced cereals or granola bars as a snack. Some colored sugar sprinkled over crispy rice or corn flakes is just as fun, and oatmeal raisin cookies are cheap and fairly nutritious, not to mention a great way to exercise math skills and give them something to do.
8- Substitutions. Let's say you want to make a recipe that calls for an expensive soft cheese to be melted in- like fondue. Did you know that you can substitute cream cheese for just about any soft cheese in a fondue? Then adding a few spices can make it seem completely intentional. Instead of $10 worth of soft cheese, you used a $1 brick of cream cheese. I find that I can usually make a substitution for just about anything. I've stopped buying milk because it goes bad before we use it. For baking or whatever, I keep dry and evaporated milk on hand to whip up if I need it.
8- Don't deny yourself. Here's what I mean:
We rarely eat steak. It's overpriced and a piece of grilled chicken or a fabulously spiced burger is just as yummy. But, we saw some chuck eye steaks reduced to about $7 total, and we had some extra money, so we bought them. Last night I browned them up and then braised them for 3 hours with some red wine, water, celery, onion, garlic, carrots, cauliflower, and spices. Wit the veggies, we probably spent $9 total and it'll be 2 meals. That's $2.25 per person per meal. Still about twice what I normally end up with, but not at all bad for a special meal. If you have leftover money, treat yourself to a nice cut of meat, or some new ice cream flavor, or a new pair of shoes. ;-) You deserve a reward once in a while for saving money for your family.
Each post, I'll toss out another tip. For people in my local area, it may be store specific so you know where to go.
$6 Taco Mac & Cheese (Feeds 4-6)
1/4lb prepared taco meat ($.65 with taco spice)
3c. shredded cheese of your choice ($2.75)
2T cream cheese ($.25)
3T sour cream ($.35ish)
16oz elbows/rotini or similar ($2- Dreamfields Brand)
1. Cook and drain pasta- but leave in colander.
2. In pasta pot, mix the remaining ingredients and cook on low until cheese is melted and everything is warm. Taste and season to your tastes.
3. Add pasta and stir it up.
Optional: Top with salsa or other taco fixings.
For us, this is either 2 dinners, or a dinner, two lunches, and a snack.
NEXT POST: How to feed a family of 4 with 2 chicken breasts and $5. =D
I budget $200 per pay period for groceries, household/cleaning supplies, stuff for Liam, and hygiene products.At my next shopping trip, I'll itemize a list to show what we bought, and how we'll use it- as well as a general meal plan. I don't plan meals really. I keep a constant supply of certain things in the house and wing it when I buy other stuff. (More on that in a later post.)
Occasionally, we do go over- and that's why we also have a 'discretionary' budget. That's for movies, eating out, extra gas, birthday gifts, etc. I also dip into that budget for grocery overages.
Part of the reason I do that is because I'll see a great deal on something we use regularly and snap up as much as I can. I'll buy 20lbs of 'reduced for quick sale' beef or whatever and freeze it if I have the room. Even if that's 2 months worth of meat, at the low price it allows me wiggle room in my budget throughout that time.
I NEVER buy things we don't use a regular basis- even if they are on sale. For example, it takes us 6 months to use a bag of white flour, so buying a bunch just because they're on sale and will save me a dollar isn't saving me anything when they just take up freezer space I could use for other things.
Here's the way I cut our food costs as low as they are:
Payday- Pull your budget in cash. I cannot overspend if all I have is the cash in my hand.
List- Make your grocery list, and then rewrite it by priority.
Shop- Use a calculator. Keep track of what you're spending so far. When you hit your limit, stop putting things in your cart. I promise, your bottom listed things can be substituted.
A CHALLENGE:
Go look in your cupboards the night before grocery shopping. Either make a list of everything you have in your fridge and cupboards, or just pull it all out and set it on a table/counter/clean floor. Start creating meals with what you have on hand. When you've paired up everything you can, see what's left. Then make a list- using up those ingredients before adding new things. A few times a year I do this- and find we can often skip an entire shopping trip- or more. I took us 3 weeks on only spending about $40 to supplement what we had in the house. Try supercook.com . You input what you have on hand, and it shows you recipes with those ingredients.
A PLAN:
If you're here, you're wanting to reign in your grocery spending. Start with the basics. You don't need filet mignon. You don't need steak. Cheaper cuts of meat can be just as delicious if prepared well.
1- Buy your food in bulk. At Wegmans, we pay $1.99/lb for both boneless skinless chicken breasts and ground beef. Take it home, and portion it up. A portion of meat should be about 4oz. per person, or about 25% of the entire meal if meat is the only protein you're using. We pack it all into baggies and freeze. Buying the 10lb bag of cheese and freezing it in quart sized bags can save about 50-60% per pound! Same with pepperoni and many other things.
2- Buy frozen produce. Frozen produce is often fresher and cheaper than what's in the 'fresh produce' section. Frozen produce is usually processed immediately after being harvested, whereas "fresh" produce often gets picked too soon and is often left to ripen on trucks during transport. The alternative to this is local farm markets which often have very reasonable prices. Look into markets in your area, as well as co-ops. 50% of your meal should be non-starch veggies and that last 25% starch (potatoes, bread, pasta, rice, etc.), plus a serving of either dairy or fruit.
3- Learn to stretch your pennies. My meatballs and burgers are up to 50% breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. I only use 80/20 beef. (Fat is essential to EVERY meal! Fat is what makes you feel full, and keeps you feeling satisfied. Additionally, 80/20 beef makes for a much moister meatball or burger.) Taco meat can be made using 1/2 meat and 1/2 lentils. I love the texture and flavor. 2-3 nights a week, find other sources of protein outside of meat. There's hundreds of ways to use beans, and even a homemade mac and cheese packs nearly as much protein as a piece of meat would.
4- Minimize your use of convenience foods. For health reasons alone, this is a good idea. But, the cost savings are substantial too. I'll be posting a lot of easy, FAST, recipes in the following weeks. (Note: I do use pre-shredded cheese. At Wegmans, it ends up cheaper than the bricks if I buy a huge package.)
5- DIY. I use a lot of chicken stock for various things. And I always make my own. Here's how:
First, I save all my veggie scraps- skins, peelings, the ends of celery, skins and end of onions, pretty much any scrap that isn't a potato. Then, I save every chicken scrap- bones, skin, fat, wing tips. I even save the carcass if we get a rotisserie chicken. All of that goes into a gallon size freezer bag. When I have two full bags, I make stock. Everything goes into a 12qt stock pot, which is then filled to a inch from the top with water. I also toss in about 2T each of pepper, salt, and garlic powder. Then I simmer it, uncovered, all day- adding water if I need to. By the evening, it should be about reduced by half. I let it cool, then shove the whole pot in the fridge. In the morning, I scrape the fat off (and save it for flavoring mashed potatoes and other dishes) and see the texture of the stock. It should be like Jell-O. If it's not, throw it back on to boil for a few hours. If it is, heat it just up to liquid, then strain it over a colander into another bowl/pot. Toss the veggies and chicken scraps and then portion and freeze the stock. This can work for chicken, beef, or even veggie stock. It's literally using garbage and providing a base for soup, stew, gravy, sauce, etc.
6- Be conscious of what you're buying. Check the sale flyer if you want- but DO NOT buy things just because they're on sale. You don't need to eat garbage or buy 30 liters of soda pop. I don't check the sale paper, nor do I use coupons. I simply prioritize our list and buy what I know we can afford. There's an issue in my area (and others I'm sure) of kids passing out in school- usually in the last half of the month. These are food stamp kids with parents who buy crap and not enough food to last the month. So they end up having their school lunch as their only meal. They're starving and end up getting sick and passing out at school. Typical food stamps for a family of 4 are more than my monthly budget to cover ALL household expenses, and we've never come close to running out of food.
7- Meal plan. Some people will benefit from meal planning. There is software all over the internet, but I prefer the pen and paper method myself. Again, take stock of what you have and build meals around that. Then make a list based on what you're lacking. Do your best to provide wholesome meals for your family. Your children don't need sugary overpriced cereals or granola bars as a snack. Some colored sugar sprinkled over crispy rice or corn flakes is just as fun, and oatmeal raisin cookies are cheap and fairly nutritious, not to mention a great way to exercise math skills and give them something to do.
8- Substitutions. Let's say you want to make a recipe that calls for an expensive soft cheese to be melted in- like fondue. Did you know that you can substitute cream cheese for just about any soft cheese in a fondue? Then adding a few spices can make it seem completely intentional. Instead of $10 worth of soft cheese, you used a $1 brick of cream cheese. I find that I can usually make a substitution for just about anything. I've stopped buying milk because it goes bad before we use it. For baking or whatever, I keep dry and evaporated milk on hand to whip up if I need it.
8- Don't deny yourself. Here's what I mean:
We rarely eat steak. It's overpriced and a piece of grilled chicken or a fabulously spiced burger is just as yummy. But, we saw some chuck eye steaks reduced to about $7 total, and we had some extra money, so we bought them. Last night I browned them up and then braised them for 3 hours with some red wine, water, celery, onion, garlic, carrots, cauliflower, and spices. Wit the veggies, we probably spent $9 total and it'll be 2 meals. That's $2.25 per person per meal. Still about twice what I normally end up with, but not at all bad for a special meal. If you have leftover money, treat yourself to a nice cut of meat, or some new ice cream flavor, or a new pair of shoes. ;-) You deserve a reward once in a while for saving money for your family.
Each post, I'll toss out another tip. For people in my local area, it may be store specific so you know where to go.
$6 Taco Mac & Cheese (Feeds 4-6)
1/4lb prepared taco meat ($.65 with taco spice)
3c. shredded cheese of your choice ($2.75)
2T cream cheese ($.25)
3T sour cream ($.35ish)
16oz elbows/rotini or similar ($2- Dreamfields Brand)
1. Cook and drain pasta- but leave in colander.
2. In pasta pot, mix the remaining ingredients and cook on low until cheese is melted and everything is warm. Taste and season to your tastes.
3. Add pasta and stir it up.
Optional: Top with salsa or other taco fixings.
For us, this is either 2 dinners, or a dinner, two lunches, and a snack.
NEXT POST: How to feed a family of 4 with 2 chicken breasts and $5. =D
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Homemade Laundry Detergent
One of the biggest household expenses we all use is laundry detergent. I made a batch of dry detergent today that averages out to about a penny per load.
Ingredients:
2c washing soda (found in nearly any laundry aisle)
2c borax (usually located right next to the washing soda)
3/4 bar Fels-Naptha laundry bar, grated (found next to the borax and washing soda)
1c baking soda
1/2c off-brand Oxyclean
Optional: 1oz essential oil of your choice (this will jack the price, and I don't need any more scent that the bar offers)
Mix all of this up into whatever container you like. Use about 2T per load of clothes. The 1/4 bar of laundry bar left can be used to pre-treat stains and will last about as long as the batch of detergent does.
With the containers of supplies I bought, I can make about 4 batches of detergent with just needing to buy the laundry bar again. The laundry bar can be substituted with Ivory soap, or whatever bar soap of your choosing, but do that at your own risk.
If you use this detergent, please add 1/2c white vinegar to your rinse cycle, as you should be doing anyway.
If you use this on cloth diapers, you may notice that you need to strip your diapers more frequently. I try to strip my diapers about every 8 weeks anyway.
Ingredients:
2c washing soda (found in nearly any laundry aisle)
2c borax (usually located right next to the washing soda)
3/4 bar Fels-Naptha laundry bar, grated (found next to the borax and washing soda)
1c baking soda
1/2c off-brand Oxyclean
Optional: 1oz essential oil of your choice (this will jack the price, and I don't need any more scent that the bar offers)
Mix all of this up into whatever container you like. Use about 2T per load of clothes. The 1/4 bar of laundry bar left can be used to pre-treat stains and will last about as long as the batch of detergent does.
With the containers of supplies I bought, I can make about 4 batches of detergent with just needing to buy the laundry bar again. The laundry bar can be substituted with Ivory soap, or whatever bar soap of your choosing, but do that at your own risk.
If you use this detergent, please add 1/2c white vinegar to your rinse cycle, as you should be doing anyway.
If you use this on cloth diapers, you may notice that you need to strip your diapers more frequently. I try to strip my diapers about every 8 weeks anyway.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Mocha Frappe
We love our frozen and iced coffee drinks. What we don't like is the price tag. So, here's a recipe for a drink that is sort of like a Frappe, but can be customized to your tastes.
When I have leftover coffee, I've been freezing it in ice cube trays. This lets you ice a coffee without watering it down.
Ingredients:
2 cups milk (cow, soy, almond, whatever. You could even use froyo or ice cream)
1/8-1/4c cocoa (or caramel, or whatever flavor you want)
1/4-1/2c sugar (or equivalent sweetener of your choice)
1t vanilla
1T fat/oil (this gives the creamy texture. All frozen coffee drinks get this added in one form or another. I recommend coconut oil.)
12-14 ice cubes or coffee cubes
Brownie crumbs, cookie crumbs, mint, m&m's, peanut butter, banana, etc.
Instructions:
Put everything in your blender and blend for 3-4 minutes if you want a shake-like consistency, less if you like the ice chunky.
Tips:
If you don't have coffee cubes, try adding in 1/4c or so of coffee, or even 1T instant coffee for that coffee flavor.
McCormick makes a delicious French Vanilla flavoring, found usually right next to the regular vanilla.
What flavor blend can you come up with? My plan for this evening is to make a mocha one with brownie bits in it. =D My brownie bits are a baggie in the freezer with the crumbs left after cutting and plating brownies.
When I have leftover coffee, I've been freezing it in ice cube trays. This lets you ice a coffee without watering it down.
Ingredients:
2 cups milk (cow, soy, almond, whatever. You could even use froyo or ice cream)
1/8-1/4c cocoa (or caramel, or whatever flavor you want)
1/4-1/2c sugar (or equivalent sweetener of your choice)
1t vanilla
1T fat/oil (this gives the creamy texture. All frozen coffee drinks get this added in one form or another. I recommend coconut oil.)
12-14 ice cubes or coffee cubes
Brownie crumbs, cookie crumbs, mint, m&m's, peanut butter, banana, etc.
Instructions:
Put everything in your blender and blend for 3-4 minutes if you want a shake-like consistency, less if you like the ice chunky.
Tips:
If you don't have coffee cubes, try adding in 1/4c or so of coffee, or even 1T instant coffee for that coffee flavor.
McCormick makes a delicious French Vanilla flavoring, found usually right next to the regular vanilla.
What flavor blend can you come up with? My plan for this evening is to make a mocha one with brownie bits in it. =D My brownie bits are a baggie in the freezer with the crumbs left after cutting and plating brownies.
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