If there is one complaint Stephen has about my cooking is that we don't eat the same thing more than once very often. He likes familiar things, I get bored with a recipe after once or twice- the second time I make something it doesn't taste nearly as good. Which is why the huge collection of recipes I have is probably a waste of space, but don't tell the guys that are moving those boxes- they are super heavy.
So here is the deal: we are trying to eat with a lot of food storage type items and I am BORED TO DEATH. I need something new to spice up the life of dried beans, canned tomatoes, pasta, rice. We will have next to nil to live on for a while- this closing is sucking us dry, so eating on the cheap will probably continue for a while. Like a year. Blehhh.
I'm calling for all websites or favorite recipes you have that feed a family of four for cheap. Also, any great tips on saving money on groceries (I know all about the grocery game). How cheap? Well, I don't usually spend over $2.99/lb for any meat, if that is any indication.
I walked in the store the other day and nearly choked- $1 for green onions?? I miss Jerry's in Chicago (Niles, actually) so much at moments like these. I am pretty sure that place was a front for the Mafia, but I didn't care. The prices were INSANE. Ten cents for green onions, 10 little avacados for $1, 3 pounds of strawberries for $1 . . . you can't beat that.
So let me know- and if you have more than one recipe, email me on the link to the left. Thanks you guys, and you know I will send out a compilation of what you send me. Just leave me your email address in your comment.
12 comments:
I'll think about this and get back to you. Off the top of my head, I'd say whip out the crockpot. When I'm looking for food on the cheap, I go for things like tortilla soup, baked potato soup, that sort of thing.
I'll email you.
Hope the moving is going okay. We will miss you guys!
Start planting your garden now...that way you can get your own green onions, etc. The peppers are what kills me here: $1.50 for one green pepper!!!!!! And I haven't been able to successfully grow them in my yard...too much shade. Something cheap I make is potato bar: baked potato, chili, cheese, broccoli, whatever else you want to pile it up with. I can't think of anything else now, but i'll get back to you.
Your friend Becky has given you good advice on produce. I recently read that is where stores have the highest profit margin. True? Who knows, but it makes me want to garden, too. Green peppers freeze well, too.
Slow cooker refried beans:
Rinse 2 C pinto beans.
Place in slow cooker w/
6 C water
2 C tomato juice
1 tsp salt
Cook on medium for 4 hours, stirring occasionally.
Drain off some of the liquid.
Puree.
Enjoy.
Or . .. fry some bacon, add some of the grease, 1 tbsp at a time (and the bacon), and then puree.
DELICIOUS. It makes a lot.
We eat them as a beans and rice meal/or with fritos/or tortillas. I love them with bacon (of course) but they are pretty good without, so I often omit it to save calories so I can eat my Fritos, you know?
You probably already have a recipe like this in your collection. We use it often enough it is memorized.
When I was taking my accounting class it was also a great time saver. We ate it every friday for a couple of months. During that time, I was at the computer, learning how to count up my pennies. You do have to stir though.
There is nothing more frustraing than trying to cut a grocery bill. I know how hard it is! We live on pancakes and grilled cheese when we are eating cheap.
Good luck! I wish I had more to offer you!
Whoa! If having the Mafia in town means grocery prices like that, then I welcome them to Ballard!
Here is a link to our recipe database: http://www.deweyltd.us/recipes/recipes.aspx
If you type a space in the search box then click "search" it will bring up everything in the database.
Most of these recipes are from the Taste of Home, Simple & Delicious magazine. Their website (www.tasteofhome.com) has lots of good recipes. Their magazines always feature a cheap eating section so I'm sure those are online as well.
I don't know if this counts as CHEAP, but it's got canned tomatoes, rice, and dehydrated onions in it! All you've got to buy are the pork chops and a green pepper.
Pork Chops and Rice
4 pork chops
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Trim fat (and bone if present) from pork chops.
Stir together flour, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Roll chops in flour mixture to coat.
Brown chops in skillet in hot oil.
While chops are browning...
heaping 1/2 cup uncooked rice
14.5 oz can diced (stewed) tomatoes
2 Tbs chopped onion (I use dehydrated onion- I measure 2 Tbs dried, then I add some water and let it absorb 1-2 minutes before I mix it in with the other ingredients)
4 Tbs chopped green pepper
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3-4 Tbs oil
Combine all.
Pour over chops in skillet.
Cover & simmer (on low heat or you'll have a scorched layer across the bottom) for 45 minutes.
Do NOT lift lid during cooking.
We lived off of hamburger mixed with saltines covered in gravy made from chicken bouillon, water, and flour when we were dirt poor. But maybe a better hint would be to put all those recipes in a database so when things go on sale,or you have leftovers you can readily use it. hmmm..didn't I give you a cooking database 2 years ago for Christmas....
I got this really good Pulses booklet at work today, ironically, and it has about 20 great recipes! Send me your mailing address and I will mail it to you. They all look yummy! Even how to make cookies with lentils.
OK these are my go-to recipes - but I must admit, they are probably go-to recipes because they are easy (and yummy) and less because they are cheap - regardless - enjoy!
Moroccan Chicken
1 lb chicken thighs
1 can garbanzo beans
1 can canned chopped tomatoes
1 zuke
olive oil to cook in
chicken broth
cayenne pepper to taste
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Cooks in one skillet - starting with the chicken, then zuke, etc. simmer 15-20 min. serve over couscous.
Rigatoni with Sausage and Kale
rigatoni - cook as directed
in skillet - turkey sausage Italian sweet - brown then add kale - lots - it cooks down add a little chicken broth - simmer - add the cooked pasta, red-pepper flakes (optional)
top with parmesan
(My third go-to is Chicken in Pecan Mushroom Cream - a Mitzi-find - Jeff has actually asked to roll in it)
Bon Appetit!
hey I don't know about Seattle, but you can get CRAZY good deals and a really good variety of produce at the Mexican supermarkets. We are sure getting A LOT of them around here lately....good thing? I don't know. But check if there are any (or other types) in your area
We just had an easy go-to that has a lot of the stuff you mentioned. I call it Tex-Mex Lasagna.
Make a tomato sauce mixture - puree diced tomatoes, cilantro, and some other cooked vegetables like carrots or zucchini (whatever you want to sneak in) and about a cup of salsa.
It is handy if you have tacos a night or two before and make extra meat to go in this. I often make this meatless too.
Layer tomato sauce, tortilla, tomato sauce, cooked ground beef (with taco seasoning) and black beans (or pinto), tortilla, tomato sauce, frozen corn, a can of green chilis, cooked rice, tortilla tomato sauce and cheese.
That's the gist of it but obviously it's flexible, but my kids love it.
Post a Comment