| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Jul 08 2011 : 9:46:52 PM
Okay, so today my son and I went to the grocery store. I bought six half-gallons of organic milk (the two brands available don't come in gallon containers, and the store brand still doesn't taste right and makes me get headaches, so this is a weekly expense I've reconciled to incur), two gallons of store brand organic milk (for making mozzarella - I can't drink it due to the aforementioned reasons, but it's probably better for cheesemaking than "regular" milk, so I'm giving it a shot), two gallons of store brand orange juice, a block of cheddar cheese (on "sale"), two small store brand containers of feta cheese (on "sale"), two jars of parmesan cheese (on "sale"), and two containers of organic yogurt, and a small bunch of bananas...
Grand total?
I still can't believe this...
$71.97!!!
I didn't even buy meat!!! Doesn't this seem high to you, too??? I double- and triple-checked the receipt to be sure there wasn't a mistake. My husband is going to flip when I show it to him!
I realize the organic choices we make have caused our grocery bill to rise, but THIS? This is insane! And prices are expected to continue to escalate? We're just a family of three! How do larger families cope with this!? And I can't switch back to regular milk - it makes me sick! LITERALLY!
This is just not right!!! Just not right!!! There has to be a better way!!!
I honestly would LOVE to have a goat or cow (not to mention a sheep and some chickens to boot) but we're not allowed to have any "farm animals or livestock" in the city. What is a small city farmgirl to do? This is just... just... NUTS!
Okay... well... I'm done ranting. I just really needed to get that off my shoulders...
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| DeborahLee |
Posted - Jul 26 2011 : 10:40:58 AM
I thought this thread was "retired" but I just had to add one more thing. I went to my local Kroger's last this past weekend---Starkville is a small town and our local options are Piggly Wiggly, Kroger's and Walmart (and the farmer's market!) I sometimes pick up a few cans of Amy's soups---they're a healthy alternative to fast food and I keep a couple of cans in my office for quick lunches. It's been a while since I bought some but I couldn't believe the price---$4.85 a can!! This was for all varieties. It must be a mistake on the store's part, right? While Amy's is always higher, I don't ever remember the brand being this high.
Deborah
Professor, librarian, writer and farmgirl! |
| Bensgrandma |
Posted - Jul 17 2011 : 5:37:45 PM
Oh Nini,
How funny. His family left 10th ward late 60's but he knew the area well. Looking forward to your email.
If he is on facebook, he should look at the McKeesport Memories page.
It has a lot of great old pictures of the area.
Alexis
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HugsandStitches
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ACharmingExperience |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Jul 17 2011 : 4:55:42 PM
LOL! He grew up in 10th Ward!!! His parents owned Birdie's Landing! LOL! Wow! I'll email you soon, Alexis! :)
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com
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| Bensgrandma |
Posted - Jul 17 2011 : 04:43:03 AM
Hi Nini,
I am so excited that someone is from our area. I sent you a private message. That is so great. The noodle recipe was from my MIL who was from McKeesport too. If your husband knows anything about 10th Ward I bet he knew the family (depending on how old you guys are). You may be youngsters compared to us!
Alexis
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HugsandStitches
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ACharmingExperience |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Jul 16 2011 : 6:49:29 PM
Hi Alexis! Thank you SO much for your post and the recipe! I can't wait to try it!! We were just over in your neck of the woods the other day! How about that?! My husband grew up in McKeesport. What a small world! :) I'll let you know when I make them - your recipe sounds great! Hugs - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com
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| Bensgrandma |
Posted - Jul 16 2011 : 5:28:53 PM
HI,
I usually just lurk but loved this thread so I thought I would join in.
Nina - noodles are so simple to make. We have made them for years. My MIL showed me how and my kids love them.
I use one egg to one cup of flour and one half egg shell or so of water. Mix well, roll out, let rest, roll up jellyroll style and cut. I bought a noodle maker a few years ago because it was easier on my hands (arthritis) and we love to use it too. They can be used immediately or dried and used later. I've used an old wooden dryer rack to dry them on but usually we just make them when we need them. I have been using the mixer to mix and knead the dough because of my hands but I used to do them by hand.
You just need to use lots of flour to keep them from sticking.
Can't wait to see if others have noodle recipes too.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HugsandStitches
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ACharmingExperience |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Jul 15 2011 : 8:44:14 PM
woops... the milk got a little scorched in a smaller pan... hopefully it didn't mess the batch too badly :( luckily I have kids and a sister who will eat anything if I say it's 'gurt.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Jul 15 2011 : 2:20:44 PM
Isn't it amazing, Jen??? I've got three non-farmgirl friends trying it, too! :) One of them is a pre-school teacher and she plans to try it with her class this fall! How cool is that?! AND another friend says she goes through yogurt like water - her daughter is diabetic, and she just loves it. She started making hers yesterday. Haven't heard back from her yet, but I'm sure they're going to be thrilled with the results, too!
I started with the greek yogurt and got the same consistency, but I haven't tried any other yogurt as a starter, so I can't say whether it's really different from yours. I am on my third batch right now, I've used my own yogurt as starter both times - it's awesome!!!
I like mixing a tablespoon of homemade jam in mine! :)
Brenda - I think you'll be shocked at how easy making cheese is! I started making my own mozzarella a couple of weeks ago! Check out this site: http://www.cheesemaking.com/ It has all the how-to information, and offers various kits to get started. SOOOO simple and SOOOOO good!!! :)
What else can we try to make this week? I'm finding no matter what I make homemade, it's soooo much better, so much less work than I had anticipated, and saves money! :) And my family thinks I'm pretty amazing, too!
I think I'd like to make noodles... My foster daughter was slightly inspired a few months back and made egg noodles from scratch. She said it was so easy she couldn't believe it, and now she always makes her own. She said, too, that I could cut it thin enough to make it into "spaghetti" - anyone have thoughts on that??? I've never made pasta before in my life!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com
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| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Jul 15 2011 : 11:11:27 AM
It turned out! I got a nice jar of creamy yogurt using walmart generic plain for starter. I served it out in bowls and added sliced strawberries for breakfast and stirred in 3 tablespoons of sugar. I thought it was tasty... my kids went NUTS that I did this magical thing, and my sister, the yogurt fanatic (our mother WEANED her using yogurt) declared it amazing. The comment on the article says you get the kind of yogurt you start with, so I'm wondering if I'll get an entirely different consistency if I use greek yogurt for starter? I used "normal" single pasteurized 2% milk from Kroger. I can only imagine what I'd be able to do with some fresh from the cow jersey skim.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
| brightmeadow |
Posted - Jul 14 2011 : 7:40:24 PM
I do wish you luck! I have been thinking I should learn how to make cheese and yoghurt with the high price of cheese in the stores. I am blessed to have a local dairy that sells no-hormone, no-antibiotic milk (not organic, but better than generic milk) about 10 miles from me that sells the milk for about $4 a gallon. My car gets 24 mpg, so a round trip to get the milk costs me about $4 too. I can only use one gallon at a time, my husband eats cereal for breakfast but I am lactose intolerant. Crazy.
Lately cheese has been pretty expensive at the grocery, a couple of years ago I read a lot of articles about dairy farmers dumping milk because the price they got was so low. At the same time my grandma was getting cheese for free from some government program or another.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Jul 14 2011 : 6:48:51 PM
I've now got my yogurt fermenting in the blanket. Wish me luck!
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
| nubidane |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 2:38:06 PM
I absolutely love Sofya's site (girls guide to guns & butter), but she has not updated recently. I think she is pregnanat again.
Her recipes are full of good food, full fat (yum) & her descriptions of the food from her homeland make me feel as if I am there.
Somewhere in following her blog, she mentioned the AZcookbook, so I have that bookmarked also.
When my cukes come in, I will be mking her recipe for tarator. I ate that all summer, & even used it on salads.
The Azerbaijani's use for yogurt is neverending. |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 2:25:21 PM
Lisa, you're amazing, I LOVE that link. I've seen many methods and recipes for making yogurt but this one from the AZ cookbook is head and shoulders above them! plus the other recipes are a nice exotic departure from my usual southern style dishes so ty!
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
| woolgirl |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 12:56:48 PM
Thanks Lisa! Can't wait to give it a try! :)
Liz
Farmgirl #1947
www.militaryfarmgirl.blogspot.com |
| nubidane |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 12:50:52 PM
Liz
I have used all types & it always turns out. The ultra pasteurized organic milk does not thicken as well, but I am sure Aldi's milk will work fine. |
| woolgirl |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 12:48:45 PM
So can I just use regular store bought whole milk? My budget does not sadly allow for anything but Aldi milk these days.
Liz
Farmgirl #1947
www.militaryfarmgirl.blogspot.com |
| nubidane |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 12:27:57 PM
Nini!
I am so glad you are excited by this. I have been making this for well over a year, & I imagione I have saved quite a bit of money too. The only time I had it fail was in the winter. I put it near the fire, but the fire died down overnight (we heat mainly with wood) & it got too cool. But then I just made ricotta with it.
Today, I was looking in my freezer & I had some blueberries & peaches from last year, so I made 2 batches of frozen yogurt, just wizzed in the blender. Added nutmeg to the peach one & it is so yummy.
I make mine by the half gallon & store in a half gallon jar in the fridge. |
| CMac |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 11:32:42 AM
Page 3, 7th post down by Lisa there is a web site link. Check it out!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| woolgirl |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 10:37:12 AM
Did I miss where the yogurt instructions were posted? (more than likely I did...LOL!) Can't wait to roll up my sleeves and give it a try!
Liz
Farmgirl #1947
www.militaryfarmgirl.blogspot.com |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 10:11:27 AM
Connie, I swear to you, it didn't take much time at all. I think what took the longest was waiting for the milk to cool from boiling down to 115 degrees, but I just watched while folding clothes. After that, you pour it in the container, add the yogurt - don't stir - cover with a blanket and wait til the next morning (or just 8 hours - whichever you prefer). I just had a big bowl of it mixed with a little bit of blueberry jam. YUM-MY!!!
Good luck with your move! I'll say a prayer for you that all goes smoothly!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com
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| CMac |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 09:37:48 AM
I will. Moving day is Friday and the beans are in so it may be a week or two. But I am so excited about it I may just have to fit it in somewhere between boxes and canning!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 09:34:06 AM
Oh! Yeah! YEAH!!! You're SO right, Connie!!! I hadn't even thought about THAT! All the better...
Let us know how you make out, too!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com
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| CMac |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 09:03:01 AM
Lisa and Nini, I'm convinced! I'll do it as soon as I'm moved! LOL
Just think of all the plastic containers you won't be adding to the environment too! That alone would sell me. Woooo Whoooo!
Less money and less plastic! Better yogurt! Winner all around!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 08:52:58 AM
Okay, girls, hold your hats. I just emailed friends about the ease of yogurt-making, and figured out what I'll be saving each year:
I personally consume about two large containers of organic vanilla yogurt for its health benefits, as well as purchase an additional quart of regular and/or greek style yogurt for cooking, on top of potatoes, AND as a facial treatment (a little yogurt mixed with aloe vera juice as a cleanser and/or mask - it doesn't cause a skin reaction, and keeps my skin smooth as silk... follow up with a light coat of vitamin e oil or coconut oil, which are not only extra moisturizing for skin, but also help reduce wrinkles! OH! And use a little baking soda mixed with water for your "microdermabrasion." You'll be amazed! AMAZED I tell you!). Oops! As usual, I digress...Sorry! So, on the average, I buy about 3 quarts of organic yogurt a week.
What did I save by making my own yogurt? (Thank you, Lisa!) Well, I figured it out as best as possible... It usually costs me $3.69 for a quart container of yogurt - on sale. The organic pasteurized whole milk I bought to make my own cost me about $1.32 for a quart (it'd be less if I didn't use organic, and I know that I don't have to use whole, but I like it for cheese, so that's what I had in the fridge). I only used a very tiny amount of the yogurt I already had on hand (3 tablespoons), so let's say MAYBE $.50 for the yogurt (which, by the way, if I excercise self-control and don't consume it all, I'll never have to buy it again - I can use my own for the starter!). Cooking time was minimal - maybe 10 or 15 minutes? - so I don't think the cost of energy was a major factor. And my personal time was really not interrupted at all: I just continually checked the thermometer while doing laundry and folding clothes. No biggie there! And remember, I didn't have to buy a fancy machine, or special tools to make this. I didn't even need a spoon for mixing! All I needed was a pot (check), a measuring cup (check), a measuring spoon (check), a thermometer (my candy thermometer worked fine - check), a container for the yogurt (I used a clear plastic pitcher with a sealable lid, because that's what I had on hand - check), and a blanket (check). It was amazing - I didn't have to spend money and write a (check). Wow.
So let's say it cost me about $2 to make a quart of yogurt - fresh, thick, creamy homemade organic yogurt, made from "happy cows," and with no preservatives, no additives. Yeah. Good stuff.
So, when all was said and done, I've saved about $1.69 per container by making my own yogurt. That's roughly $5.07 per week, average $21.97 per month, or - can you believe this? - $263.64 per year off of my grocery bill! That's a mucha mucha lotta "mooooo"-la! (Hear the cow saying moooo-la!?) And, by using my own starter, that savings climbs up to $2.19 per container, $6.57 per week, $28.46 per month AND (did I say, THANK YOU, LISA?!) $341.64 per year!!! That's a lot of coins saved, my friends! (Lisa - my husband said HE'D kiss you if you were here! LOL!) And considering the minimal effort needed to make yogurt, I'd be insane NOT to make it myself anymore!
So, my friends.... TRY it. Please! If you have kids - they'll love this "summer fun science project," too! Especially if they like yogurt!
As always, you farmgirls rock with inspiration!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Jul 12 2011 : 07:06:13 AM
Lisa! I DID IT!!! I MADE YOGURT!!! Yee hah!!! It was so easy - and it's so yummy!!! THANK YOU! If you were here, I'd KISS you!!! I am amazed. I used the recipe with the blanket at azcookbook.com . SO easy! I can't wait to share this with friends! You ROCK!!
Good for you, Megan! You GO girl!!! :)
Hugs to all! Happy day!
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com
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