| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 10:42:17 AM
I budget food for the whole month, so towards the end of the month, the cupboards start looking a little bare, and I have to start being creative with our meals. Does anyone else do this?
Well, to day I have decided is going to be a baking day. I have biscuits in the oven right now for a late breakfast (Yum! MaryJanes Budget Mix biscuits!)
Okay- So I have to say- I love the budget mix- I have used it for bakeover tops (bottoms?) and biscuits. It whips up in a second (literally!) and since you use the budget mix on the counter when you roll out the dough- it wipes up really easy too! I assume the baking soda in the mix helps it clean up so well?
Anyway- back to baking day! LOL
I am going to make enough biscuits to have for breakfast each morning (I am sick of cereal)
I am going to make some carrot cake loaves. I figure they are more healthy without the cream cheese icing! LOL
I am going to make a couple of loaves of bread
Maybe some butter cookies for desserts
I already have rice cooking for my Lentils and Rice. My fiance and I both really like Lentils and Rice and are happy to eat those for several meals. I also cooked up some black beans so we can have some black beans and rice as well.
I need to defrost some meat from the freezer. I think I will make a good stir fry rice for tonights dinner.
We have lots of potatos so we can have deluxe baked potatos one night and I have a really yummy dehydrated potato soup in the cupboard as well.
And to top all that off- we still have about $30 left in our grocery budget! I think we are doing pretty good! :)
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 29 2007 : 2:41:51 PM
Okay- Tomorrow I am going to do my end of month bakin day- I am going to make the following:
4 loaves of bread
As many blueberry muffins as I have bulk mix left (I think about 5-6)
Dinner rolls (another batch of bread just made into rolls instead)
Breakfast muffins
Flour tortillas
Corn Bread
Cookies and cakes and maybe a few pie crusts to pre-bake and freeze. This depends on if I get to the dollar store to buy some disposable pie tins.
and anything else that I can think of. Most of it is going to get heavily wrapped and put into the freezer so I can take out fresh stuff the night before I want it.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
| Annie S |
Posted - Jul 04 2007 : 2:04:15 PM
Kim, would love the recipe too.
MaryAnn, going to try that recipe - sounds devine and economical.
Annie |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 3:08:21 PM
It sounds really good! I will have to try this!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| Runbikegrrl |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 05:47:08 AM
Alee and the rest of you ladies...I just made something else with my end of the two weeks cupboard supplies...It is from that cookbook I have been raving on about called Heirloom Baking by the Brass Sisters the recipe uses no eggs, butter or milk it is called WAR CAKE , born out of necessity during 1914-1918.
War Cake
3 cups of flour siffted
2 cups plus 1 teasdpoon hot water, divided
2 cups brown sugar
2 tablespoons lard
1 cup rasins
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
steps are important to follow -
Set oven rackin the middle position. preheat the oven to 300. Line the bottom and ends of a 9 inch by 5 inch by 3 inch loaf pan with a single strip of wax paper. coat the pan and wax paper with cooking spray.
Add sifted flour to a bowl
In a heavy bottom sausepan add 2 cups of hot water, brown sugar, lard, rasins, salt, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and cocoa. Cook over medium heat, stirring with wooden spoon until mixture begins to bubble. Boil 5 minutes stirring contantly. Remove the syrup from heat and cool. Dissolve baking soda in one teaspoon warm water and add to the syrup mixture. allow to cool.
Add cooled syrup mixture to flour and beat until thouroughly blended. Place in loaf pan. Bake 45 minutes (mine took longer in my gas oven)...do the tooth pick tester thing. Cool on rack for 15 minutes before removing from pan. eat the cake at room temp (more like bread actually) ...I found it ages well and tastes even better after a few days...took it hiking and it was a good snack!
"So many interests so little time!"
http://lovelifelivegrrl.blogspot.com/ |
| Maryjane Lee |
Posted - Jun 29 2007 : 5:31:02 PM
Thanks Alee so much!
Hugs,
Maryjane Lee
The Beehive Cottage~
est. 1971 |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 29 2007 : 11:25:45 AM
Maryjane- It is mentioned in her publications, but it is a mix that you buy from the farm.
Here is the blurb from the website and a link:
All-purpose organic baking mix. You can use my stovetop skillet-bake instructions, my oven-bake instructions or make a BakeOver crust. And see my special recipe issue magazine, Farm Kitchen, for over 50 Budget Mix recipes and mouth-watering photos. This is a Project F.A.R.M. (First-class American Rural Made) product.
http://products.maryjanesfarm.org/pfoshop/product.asp?dept_id=232&ProductID=42010
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| Maryjane Lee |
Posted - Jun 29 2007 : 07:24:35 AM
I am interested Kim in your mix! Please share! Thanks Bunches!
Hugs,
Maryjane Lee
The Beehive Cottage~
est. 1971 |
| Carolinagirl |
Posted - Jun 29 2007 : 04:20:52 AM
I make biscuits to put up in the freezer. You can mix them, cut them and then put the uncooked biscuits on a cookie sheet in the feezer til they freeze- then transfer to a freezer bag or container. Just pop them in the oven when you want them.
I don't have MJ's biscuit mix, but I have a recipe for a mix you put together so you only have to add the milk when you want to bake biscuits. I'll share it if anyone's interested.
Kim in NC :) |
| summerbreeze |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 10:17:44 PM
Having a baking day is a great idea. I am working on planning and freezing meals. I have done that in the past and it saves a ton of money. I always have something to pull out of the freezer. We buy meat in bulk. We split a cow with friends in the fall and I buy organic chickens a dozen at a time right from the farm. I also try and buy grains in large amounts, 25 pounds at a time. It takes some planning for the budget but in the long run it saves a ton. I am also so tired of cereal in the morning. Hopefully some of the other gals will have some great ideas. I budget mix is great. I added ham and cheese and chives to mine before I bake them.
Laura
You only live once,if you do it right once is enough. |
| Maryjane Lee |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 10:05:05 PM
Alee, is MaryJane's Budget Mix in her first book, kitchen magazine or do I buy it from her? Thanks Bunches!
Hugs,
Maryjane Lee
The Beehive Cottage~
est. 1971 |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 10:01:05 PM
What a great idea! I think your menus sound wonderful!
Visit my Etsy shop at http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
http://therusticcottage.blogspot.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 9:34:38 PM
I use carrots alot as a meat extender. They sort of absorb some of the meat taste, add body and a slight sweetness. I also cook rice and lentils and black beans in chicken base. This gives them great flavor and even my carnivor of a fiance likes them! Meat is one of the more expensive items in my shopping cart. I refuse to buy sugary snacks and cereal. Buying healthy food saves a lot on the grocery bill, and I try really hard not to waste any food that we buy.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| Lavendar fields dreamer |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 7:58:56 PM
i want to budget and do better with my groceries so i will be taking advice from ya all. smoothies are always a hit at my house, we use pineapple juice or apple juice or orange juice(sometimes milk)and throw in strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries(basically whatever fruit is frozen in the freezer and i dont add any sugar my kids love them even if they are tart, they really just love the fact that i made a smoothie shake |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 6:28:22 PM
:) Well I got the Lentils and Rice prepared and the bread done- but the rest is going to have to wait till tomorrow. I am tired. I have no idea why my energy is sapped this week- but napping is just the best idea _ever_! LOL
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| Maryjane Lee |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 5:10:53 PM
Alee, you are so cute! What a wonderful baking day you have had! Just brings back memories of when my children were young. I baked 4 loafs of whole wheat bread every week for my little army. Ground my own wheat also. Oh, so good right out of the oven with a little butter....heaven! I must make some bread this week and maybe they will come back for a visit and bring their little armies!
Hugs,
Maryjane Lee
The Beehive Cottage~
est. 1971 |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 4:16:31 PM
Aunt Jenny- Do you ever have bananas that get too ripe? Cut them up, freeze them, and the blend them with milk. No sugar or vanilla needed and they are AMAZING! I ate this a lot growing up since I was allergic to so many things!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 3:47:00 PM
I love the budget mix too..and love your idea of a baking day. I tend to budget for the month too, and although I do stock up on canned goods and freeze alot of meat, I tend to run out of breakfast ideas (I am way tired of cereal too) and lunch too. We have been having smoothies a few times this week for breakfast...those have been a big hit and have used of some frozen fruit I had on hand. I add milk and a tiny bit of vanilla .
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| sewgirlie |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 3:08:12 PM
I shop roughly every two weeks. I make a list of all the dinners we will have and stick to that when I shop. If I get fish or something else from a friend, I consider it a free meal and have one less to buy next time! I also double some of my recipes and freeze one or eat it for two nights (I ask my dh what he wants to do with it since it does not matter to me either way). I do have to get fruit/veggies and milk on the odd weeks, but I can do that at the farm stand or quick mart. I make most of our snacks and the breads we eat with supper.
At least once a week we eat soup made from whatever big dinner (turkey/chicken) we have that week. In the winter we eat pheasant and venison when we or our neighbors hunt. (My daughter does not know this! :)
I love a stocked pantry too!! Once every few months I buy everything I need that has to be replaced like flour, pasta, etc. |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 1:43:34 PM
We usually stock up at the beginning of the month, and I do like having a full cupboard. So a couple times a year we really stock up and fill the pantry.
How do you manage your food budget?
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| LJRphoto |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 1:16:22 PM
It sounds like you are doing really well. More and more we scrape by on what's in the cupboards and what we get out of the garden. I'm really going to have to get around to buying some of the budget mix.
"I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority." -E. B. White
http://www.betweenthecities.com/blog/ljr/
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