| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jun 16 2009 : 10:19:21 AM
I've always been frugal at home, but since there are only two of us, I always make dinner for just "us", but now, I'm trying to make some things that stretch a bit (tomorrow, it's Red Beans and Rice in the crockpot)...
What are some of your favorite stretcher meals?
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| mellaisbella |
Posted - Jun 21 2009 : 05:39:01 AM
Lots of great ideas ladies!!
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
farmgal #150 |
| Celticheart |
Posted - Jun 19 2009 : 1:52:31 PM
I freeze them in ziplock bags. Then I reconstitute them in a little water and add to spaghetti sauce and lasagna.
It's not about being perfect, but enjoying what you do. Set aside time to be creative.
Robyn Pandolph
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| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jun 19 2009 : 12:55:18 PM
What a great idea about the pie filling...VERY inventive, and a great space saver!
After you oven roast your tomatoes, do you eat them that way, or do you freeze them?
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| Celticheart |
Posted - Jun 19 2009 : 12:12:16 PM
I haven't really changed the way I cook. Mostly cooking from scratch is just the way it's done. We've always canned, frozen or pickled anything that isn't still moving.
Our garden is bigger this year, on purpose, with an eye toward preserving even more and giving some to the food bank. Two or three years ago I started using a dehydrator more. That's been fun.
A few of my favorite things are--tomatoes--canned, frozen, and oven roasted(yum), parched corn(very versatile) and I freeze pie fillings in the shape of the pie plates or pans, pop them out, wrap and stack them up in the freezer. Very convenient. This year we're going to do some roasted peppers too my DD says.
It's not about being perfect, but enjoying what you do. Set aside time to be creative.
Robyn Pandolph
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| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jun 19 2009 : 08:37:18 AM
Thanks for that link, Pam. I am determined to get all that I can from our harvest, as well as the foraging we do (wild brambles for jams--good for us, and for Christmas gifts!) and pears (good for mulled wine for Christmas gifts!) and dry all my herbs. Thing is with those, I need some jars and can't seem to find them anywhere.
You know, Gail, My father was born in 1923, and he really knew how to stretch a dollar--he was orphaned, and worked on the racetrack as a jockey (i.e. VERY poor) until WWII gave him 3 square meals a day...well, in boot camp, anyway. And my mom was raised very much like you in the late 40's and 50's--they had nothing. My gram worked 3 jobs (and walked to each of them) because her husband bailed on them, and she wasn't much of a cook. But you know what my mother's favorite "comfort" food is, still to this day? Macaroni and Milk. Literally cooked macaroni in hot milk, like a soup with butter and salt & pepper. This was a staple in their house, and they ate it frequently when there was nothing else. Funny, at 61, she will still want it when she "can't think of what to eat" or when she's feeling poorly, or sad about something. I eat it too--one of my favorite dishes as a child, because my mom made it for me, and my grandmother made it for her.
I am so grateful for these women who came before us and left their mark on the way we run our homes and our hearts!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| GailMN |
Posted - Jun 19 2009 : 07:44:13 AM
Recession Cooking, Depression Cooking, Survival Cooking, I think your age and area of the country probably have an effect on how you see it. My mom raised a family of 6 children pretty much by herself. I am the oldest - since this thread started I have been thinking a lot about those growing up years in the 50's and 60's. My favorite meal was homemade dumplings, homemade bread and canned apples. We never (the kids) thought we were poor or did we ever go without anything we needed. My mothers lessons in frugality and depression cooking served me well in my years as a young wife and mother. I applaud all that embrace a way of life that protects our earth, health and pocketbook. You go girls!
Gail
Farmgirl Sister #506
Aim high; shoot for the moon and if you miss it, grab a star. |
| pamcook |
Posted - Jun 19 2009 : 07:16:44 AM
If you shop in the grocery stores - shop early, early in the morning when they are putting their meats and produce at mark-down prices.
Check out www.savingdinner.com - she has great recipes and even sends you the weekly shopping lists! Her frugal menus are some of the best.
www.ikat.org
www.longaberger.com/pamcook |
| mellaisbella |
Posted - Jun 19 2009 : 04:27:45 AM
ahhhh, the growing season in PEI is very short. people put their gardens in around The beginning of June (unless they have a green house) so it will be a long time coming!
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
farmgal #150 |
| Tammyb |
Posted - Jun 18 2009 : 8:22:47 PM
Wow I love this post. I'm trying the red beans and rice ( or maybe I'll make that black beans) :)
I bake / make and freeze alot ... mostly 30 meals at a time. I can during harvest time all I can get my hands on, dry some things and bulk buy when I can. I thought this was called survival shopping / baking !!! But I like recession cooking better :) Love all the tips girls. Keep this tread going.
Tammyb |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jun 18 2009 : 09:02:31 AM
Great idea about the bananas Alyssa Marie!!! I have some rotting on my table that I'll do that with tonight!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| AlyssaMarie |
Posted - Jun 18 2009 : 08:59:48 AM
We've been trying to cut our food costs too and making meals stretch. We use our freezer alot and stock up when we can so we can minimize our trips into town for groceries. One tip I loved was when your bananas go too soft to want to eat, but you don't have time to use them for banana bread, pop the bananas whole in the freezer. Then when you have what you need for making banana bread, thaw the bananas on the counter, cut off the tops and the banana goo just slides right out into the mixer, no mashing needed. I do this a lot so that I can bake several loaves at once and then pop the bread in the freezer. It works great!
AlyssaMarie @ Link'd Hearts Ranch
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| SpiritedRose |
Posted - Jun 18 2009 : 08:55:59 AM
Buy main stables in bulk is helpful. Also, look for "discount" or "ding and dent" stores. They sell food products that just have a little dent or something that doesn't damage the food. They sell at really cheap prices in general. (Dog food, too!)
Cheesemaker with a supportive husband,
Registered Jersey breeder, AKC Akita breeder, and friend of two favorite cats!
spiritedrose.wordpress.com |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jun 18 2009 : 06:03:39 AM
Good for you, Melanie! I sure do wish I had hens. That would be the BEST. And of course, dairy cows. But then, I'd never get anything done because I would always be hanging out with the critters.
When do things start growing in PEI?
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| mellaisbella |
Posted - Jun 18 2009 : 04:26:38 AM
I forgot to add my "recession cooking" tip. For the month of June I said to myself that I will only "shop" form my house. My freezer is full and pantry too. I have my own egg laying hens so I don't have to buy eggs and we have dairy cows so I don't have to buy milk. All I am buying from the store is fresh fruit, and fixin's for salads. since nothing is growing in my area of the world right now LOL!!
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
farmgal #150 |
| mellaisbella |
Posted - Jun 18 2009 : 04:08:43 AM
WOW!! I am still flabergasted that you can get chicken for .39 cents a pound!! That's amazing . the cheapest that I have ever seen it is 2.99 a pound
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
farmgal #150 |
| Runbikegrrl |
Posted - Jun 17 2009 : 08:21:16 AM
I totally agree ANYTHING with beans, rice, quinoa (high in protein)it filling nutritious and frugal. I eat vegetarian and simply most of the time ...but my son is home from college for the summer and that changes everything. The grocery bill really goes up with his frozen pizzas, all the milk and I am a total sucker for the kid : ) Anyway, last night I made a dish using rice as the base. I fried some onions and garlic in butter...then threw in some left over sausage, a bit of white wine, vegetable broth and rice...let it cook around 30 mins then tossed in some greens from the garden, really a huge mix of kale, spinnach, arugala and baby asian mix. It is enough to feed my son and I for at least 4-6 meals at about $1-1.10 a serving. Of course that is not considering my time spent growing the greens and the garlic.
Sherry from Chelsea...I live in Waterbury Center you are the closest "farm-girl" I have seen on MaryJanes!!! Welcome!
"So many interests so little time!"
http://lovelifelivegrrl.blogspot.com/ |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jun 17 2009 : 07:45:49 AM
Thanks so very much for the lovely compliment to Violet...she is truly a blessing. Congratulations on your seven grands and 3 wonderful children--I just never knew how changed my life would be for the better!
And yes, almost any smoked or sweet sausage will work. I think my poppa even used ham hocks and ham pieces when he had them on hand.
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| GailMN |
Posted - Jun 17 2009 : 06:09:35 AM
Jonni - ty for the Red Beans and Rice recipe - I am not able to get andouille in my area, but I will try another good sausage that we like. A visit to your blog introduced me to your beautiful daughter, Violet, I know what a treasure she is to you. As a grandmother of 7, and mother of 3, I can imagine the pride, love and enjoyment you have for your beautiful daughter.
Have a great day.
Gail
Farmgirl Sister #506
Aim high; shoot for the moon and if you miss it, grab a star. |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jun 17 2009 : 05:39:31 AM
Ohhh my goodness! You're in for something wonderful! My mom had a friend who had never eaten them before (Nawtherners!!!) and she couldn't get enough--she called them "laripin" which meant super wonderfully amazingly delicious in some lingo...
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| deeredawn |
Posted - Jun 16 2009 : 5:31:34 PM
Believe it or not.... I've never had red beans and rice. Now I wanna try some!
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~the only thing for certain, is uncertainty~ |
| 1badmamawolf |
Posted - Jun 16 2009 : 4:30:37 PM
greyghost, if you can get asian pears ( sometimes known as apple pears, since they are round) in your neck of the woods, dehydrate them, they are wonderful. I go to a u-pick every sept and pick them, dry most and then throw them in the freezer in small ziplocks, great sweet snack. I make fruit leather out of cherrys, apricots and plums mixed, yum yum
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
| greyghost |
Posted - Jun 16 2009 : 3:22:49 PM
I freeze more than I would like to. I'm hooked on my dehydrator - I dry everything! You've never had banana chips until you dry your own, lemme tell ya! Or dried strawberries... When I am sick of making tomato sauce and paste in summer I chop them down for dried tomatoes - throw in a little salt and oregano and WOW I could eat those all day.
Being vegetarian helps a lot with the budget. Meat is expensive (and cheese, since I can't have dairy), and now we rely on our garden more than ever to supply our dinner. Nothing goes to waste here either. Dogs get any leftovers we don't feel comfortable eating anymore, but more often than not, I freeze part of the meal or we eat it three nights in a row with a different side dish. With my vegan enchiladas, we'll have spanish rice one night, and I'll finish the rice for lunch, then cornbread another night...
Soups are the poor kitchen's best friend. It's so easy to make a HUGE pot of soup and feed an army, or freeze 3/4 of it lol. |
| hill farm lady |
Posted - Jun 16 2009 : 2:31:55 PM
My five have all flown the coop and now it is just my husband and I--except summers when a college-bound son is home! He can eat like I don't know what so I resort to the most filling, economical meals I can. Rice and beans are a favorite of all of us! And now that it is summer I can make homemade salsas to go with them. I freeze a LOT of stuff from the garden. I have a ton of spinach and there is a great spinach casserole in Rodale's STOCKING UP cookbook that freezes well. Also, spinach lasagnas freeze well. I freeze all the berries and fruit that I can because they make winter desserts really special. Strawberry rhubarb pie in January is the best!!
Happy summer canning--and freezing! 
From Vermont, |
| ranchmama |
Posted - Jun 16 2009 : 2:03:16 PM
I've always froze bread and buns, otherwise I'd be at the store every other day. I used to freeze milk, then I stoped and now I can't get back to it. The taste is off and I just don't. I try to buy enough ahead. Chili and roast I always freeze the leftovers. The roast makes good straganoff (sp) or BBQ sandwiches. If I make 2 pans of enchilladas and there are left overs those go in the freezer too.
I've done cakes and pies, but didn't eat those so I don't know how they came out. Sent them up to cow camp for the guys up there. They don't care what it tastes like, as long as it's sweet! I froze cookies and muffins for branding this year. The cookies were ok, but the muffins really got frezzer burn and mushed up fast. My pie crusts are in the freezer too Joni, I make them up 4 at a time. Butter too, I stock up when it's on sale. Some times the cook at the feedlot freezes bottled pop for the guys lunches, but I'm too afraid of it bursting on me. Or when they go to open it! I'll freeze shredded cheese but block cheese crumbles up on me.
Elise
Every Child Deserves Our Love &
A Bear of Their Own
http://ATeddyForKeeps.org
http://ranchmama.blogspot.com/ |
| campchic |
Posted - Jun 16 2009 : 1:56:51 PM
If you're looking for a great cookbook full of freezer meals. I suggest "Fix,Freeze, Feast" by Kati Neville and Lindsay Tkacsik. It is awesome! I spent an afternoon fixing "freezer meals. I ended up making 12 meals all together, and it took me 3-4 hours. I found the book on sale at Amazon.com for $9.99!
Erin
Farmgirl #190
www.concrete-and-grace.blogspot.com |
