Freezer: Using up the Winter Stocks

Since it is the time of the year when we spring clean, I thought that it would be nice if we all considered our freezers for a few minutes. Do you have any leftover produce in the freezer? I know that I still have some eggs and grated zucchini in the freezer that needs to be used. Here are some pointers for using up your winter stores:

* The eggs that you purchased on sale and froze will need to be used up. Since the yolks had to be broken to freeze, you can not make boiled or fried eggs with them. You could make other things, though:

scrambled eggs

french toast

use them when baking

I tend to freeze mine in snack size baggies, which I later wash out and reuse to pinch pennies. I freeze them one egg to a baggie, then I put all of the baggies into a quart or gallon size freezer baggie until I want to bake something. The eggs I will need can be taken out the night before I need them, or the morning that I will spend the evening baking. (I wash and reuse the freezer bag when I am done with it.)

 

* Grated zucchini can be used to make:

muffins

breads

omelets

cookies

brownies

cakes

This site may be helpful: http://basic-recipes.com/veget/zucchini.htm

 

* Diced apples are great for breads and muffins, brownies, cookies and cakes.

* Sliced apples make great crisps, pies and cobblers.

* You can make a great soup from (saved) leftover vegetables, meats and liquids from cooking the veggies.

Happy eating!

Shannon

Trail Mix from Leftovers

What with feeling the money pinch here, I have had to make do with little food in the house on a number of occasions. One thing that I have learned to do is to create trail mixes for snacks.

The first thing I do is to get out a  mixing bowl. Then I get out the plastic snack size baggies that I wash and reuse.

I then go through the cupboards. I throw whatever leftovers I can into the bowl:

a snack size box or two of raisins

the sunflowers seeds that are at the bottom of the jar

the remainder of the nuts from their containers

whatever cereals are left in the boxes

any leftover dried fruit

leftover crackers

what few candies are lying around

 

Pretty much whatever I can find.  The trail mix is then mixed up by hand and spooned into the baggies to be used as snacks. Sometimes, I will air pop corn and divide it between bowls, pouring a bag of trail mix over the popped corn in each bowl.

Very yummy.

Shannon

Fruit Salad

1 small jar of cherries, drained, cut into halves/fourths

2 apples, cored and chopped small

2 bananas, peeled and sliced

grapes, as many as you like, cut into halves/fourths

(optional) 1 or 2 cans of mandarin oranges

mini colored/white marshmallows, a handful or two

8 oz or less whipped topping

Mix them all up and serve 1/2 cup at a time. Will last in the refrigerator for a few days.

Purchase what you can on sale. Sometimes fruit can be found real cheap or even free at farmer’s markets if you go about an hour before closing time. If you can do this, it will be a truly frugal meal.

Serve as dessert, a snack or a side dish.

Banana Smoothie

 Blend:

1 small banana

1/2 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt

1 tsp wheat germ

milk, until the consistency you like.

Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie

1 small banana

1/2 cup low-fat vanilla or chocolate yogurt

1/4 to 1/2 cup peanut butter

milk, to the consistency you want

Banana Peanut Butter Milkshake

1 small banana

1 to 3 scoops vanilla or chocolate ice cream

1/4 to 1/2 cup peanut butter

milk, to the consistency that you want

Frugal Popsicle Ideas

You can make popsicles from these drinks by simply puring them into popsicle molds you can purchase for $1 per set at a dollar tree, making these very frugal treat for everyone. Pull them out whenever you here the ice cream truck approaching.

lemonade

iced tea

100% fruit juice, no sugars added

coffee

I guess that you can also use mixed pudding.

Maybe you can add fruit.

Chocolate milk?

Has anyone tried either of these? What were the steps and the results?

Individual Pizza Menus

These menus all assume that you are working around a $1 personal pizza from the grocery store. My daughters and daycare children love these, so I try to come up with different combinations of foods to serve with them.

They do *not* each get there own pizza. They must all share the pizza, whether we have 2 or 6 children here at the time. The point is to make a more healthy, frugal meal. Simply split the pieces of pizza between them all, and add one of the following combinations to the plate. Don’t forget to give them each a cup of milk.

apple slices and peanut butter***

apple slices with cheese

banana slices and grapes*

corn and peas

green beans and carrots

celery and carrot sticks with peanut butter***

fruit cocktail

applesauce and strawberries**

berry mixture**

fruit salad

salad mix

Can you think of any other combinations? Please share.

* Grapes should be cut into quarters for small children.

**Pediatricians believe that berries should not be given to children until ages 1, 2, or even 3 - they may have allergic reactions. Only you and your child’s pediatrician can determing if your child is ready.

***Some children have allergic reactions to peanut butter. Consult your young child’s pediatrician if your child has not been introduced to peanut butter yet.

Menus from Dollar Days Sales

In our area we have a grocery store called IGA. They have dollar sales every so often that last a week. Everything in the store is not a dollar, but quite a bit is a dollar or less. Many are store brands. Here is a list of many of the dollar deals that I have found:

pasta/rice sides or pasta roni

boxed mac and cheese (3 or 4 for $1)

cream cheese

graham cracker crust

whipped topping

canned vegetables (2 or 3 for $1)

cucumbers (2 for $1)

1 pound baby carrots (2 for $1)

bags of spinach, cabbage and lettuce mixes

salad dressing

oranges (3 for $1)

grapefruit (2 for $1)

bananas (3 pounds for $1)

5 pounds potatoes

ramen noodles (6-8 for $1)

baked beans

soup (2 for $1)

gravy (3 for $1)

hot dogs

personal size pizzas

english muffins (2 for $1)

bagels

24 oz apple sauce

canned pears

canned peaches

canned pineapple

canned mixed fruit

large cans of apple pie filling

large cans of pumpkin puree

There are many things that can be made with these items. In my home, we usually have 3 to 5 people eating a meal. Each menu will serve 5 or 6 people. Here are some ideas, assuming that you already have some meat, baking needs and condiments on hand. You will also need eggs, cheese and milk.

Breakfast:

English muffins with peanut butter, banana, milk

Bagel with cream cheese, fruit cocktail, milk

Homemade whole wheat bread with peanut butter, applesauce, milk

Homemade pumpkin muffins with butter, pears, milk

Banana pancakes topped with apple pie filling, milk

Homemade hash browns, omelet, milk

English muffin breakfast pizza with pineapples, milk

Dessert:

Apple pie filling topped with whipped topping

Peaches and pears topped with whipped topping

Bananas topped with whipped topping

Homemade cheesecake

Pumpkin Pie

Lunch/Dinner:

Mac and cheese with hot dogs and corn, milk

Ramen noodles, hot dog, green beans, milk

Casserole: hot dogs, corn and potatoes, milk

1 individual pizza, salad, milk

Pasta/rice side, hot dog, salad, milk

Shepherd’s pie, salad, milk

Baked beans, hot dog, homemade bread with butter, milk

I’m sure that you can come up with other ideas as well.

I usually have leftovers, which are frozen whenever possible. Any freezer plan site will be able to tell you what can and cannot be frozen. Even if there is just 1 or 2 teaspoons of vegetables, or meat, I freeze them for soups or casseroles later on.

Also remember, there are plenty of snacks listed above as well.

Some of the meals above end up costing less than 30 cents per person, about $1.25 per meal. Sometimes less, often a bit more.

(Recipes)

Pasta sides meal:

1 box of pasta sides/roni, cooked as directed

1/4 to 1/2 pound chicken, cut small and fired in a little Shed’s Spread Light - add to pasta side when it is time to let the side sit for a few minutes, mix and cover.

Serve with a salad, or add a cooked vegetable before covering to sit.

Baked Beans:

1 can beans

1 cut up and cooked hot dog

a little ketchup

a little molasses

Cook and serve with homemade bread topped with butter. We like to sop the bean juice up with the bread and butter. Yum!

Cheesecake:

I’m pretty sure this is a Kraft recipe, but I am not positive. We have been using it for years and don’t even have/need a written recipe for it.

Mix 1 package (8 oz, I believe) cream cheese, 1 (8 oz) tub of whipped topping and 1/3 cup of sugar with an electric mixer. Spoon into a graham cracker crust, and refrigerate.

Shepherd’s Pie:

In a casserole pan, place 1/2 to 1 pound browned ground beef, 1 can of corn with 1/4 to 1/2 of the liquid, and then top with mashed potato (enough for your family). You can sprinkle with cheese if you wish. Serve with a salad.

Hope these ideas are helpful.

Warmest Wishes,

Shannon

A Breakfast Treat

The other day, at the grocery store, I noticed packages of bacon for under $2.00. This was great! I picked a package up and brought it home.

We each eat two slices at breakfast. I make us each two french toast or pancakes, and I top them with a dollop of whipped topping left over from the holidays, and some fruit or berries.

Serve with a glass of milk and enjoy.