Eating Cheap

Just back from Northern Nevada where the living is frugal because no one has much money.

Chicken and rice: the day after I returned, I was busy with unpacking, bills, mail, laundry, well, you know, a million and one things which did not yet include grocery shopping.
Found two nice boneless, skinless chicken breast pieces in the freezer. Halves from the look of them. While they thawed, I got out the rice and put some dried tomatoes to soak. Chopped up 3/4 of a red onion and some garlic.

When the breasts were thawed, I cut each in half and sauteed them in a mixture of butter and canola oil. For the yin and the yang as it were. Removed the chicken from the skillet and dumped in the onion and garlic. Once that was softened I added the tomato and a generous pinch of red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and another pinch of Herbes de Province. Cook the seasonings for a minute them dumped the rice in and sauteed that. Opened a carton of low-salt chicken broth and measured out the correct amount for the rice, minus what the tomato water would add. Dumped the broths in and set the breasts back on top of the rice/veggie mixture. Put a tight-fitting lid on the skillet and put the whole business into the oven for 20 minutes.

Served with a can (79 cents) whole green beans. This was really tasty and we made two meals out of it which made it even cheaper. The second night I served carrots and a salad along with the chicken dish.

Today, I found some pieces of pot roast in the freezer and made beef and barley vegetable soup. This will also make two meals. Browned onion, garlic, carrots, and celery until limp. Added some thawed peas and a handful of grape tomatoes. Paprika, salt, pepper, and some cilantro and dill thinnings from the garden. Poured in the barley and added the leftover chicken broth from the previous meal along with a carton of mushroom brother from the Ocean State Job Lot ($1.50). Are you getting the idea? This meal cost next to nothing. We had a salad and some bread sticks also from the Job Lot.

I hope you keep barley, beans, lentils, rice, couscous, pasta and grains around. They are cheap, nutricious and filling. I always have onions, garlic, carrots, celery and tomatoes, and frozen peas in the freezer. Chicken vegetable, beef barley, the soups practically make themselves. Keep herbs on hand or better yet, grown your own.

Plan your meals around the grocery store's specials. And learn to make your own pizza. We can buy the dough for $1.59 and enjoy experimenting with various meats, veggies and cheeses. When tomatoes and basil are in season, you can't go wrong.

The Cheeseparer

In the Good Old Summertime

Here are some tips for your summer savings. Enjoy the thrill of the grill, too. Did you know you can grill practically anything? Sign up for a grilling newsletter that will discuss grilling fruits, veggies, even romaine lettuce. Using indirect heat, you can cook meatloaf and almost anything on your grill. Don't heat up the house on those hot summer evenings.

Remember that spices, herbs and seasonings can create memorable flavors. Be creative. Make your own rubs.

Get a jump on summer with these tips to save $$$$

http://genxfinance.com/2008/05/06/get-a-jump-on-summer-with-these-warm-weather-money-saving-tips/

And speaking of summer, here are some ways to save on your water bill and help the planet, too.

http://www.moneyaside.com/10-money-saving-tips-on-water-in-your-garden

The Bah Humbug Award

Boy, talk about cynical! Here is one person's opinion of the Worst Money Saving Tips. I agree with the booze, internet and walk stuff, but the store specials are another matter.

Here's the link:
http://americannonsense.com/?p=8749

And another link to some hints on summer vacation savings. I absolutely concur with the take your own food in the car. More nourishing, faster, cheaper and tastier. And you can plan fun picnics along rivers and in parks and have scenery for lunch.

http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/today-in-travel/tips-and-tricks-for-saving-on-summer-vacations.html?id=2561427

No Knead Bread

Eating on the cheap --this paper has good advice and they also have the no-knead bread recipe. I've made it several times and it really works. Not much trouble at all, and with the price of bread you will save! Just don't eat the whole loaf at once. Mais non!

Scroll down for the cheap eats advice.

http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/allyoucaneat/

The Cheeseparer

All the way from Jacksonville, Florida to You

Cheeseparing (money-saving) tips from Florida.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/050408/lif_274807536.shtml

Hey, I donated that dress you're wearing to the Salvation Army. Used clothing can be an excellent buy. Most resale shops are ultra-picky. Even cheaper: wear the clothes you have for a year or two. Most of us have far too many clothes. For big parties, weddings, etc., the second hand shop has a lot of offer. You may never wear the dress you got for your cousin's wedding again.

Lounge socks are cheaper than houseshoes. I buy them at Ocean State Joblot (my fave cheeseparing store) for $1.00. Warm and comfy.

Now I have to go clip those coupons from the Globe. Three different booklets in today's Sunday paper. Zowie!

Hearty Breakfast

Woke up to gloomy weather and rain on a bleak Saturday. First thought was "ugggh!" and the next thought was oatmeal!

Oatmeal is cheap and filling and nourishing. It even tastes good. We make sure it tastes good by sticking a few plump golden raisins into the pot right before it's done. 2% milk with a dollop of cream and a spoonful of demarara sugar (or brown) puts the icing on the cake, so to speak. Of course you will want a helping of juice or fruit to balance the meal.

At our house we don't "do" instant oatmeal. We buy the stuff that has to cook for five (5!) whole minutes, which gives you time to set out the bowls, tiding up the kitchen, pour the juice and get your head centered. It tastes better, too. For a real (non cheeseparing) treat, sometime buy the steel cut oats when they are on sale. I also like Silver Palate oats, but don't have anymore coupons. Occasionally the house brand oatmeal can be purchased for a dollar.

Oatmeal also makes good filler for meatloat, and good bread, and you canmake make oatflour out of it in the Cuisinart and use it in cookies. Good source of fiber, too. So what are you waiting for?

It's tasty anytime, so don't procrastinate until you get a gloomy Saturday.

The Cheeseparer.

Chicken Soup From a Nail

Not chicken soup for the soul, but rather a belly-warming nourishing soup for practically nothing.

I started with the reduced broth I used to cook some chicken breasts that had both bone and skin, so there was some substance to it. I always cook chicken breasts or pieces with aromatic vegetables for more resonance. I had a small piece of pork tenderloin that I chopped up and added to the chicken.

Apropos the chicken, I always have a cup or so of white meat "scraps" in the freezer. Bits and pieces not used in another dish. Could be trimmings or just extra.

O.K. Chop up something from the onion family. I used three scallions, but anything will do as well. I chopped up some carrot, celery, and one clove of garlic and set them to cook in a mixture of butter/olive oil.

I added some peas that that been defrosted and a few chopped grape tomatos. Then I added the broth and some thyme, marjoram, a pinch of rosemary and some dehydrated chives. A goodly sprinkle of sweet paprika. Salt and lots of pepper. Add chicken and cook until the veggies are tender.

In a separate pot, cook 1/3 cup of rice in some water. When the rice is done, add to the soup and cook a few more minutes. Correct seasonings and serve.

I made some biscuits from low-fat Bisquick and 2% milk. They were delicious, especially with softened whipped butter. Yum!

The taste is good and believe it or not, it sticks to the ribs. I made the soup from stuff on hand, bits and pieces. It was like free food.

We ate the leftover biscuits for breakfast with butter and honey. I love Bisquick. They have a recipe for "onion cheese supper bread" that is the best. Google it.

Regards from the Cheeseparer

Save Money on Groceries and Clothes

The resale shops are doing great in the recession. You can buy and sell. Such a deal.

http://www.wivb.com/Global/story.asp?S=8254721

The grocery store sucks up lots of our dollars. Here are some useful hints about shopping smart as well as frugally.

http://www.news4jax.com/money/16102954/detail.html