Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Weekly groceries under $60 - 2nd week
This week I went a little overboard - cost $120 - but ------ I hoping it will last longer than a week. So far it is just on a week since I did my shopping and I still have food. Getting a little short on milk and bread - note to self buy 2 more next time. I'm also trying to make some good meatless meals - very hard when a big meat family. Plus I have been reading a lot about once a month cooking and freezing. And couponing, which I'm working on - takes a while to build up a stock pile of coupons and then a stock pile of food, but plan to get one item of food a week with coupons that is hardly going to cost me anything. Last night I made another winner - sausage pasta - cost about $7 for 4 so not bad.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Steak dinner - under $10
I believe it is important to boost your iron levels in winter and steak is always a good way to do this. Yet it is so expensive to get this into your budget so I'm giving this recipe a go. It is made with flank steak but you can use any steak that is on sale - I got mine for $5 but only got 1/2 lb - but I will add a lot of vegs and couscous to make it go further.
1/2 lb Flank Steak (cut about 3/4 in. thick) ($5)
1 small red pepper (cut lengthwise) ($1.29)
1 onion (cut into wedges) (70 cent)
1 can of tomatoes (you can use any kind) ($1)
1/2 cup water
1 tsp chilli powder (10 cents)
1/2 cup Couscous (any kind) ($1)
1/2 cup hot water
Method
1/Add everything to a slow- cooker (if you don't have one you can use a stock pot on very low heat). Cook on low for about 7- 8 hours.
2/ Place couscous in a bowl, add water and cover - fluff with a fork.
Update
I have to change this recipe a little - I find it best if you put cut steak in a bag with about 1/2 cup of flour and a little salt - shake to coat and then brown in skillet of medium-heat first. Then I put slow-cooker on high for 30 mins. Then low for about 6 hours - just before you remove to serve - mix 1 Tablespoon of flour and 1/4 cup warm water and stir into slow-cooker - this will thicken up the stew.
You can also add cubes of potatoes, carrots instead of tomatoes and peppers and serve with rice.
Serve the steak over the couscous.
Total Cost $9.10 approx
1/2 lb Flank Steak (cut about 3/4 in. thick) ($5)
1 small red pepper (cut lengthwise) ($1.29)
1 onion (cut into wedges) (70 cent)
1 can of tomatoes (you can use any kind) ($1)
1/2 cup water
1 tsp chilli powder (10 cents)
1/2 cup Couscous (any kind) ($1)
1/2 cup hot water
Method
1/Add everything to a slow- cooker (if you don't have one you can use a stock pot on very low heat). Cook on low for about 7- 8 hours.
2/ Place couscous in a bowl, add water and cover - fluff with a fork.
Update
I have to change this recipe a little - I find it best if you put cut steak in a bag with about 1/2 cup of flour and a little salt - shake to coat and then brown in skillet of medium-heat first. Then I put slow-cooker on high for 30 mins. Then low for about 6 hours - just before you remove to serve - mix 1 Tablespoon of flour and 1/4 cup warm water and stir into slow-cooker - this will thicken up the stew.
You can also add cubes of potatoes, carrots instead of tomatoes and peppers and serve with rice.
Serve the steak over the couscous.
Total Cost $9.10 approx
Cottage Pie - Husband's Special
I love this recipe in winter - it fulls everyone up and is so easy to make - well my husband makes it - even better. Plus you can change it up to use leftovers etc.
2 tablespoons oil
2lb of beef mince (I had this in freezer as brought a lot while on sale)
2 onions chopped
1 celery stick, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons tomato sauce
1 tomato paste
2 bay leaves
Topping
5 potatoes diced
pat of butter
1/2 cup milk
Method
1/Heat oil in large frying pan over medium heat and add onion, carrot and celery. Cook until softened about 5 mins. Add beef and cook for 7 mins. Add flour and cook for 2 mins. Add sauces and bay leaves and simmer over low heat about 30 mins. Let cool and remove bay leaves.
2/To make topping boil potatoes for 20 mins or until cooked, drain and mash with butter and milk.
3/Preheat oven to 350 F and lightly grease a ovenproof dish. Spoon beef mixture into the dish and top with potatoes. Fluff potatoes with a fork and bake for about 25 mins.
ENJOY - you will love it - you can add different sauces and spices to your liking. Or add leftovers vegs.
Total Cost: Approx $8. Plus it makes enough to have for lunch the next day!!
Most the sauces you will have already - this week I did have to buy soy sauce but it will last for about 3 months and if you can match it up with a coupon or in store special - can save you a lot of money.
2 tablespoons oil
2lb of beef mince (I had this in freezer as brought a lot while on sale)
2 onions chopped
1 celery stick, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons tomato sauce
1 tomato paste
2 bay leaves
Topping
5 potatoes diced
pat of butter
1/2 cup milk
Method
1/Heat oil in large frying pan over medium heat and add onion, carrot and celery. Cook until softened about 5 mins. Add beef and cook for 7 mins. Add flour and cook for 2 mins. Add sauces and bay leaves and simmer over low heat about 30 mins. Let cool and remove bay leaves.
2/To make topping boil potatoes for 20 mins or until cooked, drain and mash with butter and milk.
3/Preheat oven to 350 F and lightly grease a ovenproof dish. Spoon beef mixture into the dish and top with potatoes. Fluff potatoes with a fork and bake for about 25 mins.
ENJOY - you will love it - you can add different sauces and spices to your liking. Or add leftovers vegs.
Total Cost: Approx $8. Plus it makes enough to have for lunch the next day!!
Most the sauces you will have already - this week I did have to buy soy sauce but it will last for about 3 months and if you can match it up with a coupon or in store special - can save you a lot of money.
Monday, December 19, 2011
weekly groceries under $60 - 1st week attempt
Well did my shopping on Saturday - very busy day to do it but I had the time.
My groceries come to $88 so a little disappointing - I have a $5 bottle vouchers so $83 cash.
As I said it will cost a little to get started as I need to build up my stock pile plus I didn't use any coupons as I need to build them up too. I did mainly shop for stuff that is on sale so that helped too. My must haves come to $53.27 which I believe is what I will use this week. The other $29.73 is stuff that will run over into the following week so will come off my next weeks bill. (not counting Christmas of course). The way I did it is work out what meals you are going to cook during the week and cost them out. Get meat that is on sale really helps or buy in bulk so you can freeze for the following week. Check out my roast chicken meal for $5. Plus I will be posting other meals that I cook this week so you have an idea of easy and cost cutting meals. Tonight is cottage pie (great on a cold winter night - plus you can add left overs to it). So be sure to check back as I will be adding to this blog all week! Next week I hope to get a little closer to my $60 mark - I will be doing a special shop for Christmas Day so will go shopping on Monday or Tuesday. Plus I will have the kids home from school all week so will be lunches added too it. May even have family coming to visit!!
One more entry before I go - yesterday lunch I made omelets - very easy - eggs, butter, cheese (can add vegs like peppers, tomatoes etc) another cheap meal.
Plus this is a tip from my husband - I can't believe I never thought of this - buy your cheese from the deli - I got a pound for $2.99!!!! In the dairy section it is $6-$8 - huge saving!!!!
My groceries come to $88 so a little disappointing - I have a $5 bottle vouchers so $83 cash.
As I said it will cost a little to get started as I need to build up my stock pile plus I didn't use any coupons as I need to build them up too. I did mainly shop for stuff that is on sale so that helped too. My must haves come to $53.27 which I believe is what I will use this week. The other $29.73 is stuff that will run over into the following week so will come off my next weeks bill. (not counting Christmas of course). The way I did it is work out what meals you are going to cook during the week and cost them out. Get meat that is on sale really helps or buy in bulk so you can freeze for the following week. Check out my roast chicken meal for $5. Plus I will be posting other meals that I cook this week so you have an idea of easy and cost cutting meals. Tonight is cottage pie (great on a cold winter night - plus you can add left overs to it). So be sure to check back as I will be adding to this blog all week! Next week I hope to get a little closer to my $60 mark - I will be doing a special shop for Christmas Day so will go shopping on Monday or Tuesday. Plus I will have the kids home from school all week so will be lunches added too it. May even have family coming to visit!!
One more entry before I go - yesterday lunch I made omelets - very easy - eggs, butter, cheese (can add vegs like peppers, tomatoes etc) another cheap meal.
Plus this is a tip from my husband - I can't believe I never thought of this - buy your cheese from the deli - I got a pound for $2.99!!!! In the dairy section it is $6-$8 - huge saving!!!!
Roast Chicken Dinner for 4 people under $5
I love this recipe and so does my family - so a real winner and only approx $5!!
1 large onion (cut into wedges)
4 carrots (cut into sticks
4 medium potatoes (cut in quarters)
Veg oil
Salt and Pepper
4 chicken legs//4 chicken thighs
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Heat oven at 425 F. Toss onion, carrots and potatoes in oil and salt and pepper - transfer to baking dish and roast for about 30 mins.
Season chicken with spices and salt and pepper add to baking dish with vegs - roast until chicken is cooked through and vegs are golden brown and tender about 30 - 40 mins.
Cost
Chicken $3.49 (shopped for a tray of legs, a tray of thighs and still have enough for 2 more meals)
Onion 59 cents
Carrots 33 cents
Potatoes 50 cents (on sale especially this time of year)
Spices approx 5 cents (always look out for coupons)
Total $4.96
1 large onion (cut into wedges)
4 carrots (cut into sticks
4 medium potatoes (cut in quarters)
Veg oil
Salt and Pepper
4 chicken legs//4 chicken thighs
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Heat oven at 425 F. Toss onion, carrots and potatoes in oil and salt and pepper - transfer to baking dish and roast for about 30 mins.
Season chicken with spices and salt and pepper add to baking dish with vegs - roast until chicken is cooked through and vegs are golden brown and tender about 30 - 40 mins.
Cost
Chicken $3.49 (shopped for a tray of legs, a tray of thighs and still have enough for 2 more meals)
Onion 59 cents
Carrots 33 cents
Potatoes 50 cents (on sale especially this time of year)
Spices approx 5 cents (always look out for coupons)
Total $4.96
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Creating a Greener Family: Peppermint Bark
Creating a Greener Family: Peppermint Bark: Years ago I was in Philly for a work trip and brought peppermint bark. I have loved it ever since, but could not find it. So I decided like ...
Friday, December 16, 2011
Weekly groceries bill under $60
Time to reduce the household bills so ends don't just meet they overlap - I'm going to start with my groceries and see if I can get it under $60 per week for a family of 4 - including my 2 teenagers. I have done a base list of must haves for the week - which is basically cheap meals so I can spend more money on building up my stock. Plan is to spend $40 on musts for the week and $20 on stock or things that will last longer than the week so I don't have to purchase them within the next weeks budget. Plus I'm going to search items on sale and coupons to help me out. Once I have done the shop (Saturday) I will post my list and recipes that I plan to cover. It will be tough the first few weeks (Christmas day shop will not be included). Plus I will be cooking with ingredients that I have in stock so that will help me out. Currently I'm spending about $100 + on groceries so that has to stop. If you know of any really good cost cutting recipes that I could use, please post them. My children both buy lunch at school so I don't have to buy lunch stuff for them but my husband takes his lunch with him. I will be looking at children's lunches down the road but everyone has to start somewhere - plus we have a dog so will be including dog food as well.
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