What are some things you do with your leftovers to make a meal for family so that they don't know they are actually eating those boring leftovers?
Here is a list of things that I do....
1. Roasted Chicken and Gravy can become several different things. I shred the chicken and add it to the gravy and make "Stewed Chicken Sandwiches". OR I combine the two and add leftover veggies to it and make Chicken Veggie Soup or Chicken Pot Pie or Chicken Noodle Soup.
2. Boiled Potatoes become Seasoned pan fries.
3. Roast, carrots and potatoes meal becames Veggie Stew. Or I take the leftover roast and add bq sauce to it for sandwiches. The leftover potatoes I cut up and make Cubed hashbrowns.
4. Chicken and Rice Casserole leftovers make a good base for homemade Chicken rice soup.
5. Roasted Pork Loin gets bq sauce add to it for BQ Pork sandwiches. OR I make up some chicken gravy and heat up the pork in the gravy for Pork and Gravy.
6. Spaghetti sauce gets used for Pizza Sauce on homemade pizzas.
7. Mashed Potatoes get put in a skillet with a pad of margarine and seasoned with seasoned salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder for some seasoned potato cakes.
8. Taco meat(beef or chicken) gets made into taco salad, or put on top of a plate of nacho chips, or gets used in making quesadillas.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Frugal Tips On Buying Meat
***After taking the time to read, Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy, I have decided to post about some of my "miserly" ways! I know that there are many websites, blogs, and books for that matter that share how to have a frugal/thrifty mindset already but each one does things a bit differently to suit their needs. So I figured that I wouldn't be stepping on anyone's toes if I shared some thoughts as well.***
Some frugal tips for purchasing meat, I found these in the list of 55 Ways To Save On Groceries(which they now have updated to 20 Ways!)....
--Chicken and turkey are usually less expensive, but contain more protein and nutrients than many other meats. They are also lower in saturated fats and cholesterol than many meats .
--Save money by cutting a whole chicken into parts yourself. You can do this or just watch ads for when then different chicken pieces are on sale. Around here I can get drumsticks and thighs for 69 cents/lb. I can also get whole chickens for 69 cents/lb. Bone-in chicken breasts are usually on sale around here for 99 cents/lb and when they are I usually will snag several packs. I cook the bone in chicken pieces in my crockpot and it just falls off the bones. Sometimes I will turn around and freeze the meat once it is cooked and off the bone to use in soups and casseroles.
--The less tender cuts of beef such as round, chuck, and shoulder are less expensive, but are as nutritious as the more tender cuts. Cook them right - braise or stew - and they are just as delicious. I found using a bottom round roast for roast, carrots and potatoes was just as good as an eye of round roast. The last couple of times that I have tried using a chuck roast it just was too fatty. I like using chuck roasts for cutting up and making beef stew out of it when it can be simmering in the crockpot all day.
--Liver is nearly always a good buy. It is high in nutrition and usually cheaper than many other meats. Beef liver costs less than calves' liver. Pork liver is less expensive and is highest in iron. One disadvantage is that liver is high in cholesterol. (and personally I do not like the taste of it! LOL)
--Ground beef (hamburger) is usually a good buy if it is fairly lean. Extra lean ground beef will yield more meat when cooked and is lower in calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol than regular ground beef.
--When comparing the cost of meat, compare cost per serving and NOT cost per pound. Sometimes a piece of boneless, lean meat may be a better buy than a cheaper cut of meat with a lot of fat and bone that costs less per pound.
--To figure the cost of meat per serving, divide the price per pound by the number of servings one pound will yield. A 3-ounce portion of cooked lean meat is a serving. The following definitions describe how many 3-ounce servings you can get from various cuts of meat, fish, and poultry.
--Lean, boneless meat: Extra-lean ground beef; liver; fish fillet; lean, boneless roast; and ham and canned meats = 4 to 5 servings per pound. Small bone-in meat: Such as chuck, round and rump roast, turkey and chicken breast, and stew beef = 3 to 3 l/2 servings per pound. Large bone-in meat: Boston Butt (pork) roast, pork chops, whole chicken and turkey, drumsticks, thighs, whole or half hams = 2 to 2 1/2 servings per pound. Bony meat: Spareribs, pigs feet, hamhocks, and chicken wings = 1 to 1 1/2 servings per pound. --It is often more economical to buy a large cut of meat and divide it into several meals or servings than to buy the component cuts separately. Example: Buy a pork loin roast and cut it into pork chops. I usually get 1/2 a pork loin when they are sale. Like this week they are 1.99/lb rather than 4.99/lb so I will probably get 2 or 3 of them. I will cut one into pork chops and then leave the others whole and freeze. Then when I want to use them, thaw them cut them in half and cook in my crockpot either doing pork, potatoes, and carrots or bq pork for sandwiches or roasted pork and gravy. I usually can get 2 1/2 meals out of one 1/2 pork loin.
--Compare the cost of frozen and canned meats, fish, and poultry with fresh meat, fish, and poultry. The canned may cost less per serving than the fresh since there is usually no waste in the canned product. One disadvantage of canned meats is that salt has been added and thus, they are higher in sodium than fresh, unsalted meat.
--Meats that have already been breaded will cost more. Do your own breading.
Some frugal tips for purchasing meat, I found these in the list of 55 Ways To Save On Groceries(which they now have updated to 20 Ways!)....
--Chicken and turkey are usually less expensive, but contain more protein and nutrients than many other meats. They are also lower in saturated fats and cholesterol than many meats .
--Save money by cutting a whole chicken into parts yourself. You can do this or just watch ads for when then different chicken pieces are on sale. Around here I can get drumsticks and thighs for 69 cents/lb. I can also get whole chickens for 69 cents/lb. Bone-in chicken breasts are usually on sale around here for 99 cents/lb and when they are I usually will snag several packs. I cook the bone in chicken pieces in my crockpot and it just falls off the bones. Sometimes I will turn around and freeze the meat once it is cooked and off the bone to use in soups and casseroles.
--The less tender cuts of beef such as round, chuck, and shoulder are less expensive, but are as nutritious as the more tender cuts. Cook them right - braise or stew - and they are just as delicious. I found using a bottom round roast for roast, carrots and potatoes was just as good as an eye of round roast. The last couple of times that I have tried using a chuck roast it just was too fatty. I like using chuck roasts for cutting up and making beef stew out of it when it can be simmering in the crockpot all day.
--Liver is nearly always a good buy. It is high in nutrition and usually cheaper than many other meats. Beef liver costs less than calves' liver. Pork liver is less expensive and is highest in iron. One disadvantage is that liver is high in cholesterol. (and personally I do not like the taste of it! LOL)
--Ground beef (hamburger) is usually a good buy if it is fairly lean. Extra lean ground beef will yield more meat when cooked and is lower in calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol than regular ground beef.
--When comparing the cost of meat, compare cost per serving and NOT cost per pound. Sometimes a piece of boneless, lean meat may be a better buy than a cheaper cut of meat with a lot of fat and bone that costs less per pound.
--To figure the cost of meat per serving, divide the price per pound by the number of servings one pound will yield. A 3-ounce portion of cooked lean meat is a serving. The following definitions describe how many 3-ounce servings you can get from various cuts of meat, fish, and poultry.
--Lean, boneless meat: Extra-lean ground beef; liver; fish fillet; lean, boneless roast; and ham and canned meats = 4 to 5 servings per pound. Small bone-in meat: Such as chuck, round and rump roast, turkey and chicken breast, and stew beef = 3 to 3 l/2 servings per pound. Large bone-in meat: Boston Butt (pork) roast, pork chops, whole chicken and turkey, drumsticks, thighs, whole or half hams = 2 to 2 1/2 servings per pound. Bony meat: Spareribs, pigs feet, hamhocks, and chicken wings = 1 to 1 1/2 servings per pound. --It is often more economical to buy a large cut of meat and divide it into several meals or servings than to buy the component cuts separately. Example: Buy a pork loin roast and cut it into pork chops. I usually get 1/2 a pork loin when they are sale. Like this week they are 1.99/lb rather than 4.99/lb so I will probably get 2 or 3 of them. I will cut one into pork chops and then leave the others whole and freeze. Then when I want to use them, thaw them cut them in half and cook in my crockpot either doing pork, potatoes, and carrots or bq pork for sandwiches or roasted pork and gravy. I usually can get 2 1/2 meals out of one 1/2 pork loin.
--Compare the cost of frozen and canned meats, fish, and poultry with fresh meat, fish, and poultry. The canned may cost less per serving than the fresh since there is usually no waste in the canned product. One disadvantage of canned meats is that salt has been added and thus, they are higher in sodium than fresh, unsalted meat.
--Meats that have already been breaded will cost more. Do your own breading.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Singing Sunday
**Due to sickness, the family didn't go to church this morning! So I am sharing a song that has been going thru my head all week!**
Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Early Childhood Learning Resources
Since I have a Pre-K/Kindergarten dd this year I thought I would share all of my favorite links for Early Childhood Resources. I don't do a "pre-packaged" curriculum at this age, but I use my public library for books and then the following websites for ideas, activities, and worksheets for a VERY laid back(do school when she asks) type schooling with her. Most of these sites, I will tap for ideas over the next two years before I really get into teaching her to read and doing more first grade type material.
Pre-K Smarties -- a preschool education resource for parents teaching preschoolers with tips for early reading using phonics, parenting articles, family freebies, and deals on the best educational toys.
Preschool Printables
Preschool Education
Building Blocks to Reading: Activities by Letter
Kiddy House Worksheets
First School Preschool Activities and Crafts
TLS Books Preschool Worksheets --lots of worksheets at this site. Look over in the left hand column and you will see other grade levels...click on those links for worksheets in those grade levels.
Literacy Center's Color wheel Activities --online activities to recognize colors, choose the language you want to learn the activities with.
Child Fun
Preschool Lesson Plans
Kidz Club
Mom's Minivan --travel game ideas
ABC Teach --over 5000 free pages and worksheets....shape books to themed based material to flashcards
Alphabet Soup Coloring Book
Letter of the Week
Bible ABCs
Preschool Express--tons of themed activities and ideas
DLTK-kids tons of crafts and activities
**My Pre-K/Kindergarten Curriculum--a look into what I did with daughter.
Pre-K Smarties -- a preschool education resource for parents teaching preschoolers with tips for early reading using phonics, parenting articles, family freebies, and deals on the best educational toys.
Preschool Printables
Preschool Education
Building Blocks to Reading: Activities by Letter
Kiddy House Worksheets
First School Preschool Activities and Crafts
TLS Books Preschool Worksheets --lots of worksheets at this site. Look over in the left hand column and you will see other grade levels...click on those links for worksheets in those grade levels.
Literacy Center's Color wheel Activities --online activities to recognize colors, choose the language you want to learn the activities with.
Child Fun
Preschool Lesson Plans
Kidz Club
Mom's Minivan --travel game ideas
ABC Teach --over 5000 free pages and worksheets....shape books to themed based material to flashcards
Alphabet Soup Coloring Book
Letter of the Week
Bible ABCs
Preschool Express--tons of themed activities and ideas
DLTK-kids tons of crafts and activities
**My Pre-K/Kindergarten Curriculum--a look into what I did with daughter.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Menu Plan Monday
**This is just a plan and plans have the ability to change at the cook's discretion! Last week's menus seemed to go off without too much changing around! I need to get to the grocery store but I am not sure when I will have the chance this week. So this week is planned with what I have on hand, just in case I don't make it to the grocery store til late in the week. Lunches listed below are for the kids and I, dh's lunches are not included as he normally will just take what leftovers are available. A special thanks to Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday!**
Sunday(9-30)
Breakfast: eggs, sausage, cinnamon rolls and hashbrowns
Lunch: homemade chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
Dinner: McDonald's (Kids Christmas musical practice and AWANA in one night around the dinner hour tends to make it difficult to cook. Hopefully I can utilize my crockpot so that we are not eating out every Sunday night between now and Dec. 2nd!)
Snack: homemade trail mix between practice and AWANA
Monday(10-1)
Breakfast: cold cereal, donuts, milk
Lunch: sandwiches, chips, carrots or apple
Dinner: leftover pork loin with gravy, mashed potatoes, peas, salad and homemade bread
Snack: popsicles
Tuesday(10-2)
Lunch: pizza rolls
Dinner: Fish sandwiches or hotdogs, fries, corn
Snack: "snack basket"
Wednesday(10-3)
Breakfast: bagels, fruit
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: Chili, rice, corn muffins
Snack: "mystery snack"(hopefully I will get some baking done so I have some different to offer for snack!)
Thursday(10-4)
Breakfast: pancakes and eggs
Lunch: hot dogs or sandwiches, chips
Dinner: cordon bleu/chicken nuggets, fries, corn
Snack: "snack basket"
Friday(10-5)
Breakfast: cereal and toast
Lunch: Lunchables, chips
Dinner: lemon pepper chicken, rice, green beans, and rolls or biscuits
Snack: homemade chocolate shakes
Saturday(10-6)
Breakfast: "Cook's Choice"
Lunch: not sure what the weekend lunch will hold! :-)
Dinner: BQ Pork/Sloppy Joe Sandwiches, pan fries, carrots
Snack: popcorn
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