Taking A Stand: The Rising Cost of Groceries

So, we've all noticed it and I want to know what you are doing differently. Are you eating the higher cost and continuing to buy what you've always bought? Here's what I'm doing. No, it's not couponing! ;) I tried that...too time consuming for me. Menu planning makes a HUGE difference. I write out a list of entrees I will prepare for the next two weeks (hubby gets paid bi-weekly) and then the items I will need for each of those dishes...then I think about lunch. Usually simple things like fried rice, leftovers, sandwich, fruit/veggie sticks and cheese, etc. For breakfast we do not buy commercial cereals so I either make oatmeal w/ honey, butter, and milk or with shredded apple and cinnamon, or eggs and toast, or muffins and a banana with a glass of our good, fresh, dairy milk. Snacks include carrot/celery sticks with a boiled egg, applesauce and a chunk of cheese, or a leftover muffin and 1/2 of a banana. And, don't forget about popcorn (cheap and quick)!

I save on produce by browsing the shopping fliers that come in the mail and circling what I will need for the next two weeks. I compare the price at Walmart and get the lower price. I save TONS on fresh produce this way. I usually buy romaine lettuce, carrots, celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, potatoes, apples and bananas fresh. Everything else I buy frozen: broccoli, cauliflower, blueberries, strawberries, carrots, green beans, corn and stir fry mixes.

Meat is a huge chunk in the budget if you're not careful. I buy the large packages of ground beef and separate into smaller portions. For 1 1/2 lbs pasta and 2 cans sauce, I only use 1/2 - 3/4 lb ground beef. You won't miss it! When making tacos or burritos add a can (or better yet your own cooked) beans to the mix. We love beef/corn/black bean tacos and burritos. Use chicken if you'd prefer. When it comes to chicken I think I get the most out of buying boneless, skinless breasts or thighs, preferably on sale (again, watch those grocer ads). Brown rice, 1/2 lb. frozen broccoli, cheesy white sauce, and 1/2-3/4 lb boneless meat cut up in small chunks goes a long way. If I make a large portion I take out half and store before adding the broccoli...reheated broccoli is just yucko to me.

Make more stuff from scratch!!!!! You can find recipes for everything including ranch, taco, and italian seasoning packs to homemade cream soup recipes. They are easy to make, cost TONS less and taste WONDERFUL. I promise, I've been using them for years! Go to www.hillbillyhousewife.com for some wonderful tips/recipes.

Lastly, Be Prepared!! Brown 5 lbs of hamburger with onions, bell pepper, and garlic. Then, store in freezer bags. This is perfect and fast for pasta dishes like spaghetti. Another plus, less mess! You can grill a bunch of chicken and store in freezer bags. I like to boil large amounts of chicken, shred some/cut the rest in chunks and have it readily available like I do with the ground hamburger. It cuts a lot of time and mess from your prep at 5'o clock when you would rather just go and eat that expensive, not so healthy meal out. Also, when you find those expensive red bell peppers for 2/$1 (normally $2/pepper) buy a bunch, cut into slices and freeze. They are great in stir fry, green beans, and fajitas.

Well, I have one last thing to add. Quit buying those nasty, sugar filled boxes of nutrition lacking substances!!!! They are super expensive and are horrible for your body. You will drop hundreds of dollars off your yearly grocery bill by following this one step. Above I gave examples of what we have for snacks...air popped popcorn, boiled eggs, veggie sticks, fresh fruit, tortilla chips (3 ingredients: corn, salt, oil)...ANY thing besides preservative filled packaged items. I'm through with that now, you still love me, right?!

Okay, so now you have it! Some of the most effective and easy things I do to keep my budget low when feeding a family of 6. I would LOVE to hear what you do so leave me a comment.

Sweet And Sour

Mmmmm....so I've been on a Chinese cuisine kick. On Saturday I made beef and veggie egg rolls, sweet and sour chicken (the right way, it was sooooo yummy). The following day I made another batch of egg rolls, sesame beef and broccoli stir fry, and fried rice.

Today for lunch I mixed the leftover egg roll cabbage mix with the fried rice plus more cooked brown rice and soy sauce then re-fried the egg rolls for a delicious lunch. Where's the pics? Ummm...well, let's just say it was too late.

What was my fav?! Oh, the sweet and sour sauce was divine! It has a lovely twang to it.

Here's the recipe:
Mel's Sweet and Sour Sauce
1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
1-2 TBLS dark soy sauce
2 TBLS cornstarch
2 TBLS cool water
1 cup orange marmalade

Heat the pineapple w/ juice, sugar, water, vinegar and soy to boiling in 3 qt sauce pan. Mix cornstarch and 2 TBLS water in a small cup/bowl and blend well. Stir into boiling sauce and boil 1-2 minutes until thickened stirring constantly. Cool about 20 minutes and stir in orange marmalade. Stores in the refridgerator for 2 weeks. Makes about 5 1/2 cups.
Serve with fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, egg rolls. Be creative and let me know what you try it on!

Honorable Quote

"Modesty is not a matter of being 'hip.' It is a matter of the heart and being holy. It is not about being fashionable. It is about being faithful. ... It is not about being popular, but about being pure."
---Elaine S. Dalton

Our GREEN Christmas

REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE....What's that gotta do with Christmas?! Well, let me tell you what our family decided to do.

First off, many families have taken the focus of Jesus' birth, love, the gift He is to us, joy, peace, and being grateful and have turned it into such a mess of busyness, parties, expensive gifts that I have just been revolted and disheartened with the whole thing. As many of you have already chose to do, we just have to take a stand and continue to celebrate Jesus.

That said...here's what we decided to do. No going into debt...no putting off bills that need paid. We took what little money we had left in the budget and decided to purchase gifts for the kids. They LOVE presents as does anyone! :) Presents aren't bad it's the spirit of the season that has upset me. With my husband just returning to work after being off for almost 3 months we had $20 to spend on each kiddo. I searched the local supercenters and found nothing worthy of purchase.

Then a thought occurred to me! We shop second hand for clothing and miscellaneous household items as well as toys and games throughout the year...why not NOW! Not only can I find more for our money but we can help the environment at the same time! All that extra packaging and boxes on the new items would not be in the land fill (reducing) and we are re-using/recycling someone else's past treasure into one of our own! So, it's good on the pocket book and good for the earth that our God created so lovingly for us to enjoy!

Here's what the girls got: the Fisher Price doll house w/ accessories from Craigslist.com, 2 Ballerina dolls (one not pictured) with 2 Angelina Ballerina videos (not pictured) from Craigslist, and a Doll head for accessorizing from a local thrift store. I purchased some small clips and a brush for a few dollars but everything else was used. Total spent: About $40 The doll house alone could have cost over $85 new.

And the boys? Well, from the thrift store they got a light brite cube w/ tons of pegs and accessories, a talking GI Joe to add to the collection, bug domino game, 3 in 1 Golf chipping game (new in package), an electronic golf game and an electronic educational word game (not pictured). Their other gift is the repair of a go cart that someone gave us. It needs a new tire and some engine work which my hubby is so good at. ;) Total spent: about $40 as well.


Of course, Grandpa and their Nanny bought them some other items but we feel really good about what we chose to do this year. I feel SO good that next year I plan to shop thrift stores and Craigslist in advance rather then trying to gather all these items within the last few days before Christmas! ;)

So...Go Jesus! (by keeping Him the focus) and Go Green (by buying used)!

Awww...The MOST Precious Moments!

I just walked by and my three littlest are sitting on the bed in a circle, holding hands, PRAYING! Oh, my heart is just overwhelmed with joy! :) How precious to me...can you imagine how precious to Jesus?!

My Favorite 2 Hour Bread Recipe

Okay, after reading this you no longer have permission to whine, 'I can't make good homemade bread for this reason or that'. It's quite easy and many ladies (and men) make all their bread on a regular basis. It is much better for you, tastes divine and will cost less then an equal (if that's possible) quality you would find in a bakery. If you have any questions I will do my best to answer. I think there's something therapeutic about the process of making the bread as well as the lovely aroma as it fills your home.

So, put those funky, no tellin' how old heat and serves back on the shelf and let's get busy!

This makes three medium sized loaves:
2 scant (not full) Tablespoons instant yeast
2 cups warm water (approx. 105*)
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup shortening or softened butter
1 tsp salt
2 Tablespoons Vital Wheat Gluten
6-7 cups bread flour

Put the warm water into a large mixing bowl (Kitchen Aid mixer bowl if you have one). Sprinkle the yeast and sugar into the water and let set until foamy (about 10 minutes).

Meanwhile, coat 3 loaf pans (preferably glass) with cooking spray.

Next, measure 5 cups of flour into the bowl of foamy yeast and stir (no foam? bad yeast...buy some fresh and try again).

Add the eggs, shortening, salt, and vital wheat gluten to the mix with either the kneading attachment on your mixer or a wooden spoon and mix well. Continue adding flour until the dough is stiff enough to form a sticky ball.


If using a mixer, continue adding flour until a nice ball is formed and is kneading nicely in the bowl, continue kneading for about 5 minutes adding flour as necessary to keep from sticking to the bowl.


If mixing by hand, dump the sticky ball onto a floured surface and knead, knead, and knead some more (about 10 minutes) adding flour as needed but not too much that the dough is dry.

**The secrets to delicious bread is making sure the dough is a bit sticky but not enough to stick to your hands and proper kneading! (see kneading link above)**

Once the dough is kneaded well, form into a ball and let rest about 5-10 minutes.

*Please note: The vital wheat gluten and the instant dry yeast make it unnecessary to let the dough rise twice! Woot! Thus, 2 hour bread instead of ALL DAY bread. ;)

Separate into 3 equal pieces. Take each piece and form into a tight ball with your hands (this squeezes out air pockets). Shape into loaves and place in greased loaf pans. They don't have to look perfect, it'll taste GREAT! ;)

Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray and place a piece of plastic wrap, waxed paper or a clean, damp dish towel over the loaves and let rise until double in size (approx. 45 minutes depending on how warm the area is).

Once the loaves are doubled in size, place in a cold oven and turn the oven temperature to 350*. Bake for about 30-40 minutes or until lightly browned. When you remove the loaf of bread from the pan you should hear a hollow 'thump' when gently thumped with your finger.

It will smell sooooooo good but resist messing with it yet. Get out the butter and butter the top generously. Let cool at least 15 minutes before slicing!

For soft crust: After buttering the top, place a clean, dry dish towel over the top and let cool for 30 minutes. Remove from pan and keep wrapped in a dish towel, paper bag or loosely wrapped in plastic.
For chewier crust: Omit buttering the top, remove from pan immediately and cool on wire rack. Store wrapped in a clean dish towel.

Can't eat 3 loaves before it gets stale? After completely cooled, wrap each loaf in plastic wrap and then place in gallon freezer bag or wrap in foil (this is a better option if you would like to warm it up). When ready to use, thaw completely in the wrapping you used (this keeps the moisture in) and then re-heat wrapped in foil, if you'd like, at 350*.

Variations:
Substitute part of the flour for 1 1/2 cups rolled oats.
Add flax seed and/or wheat germ.
Substitute 30-50% whole wheat flour.
Add in 1 Tbls. italian seasoning and 1 tsp. garlic powder.

For dinner rolls: Instead of shaping into loaves, after the dough rests pinch equal sized pieces off and form into tight balls, place in two greased 9"x13" glass baking dishes. Let rise until doubled and continue with recipe with the exception of the baking instructions which should be changed to 400* for 12-15 minutes.
Or freeze the individual balls on a cookie sheet and once frozen place in a zippered bag.
To cook: Place in your greased 9"x13" pans covered with plastic wrap that has been sprayed with cooking spray and thaw overnight on the counter. When dough has doubled in size bake according to above instructions.

The bread pictured on the red cutting board has about 1/2 cup flax seed and 1 1/2 cups rolled oats added. The bread on the white towel has about 30% whole wheat flour and 1/3 cup flax seed.

Leave me a message and let me know how you liked it, what variations you came up with or I'd love to hear anything else you have to say!

Christmas Cookies and Girls Day In

While the guys went to Bass Pro the girls decided to have some fun at home. We started off with make up and curls!

Next, we decided to make cookies! We have to wash the cookie cutters first (Baby E and Lil A hard at work in their little aprons).
Mixing up the molasses cookies and the gingerbread cookies. "Stir carefully!"

Gingerbread ready to chill. Merry Christmas from my lil sweeties. :)
Taste testing the molasses cookies, my favorite! YUM! We lost Baby E to Sleepy - Land.
One batch of molasses cookies cooled and ready to eat!
Time to shape the sugar cookies. We are rolling and cutting out the gingerbread cookies so we rolled into balls and flattened the sugar cookies instead.

I had to run an errand so we put the cookie stuff up and will decorate tomorrow. Upon returning home most of my molasses cookies had disappeared. ;)

Day 2

YUMMY!

Mmmm...lots of colored sugar for Lil A
Caught Big D with his mouth full


Zac mixed the food coloring and sugar to make the sprinkles for us to enjoy!
Zac says, "Mom, you didn't get a pic of me decorating one!"
So, here he is. Poor guy isn't feeling well with an earache so you won't see him 'showing off' his gingerbread man.

Time to roll out the gingerbread cookies!
Baby E rolls and cuts her gingerbell

Ready to eat!
Lil A's gingerkitty
Big D's gingertree

And that is our Christmas Cookies and More story...