Something Different
So, I am going to get serious about this Thrifty Thursday thing. With hyper-inflation lurking around the corner, it is really important. Since it is c-o-l-d today, at least by Florida standards, I decided on a variation of White Bean Tuscan Soup and cornbread. Usually I am not a big soup person but it will warm up a body. Personally, I was looking for some rustic country bread but if you say beans, my hubby hears cornbread, I have to brag; it was good!
So, I am going to get serious about this Thrifty Thursday thing. With hyper-inflation lurking around the corner, it is really important. Since it is c-o-l-d today, at least by Florida standards, I decided on a variation of White Bean Tuscan Soup and cornbread. Usually I am not a big soup person but it will warm up a body. Personally, I was looking for some rustic country bread but if you say beans, my hubby hears cornbread, I have to brag; it was good!
For the soup I used one onion, one carrot, one stalk celery, 2 slices of bacon, a garlic clove,1/4 cup white wine, basil (which I picked) and a bay leaf...all which were on hand but could not have added up to a dollar. There were also 2 cans of white beans (65 cents each), one can chicken broth (30 cents on sale). The cornbread used Jiffy mix (30 cents), an egg and 1/3 cup milk. That is $1.90 plus cost of whatever one estimates the on hand items to be. Any way you look at it, that was one warming, hardy meal for next to nothing. I declare this Thrifty Thursday a success.
My Fave
When I really want to eat cheap (usually to make up for splurging), I always go to one of the best meals around. Yep, Black Beans and Rice, yum yum. That is what we had for dinner last night. FYI, I think it only fair to add in the cost of ingredients that I have on hand to get a fair cost of the meal. Unfortunately. I just guesstimate on some of these items. Still it is a fair representation.
When I really want to eat cheap (usually to make up for splurging), I always go to one of the best meals around. Yep, Black Beans and Rice, yum yum. That is what we had for dinner last night. FYI, I think it only fair to add in the cost of ingredients that I have on hand to get a fair cost of the meal. Unfortunately. I just guesstimate on some of these items. Still it is a fair representation.
Black Beans and Rice with crispy tortilla chips and salsa (for 2)
1 can black beans ......$1.00
1 can Hunts fire roasted diced tomatoes.......$1.00
3/4 cup rice (from large bag) ........$ .30
3 flour tortillas cut in triangles........$ .25
cheese (from block).........$ .37
salsa (last of the jar).........$ .41
oil, onion, seasoning etc.........$ .60
Total $3.93
and this really is one of the best meals ever. It is even cheaper and better when made from scratch with dried black beans. I would guess you could easily feed a large family for under $5 doing it that way. We often have cornbread with this.
Yummy
Roast Beef with all the goodies in the crock pot
Small roast (about 2 1/2 lbs) $6.14 I cut it in half $3.07
Carrots (from bag of frozen) a large handful .50
Onion on hand .25
Potatoes (from 5 lb bag) 2 good size .90
Onion soup mix 1 packet .75
Rolls 1/3 package .89
Green Beans 1.00
Seasonings, butter etc (probably not that much) .75
Grand Total 7.84
Just under $4.00 each for one of hubby's favorite meals will do for a Tasty Thursday meal.
Getting Started
Okay, so I am starting some new things...lifestyle changes, one might say but not really. I have been thinking of over abundance and what we really need. With the economy the way it is, thrift and paring down only makes sense. Since I can't bring myself to really clear out all the "stuff" overflowing from closets and cabinets, I am starting with food. It sure costs a lot more than it used to for a lot less.There has to be a way to eat healthy, inexpensive food that we like. So that is my first step. I am going to record meals and costs in an effort to bring them down, way down. I know this has been blogged about numerous times and I enjoy reading these blogs. Yet none seem to fit my circumstances. Most of the time it is just Hubby and myself and we have been spoiled by the "if I want it, buy it" bug. We often visit and cook for daughter and son in law also. So I am planning meals for two or four. If you expect to see some amazing savings, keep looking. This is going to be a process and I expect it to take awhile to master in a way that makes me happy. To make things a little more complicated, we spend about half the time in a camper (less storage and counters and very few grocery stores) and the rest in a conventional house (extra fridge and freezer and lots of temptations). Here goes!
Thursday Night Dinner (for 4)
Stuffed Peppers
Turnip Greens
Corn Muffins
(we already had cupcakes and fruit but we are not big dessert eaters)
1 lb. ground chuck $4.14
Yellow Rice .44
Tomato Sauce (2 8 oz cans) .88
4 Green Peppers (I cut the peppers in
half sideways) 2.00
Glory Brand Turnip Greens .99
1/2 chopped onion, 1 egg, 1/3 cup
milk and seasonings on hand .50
Grand Total $8.95
Hmmm, I don't know. That is $2.24 per person, food we all really like and super easy so I guess I am satisfied. There was one stuffed pepper left for someone's lunch which is a little bonus.
Wednesday Night Dinner (for 4)
Frittata
Hash Browns
Sausage Links
Biscuits
Strawberries
Raspberries
Eggs $ .90
Cheese 1.00
Hash Browns 2.79
Sausage 3.00
Biscuits 1.00
Fruit 6.00
Milk, condiments, onion, seasonings etc. 1.00
Grand Total $15.79
That is a bit, a bit too much. The fruit did it but we are still enjoying it and I won't mind if I don't have to throw any away, haahaa. I could have made the potatoes and biscuits but I was hurried and lazy. All in all, $3.92 per person can be improved on but I won't complain this time.
Tuesday Night Dinner (for 4)
Pork Chops
Baked Potatoes
Frozen Lima Beans
Rolls
Pork Chops ($11.93 buy 1 get 1 free) $5.96
Potatoes (out of 10 lb bag) 1.75
Lima Beans 1.79
Rolls (out of bag) 1.58
Oil, seasonings, sour cream, etc. 2.50
Grand Total $13.58
That is $3.39 per person which is pretty good. The thing is, I don't want to spend almost $100 a week on dinner and that is where this is heading. There are other meals and snacks and drinks to be added in, which makes the grocery tab skyrocket.
The three meals listed add up to $38.32. This is going to be interesting. I might mention that I used no coupons on these dinners. I usually do but sometimes what you get is cheaper without them. For instance, I could have used coupons for tomato sauce but Publix brand was still cheaper and even though I will pay for Ro-tel canned tomatoes, sauce is sauce is sauce. Stay tuned for better shopping and more interesting meals.
