Chopped Veggies (whatever you have on hand)
1 can pinto beans
One can tomato sauce
2 cups cooked rice
4 chicken breasts
1 jar Tikka Masala simmer sauce
Mix veggies beans and tomato sauce. Spread in a thin layer on bottom of casserole pan. Spread rice over veggie mixture. Place chicken breasts over rice. Pour sauce on top. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes, until chicken is thoroughly cooked.
Serve with pancakes (umm... I mean naan).
Enjoy!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, November 5, 2007
The bread that wouldn't rise...
... or the dough that did not take over the kitchen.
Last weekend I made a trip over to Ft. Wayne. So naturally, there was baking. Due to the influx of candy around the house, we decided to bake bread.
The recipe was courtesy of the same website that brought us the "eighth of an egg" cookie recipe so long ago. This time we scaled from 24 servings to 12, because the smaller recipe required one packet of yeast. (We also discovered that 1 yeast packet is 2 1/4 teaspoons.) Oh, and we are uncertain just what constitutes a serving, because the bread went quickly after it was made, and there were definitely not 12 of us around to eat it.
Having followed the directions, we expected the bread to rise in an hour. One hour turned to several, and it was time to leave for the chili dinner and auction at the church hall (or hall next to the church). So, throwing caution to the wind, we left the bread dough to rise in our absence, figuring worst-case scenario was that the kitchen would be filled with bread dough upon our return.
Alas, the kitchen was not overflowing with dough when we returned. However, it had made sufficient progress so as to allow Shae to knead it some more (we need our kneaded biscuits plain) and then put it back for a second rising (which we were determined would not take as long as the first).
So, it was after midnight before the oven timer went off to tell us the bread was baked. Luckily, the oven timer was not mocking us, as was the wont of the ovens in the triplets (at least when I was the one checking the oven). Naturally, the first thing we did was sample some, since it was fresh out of the oven. Besides, we needed to make sure it wasn't toxic or anything like that.
Last weekend I made a trip over to Ft. Wayne. So naturally, there was baking. Due to the influx of candy around the house, we decided to bake bread.
The recipe was courtesy of the same website that brought us the "eighth of an egg" cookie recipe so long ago. This time we scaled from 24 servings to 12, because the smaller recipe required one packet of yeast. (We also discovered that 1 yeast packet is 2 1/4 teaspoons.) Oh, and we are uncertain just what constitutes a serving, because the bread went quickly after it was made, and there were definitely not 12 of us around to eat it.
Having followed the directions, we expected the bread to rise in an hour. One hour turned to several, and it was time to leave for the chili dinner and auction at the church hall (or hall next to the church). So, throwing caution to the wind, we left the bread dough to rise in our absence, figuring worst-case scenario was that the kitchen would be filled with bread dough upon our return.
Alas, the kitchen was not overflowing with dough when we returned. However, it had made sufficient progress so as to allow Shae to knead it some more (we need our kneaded biscuits plain) and then put it back for a second rising (which we were determined would not take as long as the first).
So, it was after midnight before the oven timer went off to tell us the bread was baked. Luckily, the oven timer was not mocking us, as was the wont of the ovens in the triplets (at least when I was the one checking the oven). Naturally, the first thing we did was sample some, since it was fresh out of the oven. Besides, we needed to make sure it wasn't toxic or anything like that.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Grocery Shopping Week #7
Well this was an expensive week. But one that will save us much money in the future. Keebler crackers were all on sale 50% off. And you know how Paul loves crackers. I bought some of just about every variety for him.
Groceries: $105
Date night: $5 (Hot 'n' Ready Pizza eaten at home)
Carryover: $30.50
Since I didn't go shopping until midweek, I might not have a week #8 grocery shopping. I'm not sure yet.
In case you were wondering, I've not really gotten my article written. I'm trying, but whatever I say just doesn't sound quite right.
Groceries: $105
Date night: $5 (Hot 'n' Ready Pizza eaten at home)
Carryover: $30.50
Since I didn't go shopping until midweek, I might not have a week #8 grocery shopping. I'm not sure yet.
In case you were wondering, I've not really gotten my article written. I'm trying, but whatever I say just doesn't sound quite right.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Since it's fall and therefore apple season...here's a yummy and really easy apple butter recipe for the slow cooker. The recipe as written is fairly sweet - I've put my adaptations to make it less sweet and more spicy in parentheses. Enjoy! -jg
¾ c. brown sugar (I usually take this down to less than ½ c.)
¾ c. apple juice (I usually use about half that, and make up the rest with water)
Juice of 1 lemon
1 T. ground cinnamon (I tend to add extra of each of the spices)
1 tsp ground allspice
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground cloves
1. Combine the apples, brown sugar, apple juice and lemon juice in a 4-qt slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, until the apples are very soft.
2. Remove the lid, turn the heat setting to high, and stir in the spices. Continue to cook, uncovered, for 2 hours, stirring once about halfway through, if possible, until the mixture thickens.
3. Press the apples through a metal strainer to remove the peels, or process the apples through a food mill.
4. Cool to room temperature and store. (Should keep for several weeks in the refrigerator. It also freezes well.)
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Expensive Weekend
Dinner Friday Night: $25
Lunch Saturday: $13
Lunch Sunday: $8
Dinner Sunday: $15
$61
96.5-61= 35.5
So not too much left in the carryover budget. But still, I'd say we're doing well with the budget if we can do a weekend like that every so often. But now it's time to start building up the surplus again.
Lunch Saturday: $13
Lunch Sunday: $8
Dinner Sunday: $15
$61
96.5-61= 35.5
So not too much left in the carryover budget. But still, I'd say we're doing well with the budget if we can do a weekend like that every so often. But now it's time to start building up the surplus again.
Friday, October 12, 2007
$60/month
I just got a chance to compile all my receipts and look at my budgeting for the past six months. The result: I averaged $50.11 on groceries - per month - without trying! If I include eating out (which I budget under 'entertainment' since it isn't an 'essential'), it would still be below $60. October looks to be even lower since I've been more conscientious.
I should note that my expenses actually varied quite widely even from month to month - 2 of those months I spent $30, and in September I hit a record $82 (for good reason: I hosted people for dinner meetings a couple of times, provided snacks for Bible study each week (we're now rotating the job!) and went to a couple of potlucks where the old students were expected to bring enough food to feed the new students!). Anyway, even my crazy month of buying food for everything still left me (barely) within the stated challenge - so I guess I'm showing here that you can even feed others well while still keeping the budget!
So how do I eat on an average of $60/month?
The big help: I very rarely go out to eat. Everyone I work with brings their lunch, so if we want to eat lunch together, we just grab our lunches out of the fridge, head upstairs or outside and enjoy the sun! Plus, one of the groups I meet with has a potluck every other week, so I can get the social and variety aspects of eating out without the cost!
I also keep two shopping lists for my Saturday shopping - one for items I need that weekend, and one for non-perishables I expect to run out of in the next month. Items on that second list I only pick up if they're on sale. I also skim the online circulars for Meijer and Kroger before heading out. While Meijer generally has the best regular price on items, Kroger tends to have some really good sale prices. Oh, and I'm not afraid to at least try off- and store-brands.
Other ways I keep expenses down:
Drink water! It's better for you than most of that other stuff out there, anyway! I do NOT buy bottled water - I just run tap water through a Brita pitcher! For times when water isn't quite enough or I'm really bored of it, I keep some Gatorade mix on hand so I can mix up a single glass.
Powdered milk - I've never been much of a milk drinker, so I've given up on keeping milk in stock - it inevitably spoils before I can use it all. Now I keep powdered milk around for when I need milk as I cook.
Frozen vegetables: if it's not in season/on sale, then I buy it frozen. The nutrients are generally well-preserved, and I actually find I eat more veggies when I keep bags of frozen veggies on hand, since it's easy to toss a handful or two into something.
Fruit: I eat fruit that's on sale/in season.
Breads: If you're careful, the discount rack can be great - you can get something that has a sell-by date of that same day at a great discount. Just make sure it's not something that gets stale (or worse) too fast.
Hmm...I think that's all. And yes, you can use my name if you want to quote me.
-jg
P.S. Yes, I realize the irony of giving permission for my name to be used in print while pretty much refusing to use it online, even in a forum where everyone pretty much knows who I am. I have my reasons...they may not be entirely logical, but I do have them!
I should note that my expenses actually varied quite widely even from month to month - 2 of those months I spent $30, and in September I hit a record $82 (for good reason: I hosted people for dinner meetings a couple of times, provided snacks for Bible study each week (we're now rotating the job!) and went to a couple of potlucks where the old students were expected to bring enough food to feed the new students!). Anyway, even my crazy month of buying food for everything still left me (barely) within the stated challenge - so I guess I'm showing here that you can even feed others well while still keeping the budget!
So how do I eat on an average of $60/month?
The big help: I very rarely go out to eat. Everyone I work with brings their lunch, so if we want to eat lunch together, we just grab our lunches out of the fridge, head upstairs or outside and enjoy the sun! Plus, one of the groups I meet with has a potluck every other week, so I can get the social and variety aspects of eating out without the cost!
I also keep two shopping lists for my Saturday shopping - one for items I need that weekend, and one for non-perishables I expect to run out of in the next month. Items on that second list I only pick up if they're on sale. I also skim the online circulars for Meijer and Kroger before heading out. While Meijer generally has the best regular price on items, Kroger tends to have some really good sale prices. Oh, and I'm not afraid to at least try off- and store-brands.
Other ways I keep expenses down:
Drink water! It's better for you than most of that other stuff out there, anyway! I do NOT buy bottled water - I just run tap water through a Brita pitcher! For times when water isn't quite enough or I'm really bored of it, I keep some Gatorade mix on hand so I can mix up a single glass.
Powdered milk - I've never been much of a milk drinker, so I've given up on keeping milk in stock - it inevitably spoils before I can use it all. Now I keep powdered milk around for when I need milk as I cook.
Frozen vegetables: if it's not in season/on sale, then I buy it frozen. The nutrients are generally well-preserved, and I actually find I eat more veggies when I keep bags of frozen veggies on hand, since it's easy to toss a handful or two into something.
Fruit: I eat fruit that's on sale/in season.
Breads: If you're careful, the discount rack can be great - you can get something that has a sell-by date of that same day at a great discount. Just make sure it's not something that gets stale (or worse) too fast.
Hmm...I think that's all. And yes, you can use my name if you want to quote me.
-jg
P.S. Yes, I realize the irony of giving permission for my name to be used in print while pretty much refusing to use it online, even in a forum where everyone pretty much knows who I am. I have my reasons...they may not be entirely logical, but I do have them!
Grocery Shopping Week #6
I attempted to go to one of those wholesale type food places where you can only buy your beans in a 6 pound can. I thought it might save some money on things like flour and sugar. Unfortunately, that was not the case. It turns out that Meijer prices are better on those things anyway. Although they did have good prices on cheese. And crackers.
So grocery shopping today: $60
I really feel like I am getting the hang of this budget. I think we are all eating healthier. I think it's about time to start making some more casseroles to freeze, so we can have convenience food after the baby comes.
So grocery shopping today: $60
I really feel like I am getting the hang of this budget. I think we are all eating healthier. I think it's about time to start making some more casseroles to freeze, so we can have convenience food after the baby comes.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)