Morning all! While I have been cleaning and sorting and organizing, I have come across some forgotten items that needed to be used. Well, why not get creative and make something new? Which is just what I did.
As most know - rice and pasta last and last. There may be 'best by' dates on them - but if kept cool and dry and protected - basically they last for years.
I came across some pieced vermicelli pasta I had vacuumed sealed a long while back. Well, it was time to get used.
I made a new jar of Rice A Roni from scratch. Knowing what is in it makes me feel good. It tastes better, and well, heck fire - basically free. I had everything in stock - so got a half gallon jar mixed up!!!!
There are recipes for cream of soup, seasoned salt, stuffing mix, taco seasoning, onion soup mix, etc.
Love me some Amy frugal recipes!!!!
My half gallon jar is basically full. I made beef this time, and I usually have chicken flavored on hand as well. You just make it like the box mix. 1 cup of mix to 2 Tablespoons of butter - brown pasta a bit - then add 2 cups water and simmer until done.
It is nice to have this on hand. It is very tasty and can add a lot of flavor to a bland meal or add to meat for a great pan meal.
THE RECIPE
3 C uncooked rice - I do half and half pasta and rice for a real Rice A Roni experience
1/4 C dried parsley
6 Tbsp. instant beef or chicken bouillon
2 tsp, onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
Mix it all together and store in an airtight container. I always shake the container up before measuring out a helping for cooking (things settle)
I am organizing as a I clean out - so I am trying to use up those odds and ends in new ways. I love making my own convenience foods.
Cleaning, sorting, and decluttering can be all kinds of things - not just getting rid of stuff! It can be making new things and using things in a different way.
You using groceries to make new groceries this week?
What are your favorite ways to MAKE groceries????
I love making all of my spice mixes and sauces and dressings. One that I make called Chicken Salt is granulated onion, granulated garlic, paprika, turmeric and sea salt. It is so good sprinkled on oven 'fries' or any roasted veggies. Also good on meat. Probably anything. lol
ReplyDeleteSpice mixes are fun. Your chicken salt sounds like it would be yummy on most anything! How could it not?
DeleteThe grandkids love the peanut butter cracker sandwiches. I made up a half gallon jar of them using Town House crackers bought on sale and peanut butter on hand. They taste every nnit as good as the little packs.
ReplyDeleteSuper great idea!!!!!! I bet they loved them. Grandma probably added extra peanut butter to boot!!!!!
DeleteI often slice up some cheese and have with some type of crackers for a snack. Cheaper and better than store bought!
Interesting recipe! I remember years ago as a young bride buying some Rice A Roni and thought it was just about the nastiest stuff I'd ever had. Certainly didn't live up to the commercial! ha! May have to try your version, which I'm sure is tons better. Lots of commercially produced meal kits/starters are not particularly good.
ReplyDeleteWe are still eating on the pot of hamburger soup that the Farmer made. Also have a few other leftovers in the refrigerator. We don't eat supper per se so most leftover dishes are eaten midday. I need to cook the chicken breasts we bought sometime today or tomorrow.
Daffodils are brave little girls. They got knocked down by the cold nighttime temps but today they are standing up, showing their pretty, smiling, yellow ruffled faces. Going to pick up some Black Cow fertilizer at Lowe's for the gardens. Years ago we had access to composted horse manure, which the gardens really liked. Too much rain to work outside but we can get supplies and be ready to go if the weather ever straightens up.
Homemade is soooooo much better than the store bought. You can add or delete whatever herbs or spices.
DeleteHamburger soup sounds so good. Wet chilly day - good day for it. I eat my main meal early as well.
My daffies perked back up too. I was amazed!!!!
Happy shopping! I think it will be a while before we get back out to do much - with all the rain coming!
You had me at "heck fires"..that made me smile. I'm using cooking as a form of self care. Using what's here feels comforting.
ReplyDeleteHi Sam - good to see you!
DeleteLOL - me and my slangs - how I grew up!!!!
I believe cooking is self-care. You can experiment and try different things and when they taste good - winner-winner chicken dinner!!!
I love using up what is here. You termed that right in my book - comforting!!!
I can't think of anything that I make that can be used later. I do use leftovers to make soup - one never knows what might be in it but it usually tastes good. :p
ReplyDeleteI love 'whatever' soup. Just throw things together and yum!
DeleteWorks for me.
Howling winds and deluge rain in our area today. I'm glad we waited to sow grass seed until later or the vacant neighboring property would have a lush lawn in the making! When I was a kid, I loved Rice a Roni. My kids loved it, too. Maybe it's a kid thing? Good to have that recipe for parents and grands. Other than homemade seasoning mixes, like Maebeme, I don't do many make now, use later things. I'm more of a wing-it-when-cooking person. I do store leftover whatever in the freezer for quick soups, stews, etc., including fresh celery that we can never finish quickly. --Elise
ReplyDeleteI heard lots of rain on AZ. I see flooding as well - hope you are all safe.
DeleteI love any kind of mixes, food, seasoning, soups, etc.
I always have chopped celery, peppers and mushrooms in the freezer for various meals.
You have your cake mixes!!!!!! I know you don't make them - but you use them differently than called for!
I mostly make seasoning mixes. Chili, enchilada sauce, etc. I've made cream of chicken soup mix before. I keep boxes of bread crumbs in the freezer from slicing my bread maker bread. I season that for healthier chicken strips.
ReplyDeleteDoes laundry soap count? Dishwasher soap? Bathroom cleaner? Toilet bombs? Orange infused vinegar? Kitchen cleaner? I make all of those.
Loved your spring stories yesterday! I read them this morning. My hubs took last week off. We thought it would be great timing to help with the time change. WRONG!! Since we slept a little later, all it did was delay the inevitable. We were dying on Monday and yesterday lol. I couldn't even form an intelligent question 😂😂. We won't do that again! I wish they'd just leave it be and stop trying to kill us.
Supposed to be 80 today. Cooling down again tomorrow. Wish we'd get some good rain...
I'll happily send some of our rain your way, Debby. ;-)
DeleteEverything counts! Your list is a good one. Great way to show non-food items made from other things.
DeleteI know lots of people who would gladly send you rain! We are supposed to get 2" or 3" tomorrow! And rain for next several days.
I think I am finally used to the time change. I didn't fight it this time. I am basically doing everything the same - the clock just says later!!!
I would just like some warm and dry weather on the same day!
For AZ grocery shoppers, Safeway has red or green seedless grapes at 97 cents lb., b/s chicken breasts at $1.97 lb.; digital coupons for Chobani yogurt at 47 cents ea., Farmland bacon at $2.99 ea., and organic salad blends (tubs) at $2.49 ea.; clip or click coupons for dozen Lucerne large eggs at $2.47 ea. (limit of 2), Lucerne butter at $3.47 ea. (limit of 2), Prego pasta sauce at $2.49 ea., and some other coupons that don't seem like "deals" to me. Friday only, Lucerne sour cream, cottage cheese or cream cheese will be 3/$5, Tillamook cheese will be 2/$5, and New York steak value packs will be $5 per lb. (limit of 2).
ReplyDeleteBasha's has zucchini and tomatoes at 88 cents per lb., chicken drumsticks or things at 99 cents per lb., vegetable oil and sugar at 2/$5, and over the weekend, specials of bell peppers at 75 cents ea., and top sirloin steak or beef tri-tip at $3.99 lb. Obviously there's more for both, but I'm highlighting basic foods. Happy shopping!
Great prices, Elise! Alas, no Safeway here. You did remind me that Aldi seems to be having a good bake sale. And butter for $2.49#. Limit of 6. It must be for Easter baking/dinners.
DeleteSend the water via cloud. That's the cheapest way to ship lol.
Those are some really great prices. Our Kroger has their peanut butter .99 jar and Land o Lakes butter 2.99/lb. with digital coupons this week (limit 5). I saw several good deals in the ad.
DeleteI keep hearing folks say they can't find deals - you just have to pay attention and go for the deals alone!
I made some future groceries today. Planted cherry tomato, cucumber and sweet bell pepper seeds in starter pots. They're basking in the grow light in my bedroom window. Hoping for lots of "growceries" this summer!
ReplyDeleteWOO HOO that is the best kind of future groceries!!!!!! You are one it. I haven't even thought about it yet.
DeleteGrow-ceries are the best!!!!!!!!
I am going to hit a major milestone today using PAST groceries, not FUTURE ones. Today I will take out the last two items from my chest freezer, turn it off and clean it out, and its going to a new life with a young family. It has taken me three months to eat my way through it. I am glad to see the bottom of it, and I am thankful for PAST me putting away all that stuff to keep me going in tight times.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Grow-ceries are the best kind. You can't beat the feeling of eating something you have grown yourself. Louise.
Wow, that's some cool work you did there. 3 months to work your way through it. :) I hope the young family will appreciate what you've given them - a chance at freedom to plan and save. :)
DeleteMaryB
Thanks Mary, it’s a win win. I’m hoping to save on my power bills too, they are a major cost to me at the moment and I need to get them lower.
DeleteWOW - I am glad someone new will get to experience stocking and storing and preparing for their future. That is nice.
DeleteI hope you won't regret getting rid of it. Tough times may come again - I hope not, but you never know.
It will be a saver on electric.
I did give it a lot of thought beforehand, so I am pretty sure I won’t regret it. This is a lovely family who are ( like most) doing things hard and this will make things a little easier for them. And I definitely won’t miss nearly tipping myself into the darn thing just to scoop stuff off the bottom. For the last layer I had to resort to using large BBQ tongs to pick out the bags.
DeleteAnd I will also appreciate the space, it is a massive 80’s unit, that takes up as much space as a small car. This will now mean a garage rearranging weekend where I hope I can get rid of a few more bits and pieces.
It is great that you are blessing them. I sure hope they get a lot of use from it. Enjoy your free space!!!!!
DeleteI've been into making homemade mixes more lately and like that I know the ingredients in the mix and can pronounce their names. It's usually more cost effective too. I make homemade hot cocoa mix, a seasoning for cooking with rice, a spaghetti sauce powder, ranch dressing mix, Italian dressing mix, a self rising biscuit mix that you can also make a cobbler topping with by adding sugar along with the liquid. Also, Italian seasoning from herbs I grow and dry. And I've started making soup mixes such as instant split pea, cream of tomato.
ReplyDeleteLook at you go with it!!!!! I love this. I like having the spices and the mixes on hand. It just makes life a little easier. Like you said - knowing what is in it is HUGE!
DeleteYour rice a roni recipe looks good. I can see adding some cooked chicken and extra broth and making it into soup. Itd make a great lunch for work. I'm always looking for new ideas that are quick and easy.
ReplyDeleteOh what a good idea. I do add rice to soup a lot, but never thought to add this mix. Thank you! I will do this!
DeletePS, I love La Moderna pastas! Here they are .49 cents a package (used to be only 33 cents)!
ReplyDeleteMe too!!! The packs are smaller than normal - but it is so cheap!
DeleteFor years I have purposed to have a homemade baking mix always in the fridge. The recipe is from the Make a Mix Cookbook (the original from the ‘70’s; I have the updated one also). The mix has 6 cups of whole wheat flour (I grind my own), and 3 cups of white flour, as well as the other necessary ingredients of a baking mix. This allows me to very quickly make my choice of pancakes, waffles, muffins, snack cakes. The book also has all sorts of other mixes such as cookie, bread, meat, soup, pudding. I often use containers of these mixes as gifts.
ReplyDeleteThank you, as always, for your great blog, Cheryl. I have been a ‘forever reader’ but infrequent commenter😁. Conni
Hi Conni - so happy to have you here!
DeleteMake a Mix books are great. They have just about anything you can think of. Updated books available as well.
It is so neat to have one product that is so versatile. Making it up for gifts is super. I would love a gift like that.
Hope to see you more!
Conni's comment made me think of my 7th grade cooking class! Not only did we learn basic cooking, but there were also some frugal tips. We made a Master Mix as the first lesson, then many of the following recipes used that as a base. Coffee cake, biscuits, pancakes, pizza, some strawberry dessert, etc. We also learned an easy freezer jam, syrup with brown sugar, and a very basic pizza sauce. All were designed with a tight budget in mind.
ReplyDeleteI still have my workbook with recipes. The peanut butter cookies and coffee cake were family favorites. Those lessons should be taught today. We also learned about the food groups (note- Mrs. H docked me for using Cheez Whiz as a dairy product lol! "Not real food").
I agree Debby, those common sense things should be taught in schools today.
DeleteI had Sr. James that taught me how to mend socks, darn a hole in a knitted jumper, sew a patch on denim jeans and sew on a button in 7th grade. They are all skills everyone needs today.
Debby, we learned so much in Home Ec classes. I learned a bunch in 4-H as well. I have my 4-H food books still. Basic mixes and skills were essential back in the day. I find it a real shame that none of that is taught today. In many places (most) it is not even an option today. So sad.
DeleteYes it should be common sense to teach these things today. There may not be such a crisis today. People could learn basic skills, could use all the basics to make a decent meal for less, could sew and maybe people would just have a common appreciation for what they have. BUT, that makes too much sense, so not an option today. (she says sarcastically)!!!!
DeleteI learned nothing from Home Ec because I knew how to do everything the other girls were learning. It was a waste. So, I refused to take the second year offered.
DeleteI knew how to cook and sew as well - but I am never above saying I could learn something new.
DeleteThat's sounds like a great way to not waste groceries and good recipe to have on hand. Like you I'm going through my pantry but I'm taking a break for a couple of days. I think I got burned out. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to burn out!!!! I am trying to use it up in new ways.
DeleteKeep up the good work
I come from a time of zero waste and I'm all for using bits and bobs to make a new meal, rather than spending extra money. That said, there still are times when foods go bad here at home. Today though, I tossed together a bunch of stuff and into the Instant Pot for a warm bowl of loaded goodness. All from bits and bobs. Winner, winner, Instant Pot Dinner! Cheers, Ivy.
ReplyDeleteYes, I came from the era as well. It had to be used - things were never wasted.
DeleteIt happens, sure. But using what we can is great. You go girl! Love those kind of dinners!
This is timely as I'm reading today 4/2/23. I cleared the freezer of all the beef bones and veggie scraps and made a large roaster full of beef bone broth. I let it simmer all day and night and then this morning got up early (listened to church) and started that messy straining process. The barn kitties got the solids (all big beef bones and expended meat so no worries). I have an electric pressure canner but it only holds 5 pints at a time. So 3 rounds gave me 19 pints for the pantry. Definitely something out of "nothing." Plus more room in my freezer.
ReplyDelete