Good day to all my friends. It is a chilly morn here. Going to be a cooler day. We are getting deep into the fall season, and today we talk about finding some very frugal finds for our frig and pantries.
Now is the time to start watching those holiday and fall sales for fresh goodies at the store. I know that it all comes to location, location, location. Here in the US we are close to celebrating Thanksgiving, which is always a great time to find inexpensive deals on food. This may not hold up in other locales - but still it is the season for much produce to be harvested in other areas and hopefully prices will be better.
IF you find the deals - get them and if you can, preserve some for later.
WINTER SQUASH - there are tons of types of winter squash to be had and just as many ways to fix them. They are hearty and filling and very healthy for you. I am seeing many being sold for much cheaper prices than normal. Easy to store for later.
CARROTS - are getting much cheaper here right now. You can generally fond a 2# bag for under $2 now. Carrots are such a healthy food item. They can be used in so many ways. Medallions, stir fry, mashed, roasted and even in sweets - like carrot cake or muffins!
Buy whole carrots not 'baby' carrots if at all possible. 'Baby' carrots are generated and have been treated.
POTATOES - regular and sweet. Holiday season brings good prices on this fall harvest. I cannot begin to count the ways potatoes can be used. You name it you can do it! They also make a super inexpensive meal all alone. A nice baked potato or sweet potato can be so filling!
CABBAGE - I am starting to see some great prices on cabbage around here. This generally continues into the new year. Such a versatile and healthy item. Fried, steamed, boiled, baked, rolls, in soups and stews..........and on and on.
TURNIPS - RADISH - both are inexpensive right now. I know a lot of people turn their noses up at turnips. I am not a fan of cooked ones, but I like them raw and sliced in salads or just alone with a little salt. YUM. I am also a radish nut!! I use them in a lot of salads and alone. They are also good pickled and I have fried as well. Both are easy to keep on hand for a while.
ONION, CELERY - it is becoming dressing/stuffing time, and these items are needed. They are both good in soups. Also pair with your carrots and make 'trinity' for cooking. I freeze both celery and onions in baggies all the time. Both are easy to dehydrate as well.
GREENS - there are many greens being harvested now as well. From collards, kale, chard, and lettuces. These can be used in and on many meals. Many can be cooked alone and used as a side dish. If you are finding a deal on leaf lettuce - think about wilted lettuce as well as fresh for salads.
BRUSSEL SPROUTS, CAULIFLOWER, BROCCOLI - are getting cheaper right now. All are great in so many types of dishes or just alone. Great for roasting and in soups. Easily frozen.
TURKEY - not a garden item - but they are cheap this time of the year, especially in the US. If you live in our neighboring country to the north - if you get a chance to cross into US, maybe you can take advantage of the wonderful sales. I am seeing ads for .39 lb. - .69 lb. at just about every store. Next week will be even cheaper I suppose. Tis the season!!!
Truly the best meat deal ever available.
CRANBERRIES - it isn't a regionally grown item for me, but they are a staple in many holiday celebrations. They are starting to show up fresh in stores at a cheaper price. Not only can they be used in meals, they can also be made easily into juice and canned. Also watch after the holidays - as they get really marked down on clearance. Not as healthy at all - but even the canned cranberry sauces are much cheaper now.
Don't forget about PUMPKINS and APPLES and PEARS - oh my! There are some great deals to be found on these items as well. Now that Halloween is over, many places are almost giving pumpkins away (some are). Apples are plentiful and pears as well. All can be saved for later if properly stored and can be frozen, canned or dehydrated.
So if you live in a location that is celebrating fall and Thanksgiving - be on the lookout! You can get a lot of healthy food for a frugal price. Buying in season is just always smart.
There are so many ways to preserve and so many ways to cook these items.
Get the good stuff while you can for a price you can afford!
Have a wonderful day to all.
Good morning, I'm starting to look for sales on holiday foods. And yes prices sure are different back your way from here. We are higher than you. We have been invited to Thanksgiving so it will be a long day. I'm taking a ham and a relish tray/meats and cheeses. But I will be cooking a turkey for us probably a day or two later. I think we will be turkied out by then; we have a Thanksgiving lunch at the Vet center next week. I just want some beef, lol. I hope your sister is doing better, I'm sorry it's still so painful. When do they think she might come home?
ReplyDeleteHi Laurie. I think that the east coast and west coast is a lot higher on everything. It is always good to look for the cheaper prices and the seasonal items.
DeleteI am going away for T Day as well - but will still cook a small turkey for me afterwards. I do love turkey. Roast sounds good!!!!
Have fun at the Vet dinner. Hard to believe Thanksgiving is so close.
Thanks, she improves a little each day. Still hurting, but it isn't quite as bad. She is hoping to go home by end of week - I don't see that. But she is being positive in attitude, so that is great! She will be moving slow whenever she gets there, for sure!
I told Tommy that now is the time to find sales on items we need. We used all the ground sage, so I mentioned it should be on sale this week. Sure enough, Spice Island brand is on sale bogo at Publix. We will stock up on spices we use lots.
ReplyDeleteYes, so many things go on sale for holiday meals and it sure is the time to get them. Glad you are finding what you need on sale.
DeleteTis the time to buy produce on sale! We use most of what you have listed. The only thing we don't eat eat are Irish potatoes, but will indulge in a baked sweet potato occasionally (no brown sugar or marshmallows!). I bought some of the Asian variety as well as the red ones. We use a lot of cabbage, onions (still pulling green onions), and celery, as well as garlic. The Farmer grew some winter squash, which are holding up very well, hopefully through the winter. Still have turnips in the garden and I harvested the rest of the radishes. For some reason good radishes are more difficult to find in the stores right now. We keep the large bags of carrots from Costco in the garage fridge.
ReplyDeleteHope your sister can come home soon. I'm sure she is more than ready to be in her own bed.
Definitely cooler today and kinda gloomy. The sun made a token appearance.
I love all the fresh produce that comes this time of year - fruit and veggies. I always have a big bag of carrots and potatoes and onion for a roast or soups. Celery in freezer chopped. I adore cabbage in all forms.
DeleteJust a yummy time.
Yep, kind of chilly and gloomy today. I see a couple patches of blue out there!
I found a recipe for freezer slaw. I haven't tried dehydrating cabbage but I have dried other greens to sprinkle over salads or in soup.
ReplyDeleteSweet potatoes have been high here the last few winters. I'm hoping there's a deal this year. I love them for a quick meal. Slow roasted and they need no extra sugar.
I like turnips fresh in salads but I found I can usually hide them in a veggie soup if I need to use one up.
About 5 years ago after Thanksgiving a local grocery had 2 carts full of winter squash for free. It was mostly the decorative gourds but I pulled out all the pie pumpkins!
I've also used the jack o lantern pumpkins for quick bread. The flavor isn't as intense as regular pumpkin but for free I used it!
I have not tried freezer slaw but have heard it is good. I can slaw and love it.
DeleteI hope you find some cheaper sweet potatoes this year. I love fresh turnips - the have good flavor. I could do them in soup too - just not as a stand alone.
Wow, how cool that year on the squash. Those little pie pumpkins are a deal. I have used carving pumpkins too for bread. You are right, they aren't as strong, which is why I can do them ok.
Today my boss (well, the owner of the business) gave me two containers of his soup - Bean, and Broccoli with Cheese - already frozen and vacuum sealed. :) I'm looking foward to both as the temps are to drop into the 30s tonight - yes, winter is coming. We've had a warm fall so far, although marred by a hurricane, but really it's time for colder weather. Awfully glad the power is back on!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to still be able to go to work, even if it's only once in a while. Just knowing that somebody finds me useful at my age is a real pleasure. :) And they treat me like I'm made of glass, never let me do anything too heavy or work too long. "Just do what you can" and I get "thank you so much, Ms Mary!" Warms my heart.
Had to stop at the store for milk and a sweet onion (those things don't keep well). I want to make marinated veggies (corn, greenbeans, peas) for an all day-singing pot-luck this weekend.
Prayers for your sister, Cheryl!
MaryB
How super nice of your boss gifting you the soup - it will sure be tasty on a cold evening. Yes, the nights are getting a little more chilly here too. Nothing too bad - days in low 60's.
DeleteSo nice to be appreciated at your job - that sometimes (often) means as much or more than the money.
I bet that will be a lively potluck!!
Thank you for the prayers - always appreciated.
I am hoping to find some great deals on produce this week. I am down to nothing but a few carrots and some radishes in the crisper. I would love to get some carrots, cabbage, rutabaga, celery, and another squash or two. We didn't have a good crop of potatoes and I know I will need to start purchasing those as well.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Hope you find all the goodies you are looking for and that you get some great prices. Our grocery has potatoes on sale this week. Good luck.
DeleteIf you drive through any country areas, keep an eye out for farm stands that may still have produce out with a self-serve cash box. Several that I frequent are still putting out squash, pie pumpkins, and apples and will continue until Thanksgiving. I'm watching the ads for sales and BOGO (of which at least one of each BOGO will go into my bag for my food pantry donation).
ReplyDeleteYes, there are a couple stands like that here in a neighborhood up the road. They have huge back yards and gardens and put things out on the honesty stands. I love it.
DeleteBOGO is a good thing to watch as well.