Ways to Cut Costs Today and Any Day!

 Hello to all.  Hope you are well.  It is raining and raining some more here this morning.  It is still dark out as I write this, so I will go out a little later to feed the kitties outside.  Weather looks to be all over the place here, in the next few days - and that isn't on my 'favorites' list!!!  If it is snowing or icing where you are - be safe.

                                                                      TRUE STORY!!!

Today just a few ideas and recipes to cut costs and still eat well.  I know many are trying not to go into the grocery for the remainder of the year - or have plans to start the new year that way.  Well, there are things that are just very tasty, that can be made with items you already have.

I was looking back to some posts from several years ago and came across these recipes again.  Just as relevant now as they were then - maybe more so.

AGAIN remember:  click on the recipes to enlarge for easier reading!!

                           SPOON BREAD

Can't get much easier.  Bread comes in all types and flavors and who says it has to be a slice?  This is like fry bread, and it really is good.  I plan to make this again soon.

                        POTATO/BEEF CASSEROLE

You can use any ground meat you have - you can use any kind of cream of soup.  Heck you could even change out potatoes for carrots, squash, turnips, etc.  Recipes are just "ideas" to me - they aren't etched in stone.  Use what you have and make a hearty winter dish!

*Use up spices and herbs to change up the flavors of things.  You can take the blandest ingredients and make them taste good - just add different seasonings. Also think bacon grease - you can sure add flavor to a lot of fried goods with a little bacon grease - that stuff is gold!

*Use up older fruits - even if you have a variety of pieces and kinds - to make a cobbler.  Kind of like a cobbler fruit salad!  You can also fry up a variety in butter (like making fried apples).  Peaches, pears, apples - even a little citrus would be so good.  This would be good over pancakes, waffles, pudding or even cooled and used on ice cream.  No need to let things go to waste!

                                           MINER'S STEW

Actually, a casserole, but it doesn't matter what you call it.  It is super easy.  Again, use whatever ground meat you have.  You can use carrots or other root veggies in the mix, instead of so many potatoes.  

Just because things are easy, doesn't mean they aren't filling and hearty.

I think throwing a handful of cheese on top would be super yummy too!

Yesterday I was out, and I noticed that ALL Christmas items were already 50% off at Hobby Lobby!  Now and immediately after the holiday is the time to buy many items for the upcoming year.  Paper products - like plates and napkins - (if you use) would be a deal.  Wrapping paper - get plainer rolls of paper that could be used for all occasions throughout the year.  Candy - that would be the time to get some candies to chop up and use in baking or to use for melting.  Candy can be frozen for use throughout the year. (cheaper than buying choc. chips)

Stock up now on all baking supplies - groceries tend to be having a lot of loss leader sales.  Ham is on sale many places as well.  I would think around New Years, cabbage and maybe even corned beef will be on sale.  You have to pay attention to the sales and watched the in-store mark-downs.  I stopped on the way home for cat litter at WM - walked around and noticed they still have frozen turkeys for .69/lb. Not as cheap as Thanksgiving, but still pretty darn cheap.

Stay warm, dry and safe today.

No matter where you are, I wish you abundant blessings.