More Affordable Groceries and Eats

 Hello to all this morning.  Hope this finds you all well and safe.

Well, it isn't raining this morning (yet or still).  Boy did we have rain yesterday.  All day and aaallllll night!!!  We had storms and tons of rain over 2 1/2"yesterday).  Quite a bit more coming later on today.  UGH!  I have a lake in the back 40 as do the neighbors.  I went out this AM and cleared the street drain - it was completely clogged - nowhere for the water to go.  It sure looked like a river flowing when I cleared.  I wish people would be careful with leaves and debris.

Today more words on affordable grocery shopping and good eats.  I know I talk a lot about this, and maybe repeat a few things, but new people read every day and we all need to know these things.  Now is the time to really be careful and stretch those dollars.

Here is a fun way to use stale bread.  I used to not like it, because what I had was really wet.  Once I had a hardier version that was drier in consistency - it was wonderful.  This is a basic recipe - think about adding fruit, nuts, anything that sounds good or needs to be used.  Can be used for a side, a dessert, breakfast, lunch - sure a great way to fill a belly and stretch things.

• Make recipes and meals with simple ingredients.  There are tons of things that can be had.
• Count your pieces in bagged produce!  Seriously!!  Those are servings.  A bag of oranges may have 7 pieces or it may have 10 - supposedly the same weight.  Well, a serving is important to stretch it out
• Weigh those bags of produce.  May be advertised as 5lbs for a price - some may weigh more and some less
• Make friends with dept. managers to get a heads up on when they mark things down
• Check every dept. for markdowns!  Maybe the store has a central clearance section - look and use it.  I hardly ever pay full price for anything - either sales or clearance
• Beef is high in price.  Ground beef is high - look for markdowns or use ground pork, chicken, etc.  Add beef bouillon to give it more of a beef taste.
• Think about getting pork loins when they go on special for .99 or 1.99 a pound and have the meat dept. grind it for you!!!  Heck of a lot cheaper than ground beef.
• Add oats or bread/crackers crumbs to ground beef to stretch it further.  You can add cooked lentils as well - great protein and stretches it.  Lentils take on taste of what it is cooked with.  I add beans a lot for tacos.  Make bean burgers or lentil burgers - you may be amazed at the taste.
• DON'T feel bad to use food pantries if needed.  They are there to be used and help out
• Ask your/or neighborhood church for help if necessary
• Add bread or biscuits to meals - it is filling and you use less of the main course
• Keep basics on hand - sugar, flour, dry milk, pasta, rice, canned tuna, oats, peanut butter, crackers, canned tomatoes, corn meal, dry beans and lentils - you can make all kinds of meals with basic ingredients
• If you can't buy fresh veggies cheaply - buy frozen.  Closest to fresh taste, no added ingredients (buy plain) and keep well
• Fresh - carrots, potatoes, apples, cabbage, bananas, celery - all pretty cheap
• If need be - get hot dogs and add to meals.  I know many don't like that idea - but you get what you can in a pinch, and it is filling.  Same with Spam or mini canned hams.  Used tuna
• Remember tortillas are super cheap (and so easy to make at home) - they can be made into chips as well as having many uses soft
• Use leftovers in new ways or for lunches or breakfast (you can always add an egg!
• Use up what you have in new ways.  Add to soups and casseroles and pizzas - new combos can make for a tasty meal
• Things getting old?  Use them up.  Older apples - fried, baked, sauce.  Oranges - juice or use in a sweet & sour Asian meal, use in a shake.  Carrots or celery limp?  Place in ice cold water to replenish or cut up and use in soup.  A few sprouts on potatoes?  Cut them off and use.  USE THEM UP!

Pizza made from scratch last week - everything I had around.  2 types of olives, onions, peppers, small tomatoes, mushrooms, some pepperoni - chopped, homemade sauce (use tom. sauce & seasoning if all you have), cheese/or not.  Leftover veggies, meats, mac & cheese, anything you have can be added and be yummy!

In my opinion there is no recipe for soup - just throw things together, and I bet you won't be sorry.  It sure can stretch fewer ingredients into several meals.  Add some pasta or rice and it stretches even further.

Think about shopping less often.  Maybe start going every other week and using YOUR pantry/freezer in between.  Stretch that food - yes shop at home first.  Then maybe you can go three weeks - it is all about what you get used to.  I have found for me, the less often I go, the less I spend a month.  I learn to use other things and substitute and figure out new things to cook.  Get creative - you knew I had to say it!!!

Small changes can make big differences in funds.  IF you don't need to worry about that - fantastic.

Today many do need to worry about money.  Do the work!!!!!  You have to do the work.

Keep it simple and keep it affordable and make good eats.

Have fun all - give us your tips!!!!!

Have a blessed day to all.