Thursday, May 8, 2008 Frugal meals Posted in Menu Planning How to feed four on $170.00 per week. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4509478a10.html I note they have no snack food - my kids need snacks - they have fruit, chippies, home baking, pop corn. OOOh I try to remember to share our frugal meals - but well I get side tracked. Tuesday Breakfast Toast Lunch Brent had a kit set of tinned spagetti, cheese & egg - salt n pepper I put in a tupperware container - slices of bread & then he can make his own toasted sammies at work. Me soda bread that was too dry next day - so shared it with the doves while I chatted to Pam on phone. Abbey made herself a sandwhich & James had baked beans & pickled onions - what a mixture!! Tea Spagetti bolonaise Wednesday Breakfast Porridge Lunch Brent packed lunch of buns with ham & salad. Feijoa muffin - I need to make some more to pop in freezer so he has a variety. 3 pieces of fruit. Us - home made bread rolls with ham, lettuce & relish. Tea Left over spagetti bolanise made into shepards pie. - Just add frozen mixed vegetables - mashed potato & cheese on top. Abbey made her self egg on toast. Thursday Breakfast Home made bread - mmm isn't it yummy to wake up to - with vegemite on top. Lunch Brent - doorstop sandwiches - I find cutting homemade bread the slice a re huge - filled with ham, cheese & relish.- Muffin & 3 bits of fruit - Brent got stuck in traffic coming home last night - 2 1/2 hours when it should only take 3/4 hour - at least he had some fruit to munch on. Tea Roast lamb & veges. s • Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Tuesday, May 6, 2008 Frugal Menu Posted in Menu Planning SUNDAY Breakfast - Cook up Brent cooked bacon, eggs for those who like them (shudder), baked beans & spagetti. Lunch - Everyman for himself - Raid cupboards. Tea - Tacos Left over roast chicken re heated in caramelised onions (Cook sliced onions in olive oil very slowly) - lettuce, cheese, carrot, avocado & sour cream with home made tomato relish. Pudding -  we don't have pudding very often but they are great if the main meal is a bit light - makes more go around. Apple pie with free apples off friends tree. - James had stuffed apples - take core out of apple & fill with dried mixed fruit, top with cinnamon & brown sugar place water in bottom of dish & bake. MONDAY Breakfast Toast Lunch Brent packed lunch sandwiches ready for toasty pie maker  ham, cheese & tomato , 3 bits of fruit, feijoa muffin - Me same as Brent. James left over chilli con carne from Saturday dinner. Abbey a sandwich. Tea: - Vegetable soup - oh my I put in what ever is in fridge base a chicken stock - then pumpkin, kumera, onion, celery, onions & water & let simmer away. I whizz it before serving. And home made soda bread - this was a hit & will make again. James had rice bread. Pudding - Honest we don't have pudding much - but with soup a second course fills folks up. And I had free feijoas from a friend so made feijoa crumble. - Just peel & slice feijoas. Put crumble topping on & bake in hot oven - the fruit cooks while in oven. Serve with cream who likes/can eat cream. • Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Tuesday, December 11, 2007 My Price Book Posted in Menu Planning I have been keeping my price book up to date & its a real eye opener how much prices have gone up. I am wondering if Pack N Save have actually put prices up for the Christmas period. Usually they give you their annual BIG sale sheet if you are a self scanner or Christmas club member. In the past I empty my freezer as I buy my meat on sale then. This year the sales were nothing exciting at all. I'm pleased I decided this year not to open a Christmas club with them - the sales are just not worth it. In fact I think Pack n Save is no longer the cheapest place in town. Ok I may be a bit mad but I actually enjoy keeping my price book up to date. After a shop I usually sit with a cuppa coffee & just write down price changes. I grab till receipts (I did 2 weeks yesterday) and my price book is in isle order which is pretty close to what most grocery shops have. Eg entry fruit & vegs, then meat, then deli.... Some people do their price book using an abc index book & listi products by names. What ever works for you is the best option. I sometimes do this while sitting in the car waiting for the kids at their music lessons. James has been going over to Woolworths each week & picks me up their flyer - they had heaps on sale this week. I also shop differently I have a well stocked pantry - that I use every day & the pantry next to it is my stockpile.  I also have a pantry in the car shed which I am beginning to stock too. I keep my freezer pretty full with meat & bread. I buy James rice bread direct from baker - I just rang them & asked so get it at trade - been doing this for years and a huge saving.  I plan to only buy fresh fruit & vege weekly at markets if not growing in my garden. Tined food & pantry supplies I will only buy on sale & then can shop from my stockpiles weekly. - with the plan I'll go down to car shed to stock my house pantry, I find living like this is cheaper but also when life gets in the way & I can't get to the shops we pretty much can always find something to eat. • Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Sunday, November 11, 2007 Eat at home fast instead of takeaways. Posted in Menu Planning Brent dropped Abbey & I at home & James & him went back to the Strawberry fair to listen to some more bands – wish I got some photos. Oh well…. This weekend I have people coming to look at their kittens growing & choosing if they can. I allow 1 hour a visit & set aside a weekend to do it – telling the kids I am not available as their taxi. – We have 16 kittens at the moment so that is a lot of people visiting & time. My last appointment was 4.30 – 5.30pm so I needed a quick tea. These are Gluten & egg free sausages & are one of my life savers!!! I always have some in the freezer & if I need a meal for James to take somewhere it doesn't take long to defrost & cook. They actually taste quite nice so our whole family eat them - a bit expensive for all of us to eat but easier re food contamination. Hot Chips - James took photos for me as I cooked - he couldn't believe people would want to see hot chips. Brent was nearby & he sorted out the camera why it kept going too white - I learned you take the flash off. James took awesome photos - he has a new job as my offical photo man for blog! These hot chips James can eat again only some brands and we must read all labels. Lettuce & avocado. Avocado is soo cheap at the moment 75 c each I am buying heaps. A wonderful food for James & something that has FAT in it he can eat. Fresh bread from the market - Abbey got one loaf free as we got there as she was closing & must of liked Abbey we told her. It was Yum - only part of meal James can not eat. This was my grandmothers recipe & we had every Christmas Cucumber & tomato soaked in brown vinegar & pepper. She also added cream but I omit that so James can have it & he loves it! Do try it and add the cream it sounds yuck but is sooo yummy. My very popular beetroot, carrot & raisin salad - All the kids who come to my home love it & they all tell me they don't like vegetables. We are HUGE fruit & vegetable people. A fresh bowl of strawberries for desert = heaven!!! Icing sugar on top of strawberries. Yum! - This shaker was not a frugal buy it was about $5.00 and the same amount of icing sugar in a bag is about $1.00. But I wanted it so we can shake icing sugar. As Brent said I can reuse container so not really a non frugal buy. This meal didn't take long to whip up & sure beats takeaway food - Plus we have eaten well for far less the cost of takeaways. • Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Friday, November 9, 2007 Packed lunch Posted in Menu Planning Brent prefers to take my packed lunch everyday – he says it’s nicer (Isn’t he nice) and heaps cheaper, plus it’s easier for him as he often eats & works – not a good thing in my book – but nice to get him home early!!! He is a shocker at times as if I don’t pack his lunch – (very rare) he often skips lunch Today I thought I’d blog what I pack him – maybe a few ideas for others who pack their dh’s lunch .  Talking to friends packing lunches for DH is not very common – but I’ve done if for over 21 years & don’t mind – I enjoy getting up early – ok its 3.40am here in NZ. I also make Brent’s breakfast & have all his keys, phone, & dog biscuits ready at the door. This is such a cool bag as I can put a frozen cool pack in it to keep food cool & fresh in summer. Brent normally adds a bottle of ginger beer in the side. I’d admit I would have slippers ready for when he came home too – but Brent says slippers are for old farts so he doesn’t wear them – we keep teasing him that he is getting old & will soon like slippers… Bacon n egg pie, cheese herb muffins & chocolate chip cookies made by Abbey, & fruit I normally put 3 pieces of fruit a day in his lunch. A smaller lunch today as he had two toastie pies for breakfast filled with last nights lasagna Bread rolls filled with salad & ham – Brent likes egg & beetroot & carrot added. Cheese herb muffins & chocolate chip cookies made by Abbey, Fresh strawberries & fruit. Today's lunch is salad with boiled eggs complements chooks, tinned tuna, fresh pineapple & strawberries . Banana chocolate chip muffins made by Abbey. Brent caught me taking photo of his lunch yesterday & he really thinks I’ve finally gone cuckoo • Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link