Frugal Menu Mamas

So, I have two different single guys direct some questions my way about frugal menus.  I was surprised and thrilled that those outside of my intended audience are learning from the blog!  One showed concern that my recipes have so many ingredients that it costs him too  much.  The other asked how to build up the staples without spending too much.  Great questions!  When we moved here, I had to replenish many of my staples.  What I do is buy a few each time I shop.  I try to choose recipes the first week that mostly use things I already have.  Then I buy one or two extra items and the next week plan recipes that only use that many.  After you have done this for several weeks, you will have a good supply built up.  I will work on a pantry/fridge/freezer staple list soon to give you an idea of items you should try to keep on hand.

Now for recipes with few ingredients, may I suggest two magazines?  The first is Kraft’s Food and Family.  It is free…all you have to do is sign up for it.  It has lots of recipes with just a few ingredients.

The second magazine is one I picked up this week.  It is by Taste of Home and its called Simple & Delicious.  You should really check out the October 2009 issue.  It has lots of recipes with 5 ingredients or less.  Now if you remember, I reviewed Taste of Home a few months ago.  I wasn’t too impressed with it (read the review to see why).  But I am excited about Simple & Delicious.  Almost every recipe has the cost per serving listed.  That means you can be frugal about what recipes you use!  It has recipes that are ready in 30 minutes or less also.  There are appetizers, desserts, salads, and main dishes.  There are kitchen tips like how to chop an onion (please don’t make me chop an onion!) with photos to guide you.  All in all, I think this is a fantastic magazine.  I think it would be very helpful to those singles who need ideas.  In fact, maybe it would be a good gift idea for singles you know.  It’s only $10 a year!

Don’t forget that tomorrow is the last day to enter my giveaway!

Today, I am reviewing a really neat website.  I just discovered Spring Pad.  I have had so much fun exploring it.  They have an online weekly menu plan template that is fantastic!  I wish I had explored it before I talked about Organizing for Frugality and menu plans last week.  It is so neat!

So, the weekly menu plan template is a calendar set up.  You get to see a week at a time.  Each day has “add a recipe, restaurant, or event”.  You can click on the link for each of those to enter one for that day.  When you choose “add a recipe”  you can search your recipes, find a recipe online, or type in a recipe.  I love this!  So, you can copy and paste your own recipes from your word processor and enter them in.  Or if you are using a recipe online like one from Frugal Menu Mamas, you can enter the URL for the page and it will put the recipe in your menu plan.  SO COOL!

Then, there is a “shop” tab you can click on.  It has all your recipe ingredients on the right side and you click on the ones you need to buy and it adds them to your shopping list.  There is also a “cook” tab which lists the recipes in an expanded version so you can view it while cooking.

There is so much more to explore.  This menu plan options seems super organized and easy to use.  I was so impressed with the set up and it really has my attention.  I will definitely be checking it out more and I think you should see if it would work for you!

On one of my many trips to Sam’s Club, I discovered a cookbook called “Don’t Panic, Dinner’s in the Freezer, Great Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead“.  So, I picked up a copy to review for you.  If you have been reading for awhile, you know that I believe freezer cooking is great way to save money on food.  I was really excited to check out this book.

The authors start out the book with sections explaining their method of freezer cooking and providing tips for shopping, cooking, and packaging.  The tips and explaination would be especially helpful to someone new to freezer cooking.  This is not just a cookbook for main dishes, these ladies show that all kinds of dishes can be freezer dishes.  There are recipes for appetizers & beverages, breads & muffins, soup, poultry, beef & por, pasta, dessert, brunch, and sides.  The really neat thing about this cookbook is that each recipe lists ingredients and amounts, then it lists “x3, x6, x9″.  So, if you want to do these recipes for your Freezer Cooking Co-op it already figures out the ingredients for making large quantities.

I have made two of these recipes and they are currently in my freezer.  I used two that needed no cooking, just mix up a marinade, drop the chicken in and freeze.  I can’t wait to try them and see how they taste.  In the dessert section, I even found a recipe similar to this one I posted last Friday.

I learned something from this book.  I learned that I like illustrations and this book has NONE.  It would have been nice to have a few, but cookbooks don’t usually.  It made me think that maybe you’d like to see a few more photos on this blog! 

I think this book would be a great investment.  If you just want to try a few freezer recipes on your own, this would be a great way to get started.  If you are in a Freezer Cooking Co-op, this would give you some new recipe ideas.  If you want to do once-a-month cooking, you could choose recipes from here as well.  And if you already have the book, there is a new companion to it called “Don’t Panic, More Dinner’s in the Freezer.”

Have you tried this book?  Let us know what YOU think!

A few weeks ago I contacted several companies of products that I mention on this blog to see if any of them would sponsor a giveaway.  The Ziploc Brand  company was kind enough to send me a nice email and mail me five Ziploc Vacuum Freezer Systems!  I was thrilled to try one of them and I will review it today.  To read more about it go to the Ziploc website and then choose the Ziploc Vacuum Freezer System link.  I should have read their web page first. 

I bought some chicken on sale this week and planned to freeze it with a few different marinades.  I mixed up the marinade and placed it and the chicken inside the vacuum freezer bags.  I then used the pump to try and vacuum the air out.  It did not work.  I read the instructions on the box again and tried again.  A few drops of the marinade even came out of the vacuum valve.  I was bummed.  I looked at the photo on the box and it had a plain piece of meat in the photo.  So, in the last bag I placed one chicken breast…that’s it.  It worked wonderfully sucking the air out. If I had read the web page first, it states “Not recommended for liquids like soups and sauces or powdery foods or items containing small particles.” 

So, my verdict?  Since the best way to not get freezer burn is to remove moisture and air from freezer bags, this is a great way to prevent freezer burn!  It would be fantastic for plain pieces of meat like hamburgers, chicken, beef, pork chops, etc…  However, I do not think this would work for freezer meals or marinades.  I think too many of the liquids or particles would be in the way and would not allow the pump to actually suck the air from the bag.

I really appreciate Ziploc giving me the chance to try this out!  They were so generous to give me 4 of these to give away to you!  Here is what you need to do to win one:

-Leave a comment telling me you want to win!

-Promote this giveaway on your blog, facebook, or twitter.  Leave a separate comment letting me know what you did.

-Leave a comment letting Ziploc what you love about them!

Giveaway ends May 28th, 9pm EST.

No, this is not the product review I mentioned would be coming on Friday.  I love being a part of the blogging world.  I am starting to collect a few items companies are sending me to giveaway to you just because I am a blogger!  Usually these items have to do with the kitchen, cooking, or food, but this one does not!  A few weeks ago, Dove sent me a sample of their new deodorant coming out this month.  Here is a link to the one they sent me.  They asked me to use it and to tell everyone I know what I think about it.  So, while this has nothing to do with food, it has everything to do with saving money, so hang in there and keep reading.  First of all, I already am a loyal Dove brand deodorant user.  I love the Go Fresh scents that have come out the past year and I like how it goes on clear.  This new deodorant has a “Pro-Epil Complex” which is supposed to soften hair and make your underarms smoother for longer.  So far, it completely lives up to its claim.  I’ve been using it for over a week and have soft, smooth underarms and when there is stubble, it is super fine.  My husband will be traveling soon and suggested I try a day or two with no shaving (while he’s gone of course!), but I’m not sure if I’m that brave, yet.  The “wild rose” scent is fresh and mild and I like it, too.  So, in my humble opinion, it is a fantastic new product!  They have sent me somewhere around 20 little leaflets to hand out to you!  Each one has a $2 off coupon for you and a $2 off coupon for a friend…what a nice deal!  How do you get one?  Leave a comment on this post letting me know what your favorite feature of this blog is…Freezer Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, recipes, reviews, tips, etc…The first 20 comments will have the opportunity to get the coupons.  This offer is over at 10pmEST  Thursday, May 21, 2009. Thanks!

So, a few weeks ago I picked up a copy of the May issue of Taste of Home.  It advertises recipes for under $3 a plate at the top.  I decided to pick it up to give you a review.  I am always looking for delicious frugal recipes and Taste of Home is a great recipe resource.  Here is my disclaimer:  I do actually really enjoy Taste of Home magazine and I’ve even been to their cooking shows…lots of fun!  The thing that bugged me about this issue was that the $3 a plate recipes were not all in one section.  There is a little box in the table of contents that lists the under $3 a plate recipes and their cost per serving.  You have to look each one up and when you do look it up it doesn’t talk about the cost per serving.  The only place that is mentioned is in the table of contents.  The magazine has a separate feature called “Menu Savers” (the page # was wrong in my copy of the magazine) which features thrifty pork recipes in this issue.  They were all under $1.70 per serving, not bad!  Another neat feature of this issue was the “open house-potluck” section.  It had big batches of recipes like sloppy joes that could be made for large crowds.  In addition, all the featured recipes in that section are freezer friendly…exciting for a Freezer Cooking Club!

All in all, this was not my favorite issue of Taste of Home.  However, if you still want to check it out, hurry before the month is over!

This may be a stretch, but one way to live frugally is to avoid eating out.  My sister turned me on to a webiste called “Top Secret Recipes” that has restaurant recipes as well as other name brand items like Snickers!  Some recipes are free, some cost under $1 to purchase.  If nothing else, this guy is entertaining.  The Snickers video is hilarious so check it out!

My friends from my freezer cooking co-op pointed me in the direction of the Spring 2009 issue of Cook’s Illustrated magazine.  (I found mine at Sam’s.)  So, I am reviewing it for today’s post.  Cook’s Illustrated is available bimonthly.  I had never picked up this type of magazine before, but I was pleasantly suprised.  This edition is entitled “Make-Ahead Recipes” so it includes some freezer meals.  Some of the freezer meals include macaroni & cheese, chicken pot pies, chicken enchiladas, and twice baked potatoes.  Other sections include recipes to make ahead for the refrigerator or crock pot.  All the recipes have several photos, “how-to” guides, and variations.  This issue in particular has a fantastic feature called “Getting to Know Your Freezer”.  It explains the shelf life of various foods and gives you tips on how to package items for the freezer.  And I happen to love the hand drawn illustrations.  The magazine also evaluates various kitchen tools and gives their best picks for each recipes.  In case you can’t tell, I am really enjoying this magazine and can’t wait to try out the recipes.  I am not sure that all the recipes are frugal, HOWEVER, using your freezer efficiently, using your crock pot wisely, and planning ahead almost always save you money and that’s what this magazine will help you do.  The cover says “display until June 29, 2009″, so get your’s soon! 

I thought I would introduce you to the website for Living on a Dime.  I discovered Living on a Dime a few years ago.  I bought a cookbook called “Not Just Beans” by Tawra Kellam and this is her site.  The site itself is not too exciting, but has some good money saving info.  The main point is to save money in the kitchen.  They sell cookbooks and ebooks.  They also have a blog and an email newsletter.  I’m not sure if the “Not Just Beans” cookbook is still available, their main one is “Dining on a Dime”.  The cookbook was not one of my favorites…too much work to save a little bit of money.  However, I am subscribed to the email newsletter and I am enjoying that.  This week’s newsletter has two homemade bread recipes (something I am working at becoming good at) plus tips on how to do it well.  So, go to the site (click the link in the first sentence of this post) and sign up for the email newletter.  Its free and helpful.  And if you want to purchase any cookbooks or ebooks, use this link (Disclaimer:  I do receive a percentage of the sales).

So, while I gave “All You” rave reviews yesterday, I am not so excited about today’s magazine.  I saw it at the store, one of those small supplemental magazine’s called “Taste of Home, Dinner on a Dime”.  I do like the Taste of Home magazine regularly, so on an impulse buy, I got it.  Bad idea.  It was $4.99!  That’s not being too frugal.  I was also severely disappointed that there were no prices with any of the recipes.  How can they advertise “dinner on a dime” if they don’t tell us how much the recipes actually cost?

I have not tried any of the recipes yet.  Some look really good.  I am a little turned off though by the chicken recipes; most use bone in chicken pieces.  I’ll be honest.  I have never had any luck with bone in chicken pieces.  I use whole chickens or boneless, skinless breasts.  Maybe I need to learn, but I do know that you don’t have to use just bone in chicken pieces to save money.  I buy boneless, skinless breasts on sale and do just fine. 

The cover of “Taste of Home Dinner on a Dime” also boasts time and money saving tips and “stretch your grocery money” tips.  Some of these were really good ideas and some were ideas you probably already know if you are on a quest to be frugal.

So, my opinion?  Not worth the $4.99.  HOWEVER, I may change my mind after trying a few recipes.  And if I do try one, I will post it on here with prices and let you know what I think.  Have you tried this magazine?  Leave me a comment letting me know what you think!