Frugal Menu Mamas

Check out this collection of tips on saving money in your food budget!

Congratulations!  The four winners of a Ziploc vacuum Freezer system (chosen by generating number on Random.org) are:

#1-Diane

#3-Janine

#8-RuntoFinish

#15-Connie R.

I will be emailing each of you to get your addresses!  Thanks for participating!

Thank you to Ziploc!

So, today I was supposed to post my last video I made for Sam’s Club.  Well, after reviewing the material I currently have, hubs and decided that this was not a good quality video.  I will be making 2 freezer recipes in the next week and plan to video those to show you in the coming weeks.  Please bear with me, this video stuff is not as easy as I thought. 

The great recipe I have for you today is a new one to me.  Here is the background for you…I was at my sister’s house last Sunday and I told her I was really wanting some chocolate.  She offered me some peanut butter chocolate bars from her FREEZER.  They were individually wrapped in foil!  I bit into one (a frozen one) and it was so delicious I asked for the recipe right then.  She told me then that my MOM made these for her and brought them.  So, not only is my mom holding out on me by not bringing me the delectable treats, but she didn’t even tell me this awesome FREEZER RECIPE and she knows that’s my thing!  Now I am just teasing, my mom and I get along great, as do my sister and I.  Just thought you’d enjoy the background.

I made these yesterday….yummm!

Peanut Butter Bars w/ Chocolate (tastes like Reese’s)

1 cup butter

2 cups peanut butter

2 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs

1 ¾ cups powdered sugar

2 cups chocolate chips (milk chocolate-I tried with semi-sweet & it was too bitter)

1/3 cup milk

-Melt butter and peanut butter and mix well. Remove from heat.

-Add graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar, mix well.

-Pour into 9 x 13 (will be runny). Chill till hardened.

-Melt chocolate chips and milk, mix well. Spread over peanut butter mixture. Chill till hardened.

-Cut and wrap individually and freeze and use as needed. If using immediately, just refrigerate.

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Well, I’m at a standstill for Frugal Breakfasts.  I did ask for banana bread recipes last week and got only one.  But it is a good one.  I made it yesterday and ate some today…delicious.  The host of “A Recipe a Day” pointed me to it and here is the recipe.  Doesn’t mine look delicious, too?

I think we’ll move on to frugal (and easy and somewhat healthy) snacks.  Some simple ideas are:

-fruit

-pretzels

-crackers

Those get old (as in I get tired of the same stuff) though.  I really like trail mixes and snack mixes.  They can get expensive though.  I grew up on GORP (Good Ol’ Raisins & Peanuts) and it is still a favorite around here.  It is much cheaper per ounce or pound to make your own.  Here’s what I do:

GORP

one large bag M & Ms

one large container salted peanuts

one large container raisins

-Mix all together in a BIG bowl.  Store in Tupperware or Ziploc bags for a loooooooooooooooong time. 

So, calling all trail and snack mix recipes…please leave a comment with your’s!

Don’t forget the giveaway that ends tonight!

This whole Monday holiday really throws off my week.  So, I went shopping on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.  And I didn’t even posted on Wednesday!  Well, I only made it to 2 stores this week, but did get some great deals.  Please, please, please check the links to deal I post each week.  The folks writing those blogs have put in lots of time and research and then YOU DON’T HAVE TO.  None of my awesome deals were my idea…got them off the blogs…BUT who cares whose idea it was, as long as I save money!  :)  If you want to know how I got the deals, read the tips on the deal blogs, links are here.

CVS

2 FREE Sobe Life Waters (used a BOGO coupon)

1 FREE Colgate Total toothpaste (used a $1 off coupon)

got $6 Extra Care Buck in overage (they paid me!) for buying 2 trial size Neutrogena sun blocks

Kroger

12 rolls Cottonelle for $4.99 (used a $.50 off doubled coupon)

Go ahead and brag on your self…what deals did you get?

Don’t forget my giveaway!

Since all my main dishes this week are already posted on the blog, I will give you a yummy, summer side/dessert recipe.  My mom has been making this for years and this is a favorite of mine.  I hope to make it this week, too.  Then I can update with a photo.

Strawberry/Banana Jello Salad

strawberry jello

fresh or frozen strawberries (if frozen, semi thaw)

bananas

sour cream (yes, sour cream)

pecans

Make jello according to instructions on the package except reduce the amount of water by 1/2 cup.  After jello mix is dissolved, add sliced bananas, sliced strawberries, and pecans.  Pour half the mixture into a serving dish and chill until jello is set.  Keep the other half at room temperature so it will not set.  Spread sour cream over the chilled jello.  Top with remaining jello mixture.  Chill until set.

Use 2 boxes jello for a 9 x 13 dish.  Make them seperately so that the second half doesn’t set.  If it does, set the dish in warm water until the jello melts.

Don’t forget about my giveaway!

Here are the deals from some of the blogs I read.  Thanks to the blogs for their hard work.  Hope this helps you save money this week!

Kroger (Ohio region)

Kroger (southern region)

Publix

Walgreens

Walgreens

CVS

CVS

Rite Aide

Target

I bet you were wondering if I’d ever post today!  :)  To be honest, I keep forgetting it is Monday…it feels like a Saturday around here.  Anyway, the menu I have planned this week includes recipes I’ve already posted before.  But I will be posting at least 3 new recipes (non-main dishes) for you later this week.  On to the menu plan:

MONDAY-We already ate leftovers! 

TUESDAY-brown sugar chicken, rice, green beans, breads

WEDNESDAY-cheesy beef stroganoff (from the freezer), peas, bread

THURSDAY-Parmesan pork chops, I don’t know what else

FRIDAY-Super Burritos, rice, chips & salsa

SATURDAY-LEFTOVERS

SUNDAY-BBQ sandwiches, tater tots, corn

For more great menu plans, visit OrgJunkie.com!

To be a part of my giveaway, click here!

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.

Friday is here again!  We did not get the last Sam’s Club video ready for today.  I am so sorry!  Will try to do it next week with the BIG giveaway for Sam’s Club.

A yummy recipe for you today.  Our friend David, made these Super Burritos for us a few years ago.  After he married the lovely Kerry, they decided to try and adapt the Super Burritos for our freezer cooking co-op.  They did a fantastic job!  Just remember, before you try to freeze a non-freezer recipe for your freezer cooking club, try it for your family first!  It is a nice thing to do.  The gals in our club work hard and don’t want a something that actually doesn’t freeze well.

Hope you enjoy!

Super Burritos
(serves 6)

1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. taco seasoning + 1 pkg. full of water
chopped onion to taste
fresh garlic to taste
chili powder to taste
1/4 cup rice (prepare as directed)
1 pkg. flour tortillas (burrito size)
2 cups Mexican Four Cheese (shredded)
1/4 stick butter or margarine
1 1/2 Tbs. flour
1 cup water
1 large beef bullion cube
1/4 jar Frontera Mild roasted salsa

-Brown beef with taco seasoning, water, onion, garlic, and chili powder.  Drain mixture.  Stir in rice.
-Spray a 9 x 13 glass baking dish with non stick cooking spray.
-On a flour shell, spread a large spoonful of meat mixture and cheese.  Roll and secure with a toothpick.  Fit snugly into baking dish.  Repeat with remaining shells.
-In a pan, melt beef bullion cube into water.  In a second pan, melt butter.  Stir in flour to form rue.  Pour beef bullion mixture into rue.  Pour in salsa.  Stir and allow to thicken.
-Pour sauce over burritos and top with remaining cheese.  Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
To Freeze: After topping burritos with sauce and cheese, cover with plastic wrap and then heavy duty aluminum foil.  Freeze.
To Serve: Thaw in fridge completely (may take more than overnight).  Remove plastic wrap and bake as directed.

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