Frugal Menu Mamas

Welcome to the “TOP 5″!  This regular feature will explore the top five easy and frugal ways to use various food items.  I want you to participate!  It is simple and easy.  If you have a blog, create a post with your favorite uses for the food item of the day…you don’t have to have 5.  Link your post up with mine using Mr. Linky at the bottom of the page.  If you don’t have a blog, then please leave comments!  Today’s item…pork chops.  Past TOP 5 posts were on rotisserie chicken, boneless/skinless chicken breasts, and ground beef.

So, today’s item is pork chops.  I don’t really remember eating pork chops all that much as a kid (sorry Mom!).  Perhaps we did, I just don’t remember it.  So, I had no pork recipes in my experience when I got married.  When we lived in FL, some friends grilled some kabobs and brought them to an event for us to taste.  Oh my, were they tasty!  I was shocked to find out it was pork!  From there, the gal (Hello Dawn R.!) told me how she bought an entire pork loin at Sam’s.  I began doing it, too.  I buy a whole pork loin and have the meat cutter at Sam’s cut it for me.  I usually get 2 or 3 roasts and the rest cut into chops.  It is usually around $1.88/lb.  and very good quality.  So, today when I say pork chops, I mean boneless pork chops.  However, you could probably do any of these things with bone in pork chops, too.

My Top 5 uses for pork chops:

1-Toss it in the crock pot.  Try Cooker Chops.

2-Marinate and grill.  Here is the marinade from my FL friend. Or try this one.

3-Cut into cubes for a recipe like BBQ or sweet & sour pork.

4-Quick skillet meal like Parmesan Pork Chops.

5-Paired with applesauce?

So, if you haven’t jumped on the pork chop bandwagon, check out “The Other White Meat” for everything you ever wanted to know about pork and stuff you didn’t even know you wanted to know.

I want to hear from you!

Leave a comment with your favorite ideas/recipes or link up to your post with Mr. Linky about the best uses for pork chops.

Tonight, I made 2 Easy Pork Chops.  They were easy, but I think I cooked them too long.  We dipped our’s in additional BBQ sauce.  I forgot to take a photo again!  Hubby has a new fancy camera, so I will try to get on the ball here.  I would probably use this recipe again if we were tired of the Parmesan Pork Chops, but that is hard to imagine.  I love the Parmesan Pork Chops much more than this.  :)  You can let me know what you think if you try it.  By the way, I’d like to give credit to who I got the recipe from, but I can’t remember…sorry!

2 Easy Pork Chops

2 pork chops ($1.78/lb. @Sam’s)

1 egg ($.10)

2 Tbs BBQ sauce (~$.05)

1/3 cup bread crumbs (~$.20)

2 tsp Parmesan cheese (~$.10)

1/4 tsp oregano(~$.05)

1/4 tsp lemon-pepper seasoning (didn’t have any…used pepper and lemon juice!  :)  ~$.10)

-Combine egg and BBQ sauce in bowl. Combine other ingredients in zip-lock bag.

-Dip chops in egg mixture then in bag and shake. Bake at 325 for 1 hour.

TOTAL=$2.23

I served this with rice ($.30) and a can of LeSeur peas (~$1.10) for a total of $3.53.  Very frugal!  I am going to try to post the prices as much as I can again.  I hate it when a magazine or cookbook advertises “frugal recipes” and doesn’t put the cost…what is frugal to them may not be frugal to me.  One site that is fantastic about putting the cost (and gave me the idea) is $5 dinner mom.

Happy Friday!

If you are new around here, Fridays are all about freezer cooking and having a Freezer Cooking Club or Co-op.

I am so excited for today being the first video post on my blog in cooperation with Sam’s Club!  Today I will be showing you how I shopped for and made the crockpot/freezer BBQ sandwiches.  I posted this recipe a few weeks ago and decided to show you exactly what went into it.  I hope you enjoy it!

A few things to remember:

-I do not actually have a freezer co-op at this time because I just moved to GA.  You can be sure I will be starting another one once I get to know enough people.  I made these Sam’s Club posts like I would if I was still with my co-op.

-My freezer co-op (when I lived in WV) involved 5-10 families depending on who was available during that rotation.

-We agreed that each meal needed to be 4-6 servings and the main dish.

-I am doing these videos at the request of Sam’s Club.  They would like me to show tips on having your own freezer cooking club and tips for what we do.  The Sam’s Club I worked with was very helpful and eager to assist me.

-This will be a series for a few weeks on Fridays (I don’t know for how long).  So, please subscribe to my feed or check back often!

Here is the recipe:

Beef & Pork BBQ
(16 servings)

1 1/2 lbs. stewing meat-cubed
1 1/2 lbs. pork-cubed
2 cups onions-chopped
1/2 cup brown sugar-packed
3 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
6 oz. tomato paste
pepper blend seasoning
onion salt

-In a large crockpot, combine all ingredients.  Cook on low setting for 8-10 hours or until meat is tender.  Stir with fork to break up pieces.  Serve on buns.
**May use all pork or all bef.  Pork may cook faster than the beef, so start the beef ahead of time, then add the pork.
IF FREEZING:  Allow BBQ to cool completely.  Spoon into Ziplock bags.  On cooking day, thaw overnight in fridge.  Reheat on stove top.

Printable Version

Here are the videos:

Hello Everyone!

Many of the recipes I am using this week I’ve already posted.  If you are looking for one, just go to “categories” on the right and then choose “recipes”.

Last night I made Parmesan Pork Chops.  They are tasty!  I would recommend using lots of oil in the pan so that the coating on the chops stays on the chops and not your pan.  :)  I got this out of a magazine over a year ago and don’t know which one to give credit to.  :)  Enjoy!

(Yes, I took that photo!)

Parmesan Pork Chops

1/4 cup butter ($.25)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (approx. $.75)
2 Tbs. flour (approx. $.10)
2 tsp. Italian seasoning (approx. $.10)
2 tsp. dried parsley flakes (approx. $.10)
1/4 tsp. pepper (approx. $.05)
4 boneless pork loin chops (approx. 3/4 inches thick and 6 oz. each)  (approx. $2.95–I only used 2, so about $1.50 for me)
2 tsp. olive oil ($.10)
TOTAL=approx. $4.40 ($2.95 for me)

-Melt butter in microwave.  In large bowl, combine Parm, flour, Italian seasoning, parsley, and pepper.
-Dip each chop in butter, then in cheese/seasoning mixture, turning to coat.
-In large skillet, cook pork in oil over medium heat for 7-8 minutes on each side or until juices run clear.

I served it with frozen lima beans ($.50), frozen dinner rolls ($1), and a box of Velveeta Shells N Cheese ($2).

MEAL TOTAL=$6.45

Printable Version

In my freezer co-op in WV, my friend Rhonda makes some pretty good meals.  I can’t wait to make this one on my own!  It makes 16 sandwiches, so I’m thinking, my small family of 4 could divide it into at least 3 freezer meals.  Not too bad for not too much work!  I hope you enjoy it!

Beef & Pork BBQ
(16 servings)

1 1/2 lbs. stewing meat-cubed
1 1/2 lbs. pork-cubed
2 cups onions-chopped
1/2 cup brown sugar-packed
3 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
6 oz. tomato paste
pepper blend seasoning
onion salt

-In a large crockpot, combine all ingredients.  Cook on low setting for 8-10 hours or until meat is tender.  Stir with fork to break up pieces.  Serve on buns.
**May use all pork or all bef.  Pork may cook faster than the beef, so start the beef ahead of time, then add the pork.
IF FREEZING:  Allow BBQ to cool completely.  Spoon into Ziplock bags.

PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

This recipe I received at my freezer co-op a few months ago  from my friend Rhonda.  I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it because I’ve never really had anything “sweet & sour”.  I hope you enjoy it, too.

Sweet n Sour Pork
(6 servings)

1 1/2 lbs. lean pork, cut into 2 x 1/2 inch strips
1 1 lb. 4.5 oz. can pineapple chunks
2 T. cornstarch
1 T. soy sauce
1/4 cup onion, thinly sliced
2 T. hot shortening
1 chicken bouillon cube
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
1 medium green pepper, cut in strips
rice

-Slowly brown pork in hot shortening.  Add one cup of water, the bouillon cube, and 1/4t. salt; mix well.  Cover and simmer until tender, about 1 hour.
-Meanwhile, drain pineapple, reserving syrup.  Combine brown sugar and cornstarch; add reserve pineapple syrup, vinegar, soy sauce, and 1/2 t. salt.  cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly.
-Remove from heat.  Add sauce to pork; mix well.  Stir in pineapple, green pepper, and onion.  Cook over low heat 2-3 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp.
-Serve over rice.
IF FREEZING:
-Allow pork/sauce mixture to cool and freeze in Ziplock bags.  Cook the rice fresh on serving day.

PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

I made this yummy crock pot recipe tonight.  Got the recipe from a friend a year or so ago and we love it!

First, a tip about the meat.  This is a pork roast recipe.  Pork roasts can be expensive if you don’t buy them on sale.  A inexpensive way to get a great cut is to get it at Sam’s.  When we lived in Florida, a friend gave us this idea.  We go to Sam’s and get the huge, long pork tenderloin.  We have the meat man cut it into 2 good size roasts and the rest into chops.  This way, we get it for about $1.97/lb.  I freeze it all in individual meal sizes.  I also only buy pork every other month or every 3 months.

Here it is:

Teriyaki Pork Roast

3/4 cup apple juice

2 Tbs.  sugar

2 Tbs.  soy sauce

1 Tbs. vinegar

1 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. pepper

1 lean boneless pork loin roast (about 2  3/4 lb.)

3 Tbs. cold water

1 1/2 Tbs. cornstarch

-Place roast in crock pot.

-Mix apple juice, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic powder, and pepper. Pour over roast.  Cover and cook on high for 3 1/2 to 4 hours or on low for 7 to 8 hours or until meat is very tender.

-Transfer meat to a warm platter.  Cover and keep warm.

-Strain cooking liquid and place in a small saucepan.  Skim off fat, if desired.  Over medium heat, bring to a boil.

-Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix water and cornstarch until smooth.  Stir into boiling liquid.  Stirring, bring to a boil and boil for 1 to 2 minutes or until thickened.  Serve gravy separately.

-This says to serve with fried rice and mixed Oriental vegetables.  I don’t.  I serve it with mashed potatoes.  We pour the gravy over the meat and over potatoes.  DELICIOUS!

So, when I posted about menu planning many weeks ago, I mentioned that I plan one crock pot meal per week.  This is for many reasons:

-It saves money by not using energy from the stove or oven.

-In the summer, it doesn’t heat up the house.

-It gives me a break from cooking during that “crunch” time of the day.

-It makes life easier.

-There are so many yummy easy recipes to use with the crock pot!  Check out the CrockPot Lady for some ideas.  And I will be posting my favorites on here every so often.

I am picky about using my crock pot.  I do not make any recipes that require cooking the food prior to putting it in the crock pot.  (I might make a few that require ground beef since I normally cook mine up as soon as I buy it.)  Cooking food before putting it in the crock pot defeats the purpose of the crock pot being easy (in my opinion)!  I have the Fix It and Forget It cookbook.  The recipe I’m posting is from that cookbook, but many of the recipes I’ve gotten from friends or from the internet.  I hope you enjoy!

Cooker Chops

4 pork chops ( I prefer boneless-$1.97/lb. @ Sam’s, so about $3?)

1/4 cup ketchup (~$.30)

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (~$.20)

1 can cream of mushroom ($.49 @ Aldi)

2 cups rice ($.50)

1 can peas ($1.76-I only eat LeSeur and they weren’t on sale.)

TOTAL COST=$6.25 (less for us, we only use 2 pork chops)

-Place chops in crock pot.  Combine all other ingredients (except rice & peas) and pour over chops.  Cover and cook on high 3-4 hours or low 8-10 hours.

-Cook rice according to package and peas according to can and use as sides.

-Serve pork chops with rice and the “goop” from the crock pot.