Tasty Tuesday

My awesome Mom in law gave me a great gift. She gave me a book on using my food storage.

The first recipie I tried was the Cream of chicken soup. This was easy and tasted just like CAmpell soups. Texture was alittle thinner but my family loved it. The secret ingrediant.....WHITE BEAN FLOUR! recipe found on page 86 of the book

So here is how you do it.

First get some white beans and run them through your wheat grinder.

Then gather up your supplies:
1 3/4 cups water 5 tablespoons white bean flour
4 teaspoons chicken bullion or base (Iused 4 cubes) 1/2 cup chopped chicken

Bring water and bullion to a boil in a small suace pan. Stir in bean flour and beat untill smooth and thickened. Reduce heat and cook 2 minutes more.

Remove from heat. Pour mixture into blender. blend on high 2 minutes. If desired, add chopped chicken pieces. Use as a substitute for canned cream of chicken soup. Maybe stored in refrigerator up to one week.

We had our with chicken over rice topped with shredded chesse. YUM!! My kids cleaned their plates!

Reviews (taken from Amazon.com)
. . . I was very pleasantly surprised at all the different resources that Cooking with Food Storage Made Easy has. I mean, it is just about everything, not just recipies. I remember seeing something in there about gardening, and storing guidelines, what you should have in your food storage, when to plant different foods in your garden. Wow awesome, is all I can say.

--Retail customer Cooking with Food Storage, by Debbie G. Harman ... is an excellent source for recipes using ingredients from a basic food storage system, such as evaporated and powdered milk, dried onions and potato flakes. Harman suggests using food storage in everyday cooking, not only to keep stored foods fresh, but also to become familiar with how to use them. ... Included in Harman s book are gardening suggestions and recipes for preserving fresh food. --Daily Universe Newspaper

This would make a great Christmas gift!!!

Tasty Tuesday

School Lunches

I do not buy school lunches. At our school they are about $2.75 and with two kiddos eating 5 lunches a week that is about $27.50 a week. OUCH!! So I thought I would find some ways to spice up their lunch boxes this year.

Banana Sushi

The Kraft foods website also has a lunchbox sulutions spot. It even has a section on lunch box jokes!

I think this looks fun too.

Remember presentation is very important to some kids.

Mom's Lunchbox Cheat Sheet

( from the Kraft site!!)

Place a frozen juice box in your kids’ lunchbox. – it’ll keep the food chilled and will be thawed by lunchtime.

Go for variety. Make sandwiches using whole grain tortillas, bagels or pitas.

Pack antibacterial wet wipes so your kids can clean their hands before and after eating.

Add grated veggies to sandwiches and wraps for crunch – your kids won’t notice they’re eating something that’s good for them!

Use small resealable bags to pack dressings. Kids can open one corner and simply squeeze onto salad, then discard.

Get dipping! Pack salsa, hummus, yogurt or salad dressing for your little ones to dunk their sandwich, veggies or fruit into.

Make bite-sized and mini versions of regular foods like sandwiches. They work well for small appetites and are more likely to be eaten.

Add a quick note to say good luck on a test or “I love you” – it will brighten your child’s day.

Thrifty Thursday

Just like the Restaurant

One of my families goals is to stop eating out as much. We would like to keep it down to twice a month, but we will probably bee weak and go out once a week. We will try though. So to accomplish my goal I set about to find the foods I love in a cheaper way. Making them at home. Initially this can cost a bit to get set up with the pantry items you will need to have on hand. In the long run though it is way cheaper. Plus can be a whole lot funner than waiting in line and having to possibly put up with bad service or cranky kids (your or theirs).

In may search I found a great little site that hosted some of my top favorites!

Restaurant Recipes

Below are a few of my to die fors right off the top!

KFC original recipe!!!
olive garden bread sticks recipe
Outback steakhouse potato soup recipe

Tasty Tuesday

Recipes of a Cheapskate

( I wish she had a cute button to post)

I have found a new to me site. Krystal has done an amazing job at putting together yummy, economical, healthy, food while also using food storage items.

As soon as I get some lentils I would love to try her RICE AND LENTIL BURRITOS.

Krystal also does a mix it up Monday where she shows you how to make and use your own mixes. I am looking forward to making my own SWEET BREAD MIX .

Be sure to look around. She has a main item list on the right hand side. On the left hand side she has a TON of other recipe blogs I can not wait to go check out!!! YUMMY!!!

In referance to Thursday's entry

My about a Dollar Meal!!!

This is a great example of knowing how to bargain shop. I used my coupons and was able to put a great, yummy, healthy meal on the table last night for a whopping $1.17 !!!

Tasty Tuesday

Money Saving Menus

We have covered making menus & meatless meals. So know lets look at some great budget stretching menus.

Hillbilly Housewife (Thanks Adrienne for the info. !!) Susanne runs this great site. She has a $40 bare minimum menu. She also has a $70 low cost menu. These are great if you are a tight budget. She has the shopping list, recipes, and do a heads all laid out for you.

Fun Foods on a Budget Stephanie runs this one. If you want to try something new this is the place. Plus she tries to do it cheaply. I have seen everything on this site. Truffles to no-meat hamburgers. She even incorporates fun ethnic foods.

$5 Dinners Erin is a pro at budget friendly meals. Here is the link to her recipes. She even has gluten free recipes. Be sure to check out the rest of her rockin' site.

Tasty Tuesday

Menu Planning

What makes dinner time at my house run a little smother, and planning my grocery trip easy as microwave popcorn? Menu planning. My menu runs Friday to Thursday. So I (try to) sit down every Thursday night and plan it out. So Friday I do my shopping and then I am set for the week. In the morning I can get anything out that needs to be defrosted, and then forget about it until it's time to cook. No more running around like a crazy women or running out for pizza (unless it is planned!). We have saved money and frustrations with a menu.

Here are some great places to get ideas for those times your in a rut, or just want to try some thing new.

$5 Dinners Great ideas and helps save money.

Kraft You can look up specifics or type in the main ingredient you want to use. WARNING!! Watch out for the lady that pops up on your screen talking away. I about had a heart attack today. LOL!!

A Year of CrockPotting Need a new crock pot recipe? Here you go. They have it all from oatmeal to homemade yogurt.

One of my favorite Cheap dinners is from Kraft, Cheesy Beef & Veggie Pasta.

P.S. Here is a great link I just found(thanks Christy) for a monthly meal planner. You just fill in the blanks.