My husband (so lovingly) banned me from baking until further notice. If you know anything about me, you know that I love, love, love baking - and - the ban is rightfully placed. I bake a lot. A lot, a lot. When Mac realized that we had bought 3, 1 lb. packs of butter that was gone in about 2 weeks, that was when the ban took place. I guess that's a lot of butter.
I stretched the limits yesterday by making some low-fat banana muffins that don't have any butter. That was about 3 days after the ban was placed. Go me.
2. Food
I love food; making it, researching it, eating it... Making it is my favorite though. We (Americans) spend so much money on food and eating it. So, as a newlywed who likes to cook, I decided the best budget cooking advice is to make a monthly menu. That way, when you go to the grocery store, you buy what you need and that's it (at least that's the idea). Also, you can make recipes that use the same ingredients but have slightly different form or taste, and space them out a bit. This allows you to buy less ingredients and buy in bulk, which is cost-effective.
Currently, since it's just the two of us, I can make one meal that serves us two dinners, which is also really helpful.
So, this is the February menu in the Ovenell home:
2/11-12: Chicken Tacos with fresh salsa and tortilla chips
2/13: Left over Krautranzas & steamed veggies
2/14: It's Valentine's Day, so we're splurging and making salmon w/ red potatoes and something else
2/15: Every Sunday, we make a big brunch so for dinner we watch a movie and have popcorn, apple & cheese slices
2/16-17: Chili (which I will freeze half of to have in coming months)
2/18-19: Chicken & Dumplings with roasted red potatoes
2/20-21: Tomato mozzarella casserole
2/22: Sunday meal
2/23-24: Turkey Noodle soup (that i made and froze at thanksgiving)
2/25-26: Paprika Chicken, Brown Rice, and Steamed veggies
2/27: Fried Rice (with left-over rice)
2/28: Spaghetti & Meatballs
The ingredients to make all of this, plus fruits and veggies for the next 1-2 weeks cost me only $56.00. That's less than $14.00 a week. for all our dinners and produce. I know I semi-cheated, because I had some of the ingredients & dinners (such as spices, the frozen krautranzas and soup, and our sunday dinners). But still.
3. Michelle
This was for you. :)
5 comments:
thank you thank you :) we need to live close so we can do this together :)
1. What is/are Krautranzas
2. I need you chicken and dumpling recipe
3. I would love to take a look at your tomato mozzarella casserole recipe :) It sounds like you guys would like my eggplant parmesan recipe (if Tomato Mozzarella casserole is anything like what I think it is)
4. You're my favorite and our neighbors should be really glad that we are friends :) hehe
Krautranzas are homemade rolls filled with ground beef, onions, and sauerkraut. Quite delicious, even if you don't like kraut!
Umm... I'm still playing around with the chicken and dumpling recipe, as I have a slow cooker one I like, but want to try the one in my favorite cookbook. I can give you the one I made in Riley House that one time two years ago! :)
I've never made the Tomato Mozzarella casserole, but it's out of my favorite cookbook also and therefore will be delicious. I'd be happy to pass it along - or you should use some of your allowance (or wait until your birthday and I'll get it for you!) - It's the America's Test Kitchen Cookbook. It's awesome. Hands-down, blows Better Homes and Gardens out of the water.
You're one of the best accountability friends I could ever ask for!! Our neighbors will thank you someday. ha. Okay, I should have just made this a post. Love you.
How fun! Thank you for the wonderful ideas on food to have. Yum!
Would you be willing to post your tomato mozzarella casserole recipe? (Assuming it was as delicious as it sounds!) I would love to try it!
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