If you're new to SaveALot, take a look at this post to see how to get the best values.
How To Shop SaveALot. Check the pantry before you go, to stock up on the low every-day price of many basics.
Also check their website for several months worth of $5.00 meals. Their Fuel Your Family program gives you hundreds of menus that feed 4 people for less than $5.00.
Meat and produce specials run from the 1st to the 14th of the month. This month you can stock up on bottom round roasts at $2.49 a pound, which is about a dollar per pound less than the usual Kroger sale price. You can also stock the freezer with boneless chicken breasts at $1.69 a pound. You'll enjoy the extremely low price for the rest of the month.
This week, you can get 5 pounds of potatoes free with $10.00 additional purchase.
This ~$4.50 dinner provides 4 oz of roast beef, 1 cup of potatoes, and 1/2 cup of green beans per serving.
Roast beef, roast potatoes, green beans
Buy: Bottom round, potatoes
Pantry: Green beans
For 4 servings
1 1/2 lbs Bottom Round $3.62
1 3/4 pounds Potatoes free
2 cans Green beans $0.94
Total $4.56
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Corned Beef
Corned beef requires long, slow cooking. It's a perfect Crockpot dish.
Corned Beef
Crush mustard seeds, caraway, coriander and peppercorns*. Rub into both sides of beef brisket.
Pour 1 cup of water in bottom of crockpot, and add brisket.
Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.
Slice thinly to serve.
*If your corned beef comes with a spice packet, use that instead.
*I use a small coffee grinder to crush whole seeds.
Corned Beef
| Beef brisket | 4 lbs |
| Mustard seeds | 1 tsp |
| Caraway seeds | 1 tsp |
| Peppercorns | 1/2 tsp |
| Coriander | 1/2 tsp |
Crush mustard seeds, caraway, coriander and peppercorns*. Rub into both sides of beef brisket.
Pour 1 cup of water in bottom of crockpot, and add brisket.
Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.
Slice thinly to serve.
*If your corned beef comes with a spice packet, use that instead.
*I use a small coffee grinder to crush whole seeds.
Extremely Frugal Colcannon
A traditional Irish potato and cabbage dish
Colcannon
Boil cabbage, chop fine. Peel and boil potatoes, then mash. Chop green onions.
Bring milk to boil, add onions, salt and pepper to taste.
Add butter and cabbage to milk, fold in mashed potatoes.
Beat well until light and fluffy.
Simplify:
Substitute 1/4 C chopped onions for the green onions.
Colcannon
| Cabbage, shredded | 2 C |
| Potatoes | 4 C |
| Green onions | 6 |
| Milk | 1/2 C |
| Butter | 1/4 C |
Boil cabbage, chop fine. Peel and boil potatoes, then mash. Chop green onions.
Bring milk to boil, add onions, salt and pepper to taste.
Add butter and cabbage to milk, fold in mashed potatoes.
Beat well until light and fluffy.
Simplify:
Substitute 1/4 C chopped onions for the green onions.
$5 Dinner Corned Beef
This week's specials at Meijer include corned beef brisket and green cabbage.
This ~$4.50 dinner provides 4 oz of corned beef, 1 cup of potatoes, and 1 cup of cabbage per serving.
Corned Beef, Extremely Frugal Colcannon
Buy: Corned beef, cabbage
Pantry: Onions, butter, potatoes
For 4 servings
1 1/2 lbs Corned beef $3.56
1 3/4 lbs Potatoes $0.50
1 1/2 lbs Cabbage $0.30
Total $4.36
This ~$4.50 dinner provides 4 oz of corned beef, 1 cup of potatoes, and 1 cup of cabbage per serving.
Corned Beef, Extremely Frugal Colcannon
Buy: Corned beef, cabbage
Pantry: Onions, butter, potatoes
For 4 servings
1 1/2 lbs Corned beef $3.56
1 3/4 lbs Potatoes $0.50
1 1/2 lbs Cabbage $0.30
Total $4.36
Sunday, March 8, 2009
The Price is Right
Here's this week's best buys in southeast Michigan. Ingredients in italics are more expensive than the rule of thumb I use for truly frugal cooking, 45¢ per serving.
Meat
Cost for a cooked 3 oz serving
26¢ Chicken leg quarters .59 per pound (Kroger)
30¢ Whole turkey .77 per pound (Kroger)
44¢ Boneless, skinless chicken breast 1.69 per pound (SaveALot)
46¢ Whole chicken .89 per pound (Kroger)
48¢ Ground chuck 1.88 per pound (Kroger)
53¢ Pork loin, boneless 1.79 per pound (Meijer)
68¢ Bottom round roast, boneless 2.49 per pound (SaveALot)
Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
25¢ Peanut butter 1.21 per pound (Kroger)
25¢ Eggs, 1.00 per dozen (Kroger)
50¢ Cottage cheese 2.00 for 24 oz (Meijer)
Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving
03¢ Green cabbage .19 per pound (Meijer)
09¢ Spinach salad .91/ 10 oz (Meijer)
16¢ Green beans frozen .91 per pound (Meijer)
16¢ Celery 1.00 per bunch (Meijer_
19¢ Broccoli, frozen .91 per pound (Meijer)
20¢ Broccoli, fresh 1.00 per bunch (Meijer)
26¢ Roma tomato .99 per pound (Kroger)
38¢ Spinach, cooked .91/10 oz (Meijer)
56¢ Onions 3 lb $1.68 (Kroger)
Stock The Pantry
1.00 Tomato paste 15 oz Contadina (Meijer)
2.50 Vegetable oil 48 oz $2.50 (Meijer)
Other good buys
91¢ Pasta sauce, Hunts 26.5 oz .91 (Meijer)
40¢ Yogurt 8 oz (Meijer)
91¢ Zatarain Side Dishes (Meijer)
Meat
Cost for a cooked 3 oz serving
26¢ Chicken leg quarters .59 per pound (Kroger)
30¢ Whole turkey .77 per pound (Kroger)
44¢ Boneless, skinless chicken breast 1.69 per pound (SaveALot)
46¢ Whole chicken .89 per pound (Kroger)
48¢ Ground chuck 1.88 per pound (Kroger)
53¢ Pork loin, boneless 1.79 per pound (Meijer)
68¢ Bottom round roast, boneless 2.49 per pound (SaveALot)
Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
25¢ Peanut butter 1.21 per pound (Kroger)
25¢ Eggs, 1.00 per dozen (Kroger)
50¢ Cottage cheese 2.00 for 24 oz (Meijer)
Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving
03¢ Green cabbage .19 per pound (Meijer)
09¢ Spinach salad .91/ 10 oz (Meijer)
16¢ Green beans frozen .91 per pound (Meijer)
16¢ Celery 1.00 per bunch (Meijer_
19¢ Broccoli, frozen .91 per pound (Meijer)
20¢ Broccoli, fresh 1.00 per bunch (Meijer)
26¢ Roma tomato .99 per pound (Kroger)
38¢ Spinach, cooked .91/10 oz (Meijer)
56¢ Onions 3 lb $1.68 (Kroger)
Stock The Pantry
1.00 Tomato paste 15 oz Contadina (Meijer)
2.50 Vegetable oil 48 oz $2.50 (Meijer)
Other good buys
91¢ Pasta sauce, Hunts 26.5 oz .91 (Meijer)
40¢ Yogurt 8 oz (Meijer)
91¢ Zatarain Side Dishes (Meijer)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Cantaloupe Salsa
An interesting way to make cantaloupe a dinner side dish.
Coarsely chop the cantaloupe. Dice the onion and bell pepper Finely chop the fresh chilis and cilantro.
Toss vegetables with salt, lime juice, and oil. Let sit for at least one hour. Served with broiled or grilled chicken.
Simplify it:
Use green bell pepper instead of red.
Or substitute diced tomatoes for bell pepper.
Use canned green chilis instead of fresh.
Use lemon juice instead of lime juice.
| Cantaloupe | 1 1/2C |
| Onion | 1/4 C |
| Red bell pepper | 1/4 C |
| Fresh chilis | 1 Tbsp |
| Cilantro | 1/4 C |
| Salt | 1/4 tsp |
| Lime Juice | 2 Tbsp |
| Oil | 1 Tbsp |
Coarsely chop the cantaloupe. Dice the onion and bell pepper Finely chop the fresh chilis and cilantro.
Toss vegetables with salt, lime juice, and oil. Let sit for at least one hour. Served with broiled or grilled chicken.
Simplify it:
Use green bell pepper instead of red.
Or substitute diced tomatoes for bell pepper.
Use canned green chilis instead of fresh.
Use lemon juice instead of lime juice.
$5 Dinner BBQ Chicken
This week's specials at Kroger include chicken thighs, potatoes, and cantaloupe.
Barbequed chicken thighs, Cantaloupe salsa, Roasted potato wedges.
This ~$5.00 dinner provides 4 oz of cooked chicken, 1 cup of potatoes, and 1/2 cup of salsa per serving.
Buy: Chicken thighs, cantaloupe, cilantro
Pantry: onions, potatoes, bell pepper, green chilis
For 4 servings
2 lb chicken thighs $2.40
1 cantaloupe $0.99
1/4 lb onions $0.10
1 lb potatoes $0.12
1 bell pepper $0.80
1/4 C cilantro $.20
Total $4.70
Barbequed chicken thighs, Cantaloupe salsa, Roasted potato wedges.
This ~$5.00 dinner provides 4 oz of cooked chicken, 1 cup of potatoes, and 1/2 cup of salsa per serving.
Buy: Chicken thighs, cantaloupe, cilantro
Pantry: onions, potatoes, bell pepper, green chilis
For 4 servings
2 lb chicken thighs $2.40
1 cantaloupe $0.99
1/4 lb onions $0.10
1 lb potatoes $0.12
1 bell pepper $0.80
1/4 C cilantro $.20
Total $4.70
Monday, March 2, 2009
Simple Fresh Plum Chutney
An easy side dish for baked ham
4 servings
Chop onions coarsely. Remove pits and stems from plums and cut into quarters. Grate ginger.
Saute onions in butter until soft. Add plums and ginger and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add brown sugar and vinegar, and stir well. Set aside until ready to serve, then reheat. You can even make this the day before and refrigerate. The flavors blend nicely when held overnight.
Fancy it up:
Use balsamic vinegar instead of cider vinegar. Use only 1 tsp for a very subtle flavor.
4 servings
| Butter | 1 Tbsp |
| Plums | 1 lb |
| Onion | 1 C |
| Ginger | 2 tsp |
| Brown sugar | 1 Tbsp |
| Vinegar | 1 Tbsp |
Chop onions coarsely. Remove pits and stems from plums and cut into quarters. Grate ginger.
Saute onions in butter until soft. Add plums and ginger and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add brown sugar and vinegar, and stir well. Set aside until ready to serve, then reheat. You can even make this the day before and refrigerate. The flavors blend nicely when held overnight.
Fancy it up:
Use balsamic vinegar instead of cider vinegar. Use only 1 tsp for a very subtle flavor.
$5 Dinner Baked Ham
This week's specials at Meijer include a bone-in ham, and fresh plums.
This ~$3.00 dinner provides 4 oz of baked ham, 2 biscuits, and 1/2 cup of plum chutney per serving.
Baked Ham, Plum Chutney, Extremely Frugal Biscuits.
Buy: Ham, plums
Pantry: Onions, fresh ginger, brown sugar, cider vinegar, cloves, cinnamon, flour, shortening,
For 4 servings
1 1/2 lbs Ham $1.40
1 lb Plums $0.99
1 lb Onions $0.56
2 cups Flour $0.15
Total $3.10
This ~$3.00 dinner provides 4 oz of baked ham, 2 biscuits, and 1/2 cup of plum chutney per serving.
Baked Ham, Plum Chutney, Extremely Frugal Biscuits.
Buy: Ham, plums
Pantry: Onions, fresh ginger, brown sugar, cider vinegar, cloves, cinnamon, flour, shortening,
For 4 servings
1 1/2 lbs Ham $1.40
1 lb Plums $0.99
1 lb Onions $0.56
2 cups Flour $0.15
Total $3.10
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The Price is Right
Here's this week's best buys in southeast Michigan. Ingredients in italics are more expensive than the rule of thumb I use for truly frugal cooking, 45¢ per serving.
Meat
Cost for a cooked 3 oz serving
25¢ Chicken leg quarters .59 per pound (Kroger, SaveALot)
26¢ Ham, bone in .99 per pound (Meijer)
30¢ Turkey, whole .77 per pound (Kroger)
42¢ Ground beef $1.60 per pound (SaveALot)
43¢ Chicken thighs $1.19 per pound (Kroger)
46¢ Ground chuck $1.79 per pound (SaveALot)
51¢ Chicken boneless skinless breast $1.99 per pound (Meijer)
60¢ Italian sausage $2.50/20 oz (Meijer)
71¢ Cheese $3.76 per pound (Kroger)
72¢ Pork, western ribs $1.99 per pound (Kroger)
75¢ Ground round $2.99 per pound (Kroger)
95¢ Bottom round $3.49 per pound (Kroger)
$1.07 Catfish fillets $3.99 per pound(Meijer)
Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
13¢ Lentils .79 per pound (SaveALot)
27¢ Peanut butter [80 oz jar] (Meijer)
32¢ Eggs (SaveALot)
Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving
03¢ Cabbage .39 per pound (SaveALot)
09¢ Onions .43 per pound (SaveALot)
12¢ Potatoes $2.98 for 10 pounds (Kroger)
14¢ Green beans .47 per can (SaveALot)
18¢ Plums .99 per pound (Meijer)
19¢ Grapes .89 per pound (Meijer)
22¢ Nectarines .99 per pound (Meijer)
29¢ Cantaloupe .99 per melon (Meijer, Kroger)
38¢ Peaches .99 per pound (Meijer)
83¢ Asparagus $1.99 per pound (Kroger)
Stock The Pantry
Sugar 40¢ per pound (10 lbs 3.99) (Meijer)
Bacon $2.00 per pound (Meijer)
Walnuts $3.99 per pound (Meijer)
Other good buys
Chipotle Honey BBQ sauce Sweet Baby Ray $1.00 (Meijer)
Almonds $4.99 per pound (Meijer)
Milk continues to drop in price. Both Kroger and Meijer now have a standard sale price of $2.00 per gallon.
Meat
Cost for a cooked 3 oz serving
25¢ Chicken leg quarters .59 per pound (Kroger, SaveALot)
26¢ Ham, bone in .99 per pound (Meijer)
30¢ Turkey, whole .77 per pound (Kroger)
42¢ Ground beef $1.60 per pound (SaveALot)
43¢ Chicken thighs $1.19 per pound (Kroger)
46¢ Ground chuck $1.79 per pound (SaveALot)
51¢ Chicken boneless skinless breast $1.99 per pound (Meijer)
60¢ Italian sausage $2.50/20 oz (Meijer)
71¢ Cheese $3.76 per pound (Kroger)
72¢ Pork, western ribs $1.99 per pound (Kroger)
75¢ Ground round $2.99 per pound (Kroger)
95¢ Bottom round $3.49 per pound (Kroger)
$1.07 Catfish fillets $3.99 per pound(Meijer)
Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
13¢ Lentils .79 per pound (SaveALot)
27¢ Peanut butter [80 oz jar] (Meijer)
32¢ Eggs (SaveALot)
Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving
03¢ Cabbage .39 per pound (SaveALot)
09¢ Onions .43 per pound (SaveALot)
12¢ Potatoes $2.98 for 10 pounds (Kroger)
14¢ Green beans .47 per can (SaveALot)
18¢ Plums .99 per pound (Meijer)
19¢ Grapes .89 per pound (Meijer)
22¢ Nectarines .99 per pound (Meijer)
29¢ Cantaloupe .99 per melon (Meijer, Kroger)
38¢ Peaches .99 per pound (Meijer)
83¢ Asparagus $1.99 per pound (Kroger)
Stock The Pantry
Sugar 40¢ per pound (10 lbs 3.99) (Meijer)
Bacon $2.00 per pound (Meijer)
Walnuts $3.99 per pound (Meijer)
Other good buys
Chipotle Honey BBQ sauce Sweet Baby Ray $1.00 (Meijer)
Almonds $4.99 per pound (Meijer)
Milk continues to drop in price. Both Kroger and Meijer now have a standard sale price of $2.00 per gallon.
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