Simple Lemon Baste Chicken

Lemon Baste
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

A wonderfully summery lemon tarragon combination

Chicken breasts	4
Flour	1/2 C
Salt	1 tsp
Tarragon	1 tsp
Oil	1/4 C
Lemon juice	1/3 C
Onion	2 Tbsp
Garlic clove	1
Pepper	1/4 tsp

Combine onion, garlic, tarragon, lemon juice, and pepper in food processor.
Combine flour and salt.
Dredge chicken breasts in flour mixture.
Place oil in oven pan and preheat oven to 350° F, until oil is very hot.
Place dredged chicken breasts in hot oil turning once to keep skin side up.
Baste with lemon tarragon mixture several times.
Bake for about 30-40 minutes.

The Price is Right

The Price is Right
Originally uploaded by darthdowney

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
.44¢ Ground hamburger (73%) 1.68 per pound (Kroger)
53¢ Pork loin, boneless 1.79 per pound (Meijer)
57¢ Chicken breast, boneless, skinless 1.99 per pound (Meijer)
60¢ Ham, boneless 1.99 per pound (Kroger)

Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
33¢ Milk, 1.77 per gallon (Kroger)
49¢ Cheese 2.58 per pound (Kroger)

Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving
11¢ Bananas .39 per pound (Meijer)
18¢ Plums .99 per pound (Meijer)
31¢ Strawberries 1.65 per pound (Kroger)

Stock The Pantry
Walnuts 2.99 per pound (Kroger)

Other good buys
Almonds 2.99 per pound (Kroger)

Extremely Frugal Brotchen

Broetchen
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Broetchen are a German roll with a crispy crust and slightly chewy interior. The secret to getting them just right in a home oven include high heat, a pan of steaming water below them, and three risings of the dough.

Yeast	2 tsp
Water	1 1/4 C
Sugar	2 tsp
Shortening	2 Tbsp
Salt	1/2 tsp
Egg white	1
Flour	4 C

Warm 1/4 C water. Add yeast and sugar and let sit for 10 minutes, until foamy.
Heat 1 C water, shortening and salt until shortening is melted. Let cool, then add yeast mixture.
Beat egg white until stiff.
Fold egg white into liquids in mixing bowl.
Add flour to form a soft dough, and knead 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turn to coat with grease, cover with damp cloth. Let rise until double in bulk, about an hour.
Punch down, and let rise again.
Punch down, and divide into 12 pieces. Form into balls, and place on greased baking sheet. Cover with damp cloth, and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 40 minutes.
Preheat oven to 450° F, placing a pan of boiling water on lower rack.
Bake rolls for 20 minutes until lightly browned.

The Price is Right

The Price is Right
Originally uploaded by darthdowney

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
23¢ Ham, bone in .99 per pound (Kroger)
37¢ Ground beef 27% 1.59 per pound (Kroger)
38¢ Chicken breast, bone in 1.29 per pound (Meijer)
38¢ Whole chicken .89 per pound (Kroger)
51¢ Ground Chuck, 1.99 per pound (Meijer)
52¢ Chicken breast, boneless 2.00 per pound (Meijer)
60¢ Chuck roast, boneless 1.99 per pound (Meijer)
71¢ Pork spareribs 1.48 per pound (Kroger)


Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
24¢ Eggs .98 per dozen (Kroger)
33¢ Milk 1.77 per gallon (Kroger)
56¢ Cheese 3.00 per pound (Kroger)

Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving
26¢ Mango !.00 each (Meijer)
32¢ Strawberries 1.66 per pound (Meijer)
45¢ Cantaloupe 1.50 each (Meijer)
47¢ Blueberries 2.50 per pint (Kroger)

6¢ Potatoes 2.98 for 10 pounds (Kroger)
12¢ Onions 1.68 for 3 pounds (Kroger)
15¢ Tomatoes, Dei Fratelli 28 oz for 1.00 (Meijer)
17¢ Green beans, frozen 1.00 per pound (Kroger)
20¢ Broccoli tops 1.00 per pound (Kroger)
21¢ Broccoli, frozen 1.00 per pound (Kroger)

Stock The Pantry
Sugar .35 per pound (Meijer)
Bacon 2.29 per pound (Meijer)
White rice .75 per pound (Meijer)
Brown rice .75 per pound (Meijer)
Butter 1.79 per pound (Kroger)


Other good buys
none this week

Simple Spaghetti Sauce

Spaghetti
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Onion	1/4 C
Garlic cloves	4
Oil	1 Tbsp
Tomato sauce	4 C
Basil	1 Tbsp
Marjoram	2 tsp
Oregano	1 tsp
Thyme	1 tsp

Chop onion fine, and crush garlic.
Heat oil in large saucepan, add onion, and saute 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute 3 minutes more.
Add tomato sauce, basil, marjoram, oregano, and thyme. Simmer for 20 minutes.

I find the flavors blend better if the sauce is allowed to sit for a few hours, or even overnight, and then reheated.

It's also a great crockpot recipe, left on low for 5-6 hours. Add the meatballs just before serving.

$5 Dinner Turkey Meatball Spaghetti

5 Bills
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

This week there are good deals on spaghetti and ground turkey. They make a perfect match with bread sticks for a simple Italian dinner

Simple Spaghetti Sauce
Simple Turkey Meatballs
Extremely Frugal Breadsticks

If you have fresh herbs growing in containers or your garden, substitute them in the recipe. In general, you need at least twice the amount as suggested in the recipe for the dried version. I was able to use basil, oregano, and thyme from my windowbox herb garden.

Extremely Frugal Breadsticks

Breadsticks
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

It's easy to make bread sticks.

Milk	1/4 C
Water	3/4 C
Yeast	2 tsp
Oil	2 Tbsp
Sugar	1 Tsp
Flour	2-3 C
Salt	1 tsp

Warm milk and water to lukewarm (85° F).
Take 1/4 C warm water, add 2 tsp sugar, and yeast. Let sit 10 minutes, until frothy.
Mix milk, remaining water, oil, and remaining sugar.
Mix flour and salt in large bowl. Slowly pour in yeast and then liquids.
Mix thoroughly until dough leaves the sides of the bowl.
Turn out on floured surface, and knead 12 minutes.
Wash bowl, then grease.
Place dough in bowl, turning once to coat surface with grease. Cover and let rise until double in bulk, about an hour.
Punch down, and divide into 8 to 12 small balls.
Roll each ball between the palms of your hands to form a long rope. Place on greased cookie sheet, cover with damp cloth, and allow to rise until double in bulk, about 45 minutes.
Bake in a 425° F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

Simple Turkey Meatballs

Ground Turkey Meatballs
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Ground turkey is an inexpensive alternative to ground beef. Personally, I find the texture different enough that it doesn't work as a burger for me. But meatballs come out great.

Ground turkey	1 pound
Garlic clove	4
Basil	1 Tbsp
Marjoram	1 Tbsp
Thyme	1 tsp

Crush garlic cloves, and add to ground turkey along with basil, marjoram, and thyme.
Use a teaspoon or a large melon baller to scoop equal amounts of turkey mixture on to baking sheet.
Roll mounds of turkey mixture into small balls and return to baking sheet.
Bake in 350° F oven for 30 minutes, until well browned.


A trick I learned to speed things along is to scoop out all the meat mixture before you go back and form all the balls. You get into a rhythm that speeds up the process.

The Price is Right

The Price is Right
Originally uploaded by darthdowney

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
27¢ Ground turkey 1.00 per pound (Meijer)
40¢ Chicken thighs, boneless 1.50 per pound (Meijer)
43¢ Chicken thighs, bone in 1.19 per pound (Kroger)
46¢ Pork, western ribs 1.29 per pound (Meijer)
48¢ Ground chuck, 1.88 per pound (Kroger)

Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
25¢ Eggs, .98 per dozen (Meijer, Kroger)
33¢ Milk, 1.77 per gallon (Kroger)

Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving
9¢ Bananas, .33 per pound (Save A Lot)
16¢ Apricots, .99 per pound (Meijer)
22¢ Peaches, .99 per pound (Meijer)
28¢ Blueberries, 1.50 per pint (Meijer)
37¢ Kiwi fruit .25 each (Meijer)

Stock The Pantry
Butter, 1.79 per pound (Kroger)

Other good buys
Mac & Cheese, 25¢ per box (Save A Lot)