Simply Frugal

Appeal To Frank

2010-01-13T23:15:00.002-05:00

In December, I lost my notebook that contained all my recipes. It was, in essence, my Simply Frugal cookbook.

Someone named Frank posted a comment on one of the Simply Frugal recipes saying that he thought he had my notebook.

If so, would he please revisit that comment, and get in touch with me?

If any of you have any idea who Frank might be, please help me track down my beloved cookbook. Frank probably lives in Washtenaw County, Michigan.

Simple Tortilla Chips

2010-01-13T10:01:00.002-05:00

Tortilla Chips
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

I make tortilla chips from corn tortillas.

Stack 4 or 5 together, cut them in half, and then each half into 3 pieces.

Bake at 400 F for about 8 minutes, until they are quite crisp and begin to brown.

If you want salty chips, dampen the unbaked slices with a spray bottle of water, and sprinkle salt over them before you bake.

Extremely Frugal Hot Dutch Potato Salad

2009-12-01T05:00:00.000-05:00

Dutch Potatoes
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Potatoes	2 lbs
Celery	3/4 C
Onion	3/4 C
Bacon	4 strips
Sugar	1/4 C
Vinegar	6 Tbsp
Water	2 Tbsp
Celery seed	1 tsp
Egg	1

Boil potatoes and cut into 1/2 inch slices.
Chop celery and onion.
Cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon and add sugar, vinegar, water, and celery seed. Bring to a boil and simmer 5 minutes.
Stir 2 tablespoons of the mixture into the well-beaten egg, and then stir back into the skillet.
Mix well and remove from heat.
Combine potatoes, celery, and onion in a bowl. Pour mixture over and mix well.
Place in a casserole and crumble bacon over the top.
Bake at 350° F for 30 minutes.

If you add 8-12 ounces of canned tuna or left-over chicken, you have a hearty dinner.

Extremely Frugal Baked Rice Pudding

2009-11-27T17:40:00.007-05:00

Rice Pudding
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Baked Rice Pudding

Rice, cooked	2 C
Milk	1 1/2 C
Salt	1/8 tsp
Sugar	5 Tbsp
Butter	1 Tbsp
Vanilla	1 tsp
Eggs	3
Lemon juice	1 tsp
Raisins	1/3 C

Preheat over to 325° F. Grease baking dish.
Combine milk, salt, sugar, butter, vanilla, eggs, and lemon juice. Beat well.
Stir in rice and raisins.
Pour into baking dish and bake 50 minutes, until pudding is set and top is lightly browned.

Beef Barley Soup

2009-11-15T05:00:00.000-05:00

Beef Barley Soup
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Beef broth	4 C
Barley	1/2 C
Onions	1/2 C
Celery	1/2 C
Mushrooms	1 C
Thyme	1/4 tsp

Finely chop onions. Coarsely chop celery. Slice mushrooms.
Bring broth to a boil. Add vegetables. Simmer 5 minutes
Add thyme and salt to taste.
Add barley.
Simmer, covered, about 30 minutes until the barley is tender.

Extremely Frugal Mashed Potatoes

2009-11-01T05:00:00.000-05:00

Mashed Potatoes
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Potatoes	2 lbs
Butter	3 Tbsp
Salt	1 tsp
Milk	1/2 C

Boil potatoes for about 30 minutes, until they are cooked through. Quartering them speeds this up. Pour off the water and return the potatoes to the hot pan. Shake them over the hot burner for a few minutes to dry them completely.
Heat the milk.
Use a hand potato masher or electric beaters to whip potatoes. Add butter and warm milk to smooth them to the proper consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

I usually leave the skins on, but they are easier to mash to a creamy consistency if you peel them.

Simple Scalloped Potatoes

2009-10-01T05:00:00.001-04:00

Simple Scalloped Potatoes
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Potatoes	2 lb
Flour	2 Tbsp
Butter	5 Tbsp
Onions	2 Tbsp
Ham	1/2 C
Milk	1 1/4 C
Salt	1 tsp
Paprika	1/2 tsp
Dry mustard	1/4 tsp

Preheat oven to 350° F.
Peel and thinly slice potatoes. Drop into boiling water and parboil about 8 minutes.
Dice ham, finely mince onions. Mix with butter and flour.
Grease a baking dish and alternate layers of potatoes with layers of ham.
Heat the milk, and season it with the slat, paprika and dry mustrd. Pour over potatoes.
Bake for 35 minutes.

Ham is optional. Chop a couple strips of bacon if you don't have ham.

Simple Cheesy Chicken

2009-08-17T05:00:00.003-04:00

Cheesy Chicken
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Flour	2 Tbsp
Butter	2 Tbsp
Milk	1 C
Cheese	4 oz
Worcestershire sauce	1/2 tsp
Dry mustard	1/2 tsp
Red pepper flakes	1/8 tsp

Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
Stir in milk a few tablespoons at a time, incorporating into flour mixture well.
Add cheese, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, and red pepper flakes.
Cook until cheese melts and sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Stir in leftover chicken and serve over rice or noodles.

Simple Banana Bread

2009-08-16T05:00:00.004-04:00

Banana Bread
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Shortening	1/2 C
Sugar	1 C
Eggs	2
Bananas	1 1/2 C
Lemon juice	1 Tbsp
Flour	2 C
Baking powder	1 Tbsp
Salt	1/2 tsp
Walnuts, chopped	3/4 C

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition.
Stir in mashed bananas and lemon juice.
Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to banana mixture stirring quickly.
Add nuts.

Bake in a greased loaf pan for about 1 hour at 350° F.

Extremely Frugal Sloppy Joes

2009-08-15T05:00:00.003-04:00

Sloppy Joes
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Ground beef	1 lb
Onions	1/2 C
Catsup	1 C
Sugar	3 Tbsp
Mustard	3 Tbsp
Vinegar	3 Tbsp
Worcestershire sauce	3 tsp
Water	1/2 C

Brown beef and onions in large frying pan.
Add catsup, sugar, mustard, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce and mix well.
Add water and simmer for 15 minutes.
Server hot on toasted buns.

Extremely Frugal Northern Chili

2009-08-12T05:00:00.000-04:00

Chili
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Ground beef	1/2 lb
Pinto beans,cooked	2 C
Tomatoes	4 C
Chili powder	1/3 C
Cumin	1 tsp
Onions	1 C

Cook pintos in pressure cooker, using this recipe.
Saute onions and beef until onions are translucent. Add chili powder and cumin and cook for 2 minutes longer.
Stir in beans and tomatoes. Simmer for at least 25 minutes.

This is a great crock-pot recipe. Just dump everthing in and stir well. Simmer on low for at least 6 hours.
It also tastes better if refrigerated overnight and reheated the next day.

Simple BBQ Chicken Sandwich

2009-08-11T05:00:00.000-04:00

BBQ Chicken Sandwich
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Chicken	1 lb
BBQ sauce	2 C

Make 2 cups of Texas BBQ sauce. ( Recipe here) Reserve 1 cup.
Grill or broil chicken, basting with remaining sauce.
When cooked through, cool enough to handle and pull meat from bones.
Reheat reserved sauce, and mix in chicken pieces.
Serve on toasted buns.

Simple Deviled Eggs

2009-08-06T05:00:00.000-04:00

Deviled Eggs
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Eggs	12
Salt	1/4 tsp
Pepper	1/4 tsp
Celery seed	1/2 tsp
Wocestershire sauce	1/2 tsp
Basil	1/8 tsp
Marjoram	1/8 tsp
Thyme	pinch
Dry mustard	1/8 tsp
Mayonnaise	2 Tbsp

Place eggs in pan of cold water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Turn down heat to just simmer the eggs, timing them for exactly 10 minutes. Remove from heat and chill quickly in cold water.

Remove the shell, halve eggs lengthwise, and carefully remove yolks. Rinse whites and set aside to drain.
Place yolks in a bowl. Add salt, pepper, celery seed, Worcestershire, basil, marjoram, thyme, and dry mustard.
Gently mix in mayonnaise, adding more until yolks are a smooth spreadable consistency.
Fill cavities in whites with yolk mixture.

Hints:
I get the best results when the eggs have been in the refrigerator at least a week after I purchased them. The shell peels much more smoothly.
See this post for Perfect Hard-boiled Eggs

Storing deviled eggs is messy. I get around this by filling them from a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4 inch round tip. The bag of yolk mixture is sealed by putting a bit of plastic wrap over the tip. Store in the refrigerator. Then fill the whites when you are ready to serve. It's also the easiest way to carry them to a picnic or a party. Faster too.

Simple Dill Slaw

2009-08-05T05:00:00.000-04:00

Dill Slaw
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Cabbage	4 C
Carrot	1/2 C
Onion	1/4 C
Oil	2 Tbsp
Vinegar	1/4 C
Dill	2 Tbsp

Shred cabbage and carrot. Mince onion very fine.
Toss in serving bowl, then sprinkle with oil, vinegar and dill. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Toss again and chill 1 hour or until serving time.

Simple Primordial Chicken

2009-08-04T05:00:00.001-04:00

Primordial Chicken Ready To Cook
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Chicken	1 lb
Oil	2 Tbsp
Garlic	4 cloves
Tarragon	2 Tbsp
Salt	2 tsp

Rub chicken pieces with oil. Crush garlic and rub it over the chicken.
Sprinkle tarragon generously over the chicken. Sprinkle with salt.

Grill or broil chicken for 30-40 minutes, until well done.

The amounts in this recipe are totally made up. It's one of the simplest recipes I know of, and works well with rosemary instead of tarragon. Lemon peel is good too. The idea is to take some pieces of chicken, grease them, use the grease to hold the spices onto the skin, and then broil or grill them until the skin is crisp.

The Price is Right

2009-08-03T10:46:00.002-04:00

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
26¢ Ham, bone in .99 per pound (Meijer)
38¢ Ground chuck 4.49 for 3 pounds (Meijer)
51¢ Ground Chuck, 1.99 per pound (Meijer)
51¢ Chicken breast, boneless 1.99 per pound (Meijer)

Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
22¢ Eggs .88 per dozen (Meijer)
30¢ Milk 1.59 per gallon (Meijer, Kroger)
52¢ Cheese 2.77 per pound (Kroger)

Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving
16¢ Plums .88 per pound (Meijer)
16¢ Apricots .99 per pound (Meijer)
17¢ Blueberries 2.00 per pound (Meijer)
26¢ Peaches .99 per pound (Meijer)

12¢ Potatoes 2.88 for 10 pounds (Meijer)
14¢ Green beans .77 per pound (Meijer)
16¢ Celery .99 a bunch (Kroger)
20¢ Green peppers .99 per pound (Meijer)
23¢ Eggplant .77 per pound (Meijer)
26¢ Roma tomatoes .99 per pound (Meijer, Kroger)

Stock The Pantry
Parmesan cheese 8 oz $2.50 (Meijer)
Mustard 16 oz $1.00 (Meijer)

Other good buys
none this week

Extremely Frugal Sweet Sour Slaw

2009-07-30T05:00:00.000-04:00

Sweet Sour Slaw
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Cabbage	1 lb
Bacon	2 strips
Vinegar	2 Tbsp
Water	2 Tbsp
Sugar	2 tsp
Salt	1 tsp

Shred cabbage.
Saute bacon slowly, until meat is crisp and fat has rendered out.
Remove bacon and crumble.
Add vinegar, water, sugar, and salt to pan, heat to boiling. Return crumbled bacon.
Pour hot dressing over shredded cabbage and chill until serving time.

Simple Plum Cake

2009-07-29T05:00:00.003-04:00

Plum Cake
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Plums	2 C
Yeast	1 tsp
Milk	1/2 C
Sugar	1 tsp
Milk	1/4 C
Salt	1/4 tsp
Butter	2 Tbsp
Egg	1
Sugar	1/4 C
Flour	3 C

Wash and half plums. Cut into thin wedges and set aside.
Mix together yeast, milk, sugar, and flour. Let rise about 1 hour, then stir down.
Warm milk with salt and butter until butter melts.
Stir in egg and sugar.
Add yeast mixture to batter.
Stir in flour, sufficient to make a stiff dough.
Pat the dough into a greased 9 x 11 pan, and place fruit on top in a single layer.
Let dough rise again.
Preheat oven to 400° F.
Bake 15 minutes, lower oven temperature to 350° and bake 10 minutes more.

Simple Swedish Meatballs

2009-07-28T05:00:00.003-04:00

Swedish Meatballs
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Beef, ground	1 lb
Bread crumbs	1 C
Egg	1
Onions	1/4 C
Parsley	3 Tbsp
Salt	1 tsp
Paprika	1/4 tsp
Lemon juice	1 Tbsp
Nutmeg	1/4 tsp
Allspice	1/8 tsp
Drippings or butter	2 Tbsp
Broth	2 C
Flour	1/4 C

Shape meat into 1 inch balls. Brown in drippings.
Cover with broth and simmer about 15 minutes.
Remove meatballs.
Stir 2 teaspoons broth into the flour, making a smooth paste. Stir the paste back into the simmering broth, stirring up bits of browned meat from the bottom. Cook for 5 minutes until gravy thickens and flour is cooked.

For a more pronounced flavor, mix 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind into the meatball mixture.

The Price is Right

2009-07-27T21:27:00.000-04:00

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
35¢ Chicken leg quarters .79 per pound (Meijer)
39¢ Whole chicken, .85 per pound (Meijer)
50¢ Ground chuck 1.99 per pound (Meijer)
51¢ Boneless pork loin 1.69 per pound (Meijer)

Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
24¢ Eggs, .98 per dozen (Meijer)
30¢ Milk, 1.59 per gallon (Kroger)

Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving
15¢ Orange juice, .91 per 12 oz can (Meijer)
15¢ Celery .91 per bunch (Meijer)
15¢ Mangoes .50 each (Meijer)
16¢ Green beans, fresh .77 per pound (Meijer)
18¢ Grapes .97 per pound (Meijer)
23¢ Peaches, .88 per pound (Meijer)
23¢ Eggplant, 77 per pound (Meijer)

Stock The Pantry
Walnuts 2.99 per pound (Kroger)

Other good buys
Almonds 2.99 per pound (Kroger)

Extremely Frugal Southern Green Beans

2009-07-23T05:00:00.001-04:00

Southern Green Beans
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Green beans, fresh	1 lb
Bacon	2 strips
Onion	1/2 cup

Clean beans and leave whole or cut to preferred size.
Saute bacon until crisp, remove from pan, and crumble.
Chop onion and saute in bacon fat until translucent.
Stir in green beans and stirfry quickly until bright green.
Return bacon to pan, stir to mix in.
Season with a bit of pepper.

Simple Rosemary Chicken Salad

2009-07-22T05:00:00.001-04:00

Rosemary Chicken Salad
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Chicken, raw	1 lb
Onion	1/2C
Celery	1/4 C
Bay leaf	1
Celery	1 C
Onion	1/2 C
Grapes	1 C
Walnuts	1/4 C
Rosemary	1 tsp
Mayonnaise	1/4 C

Put chicken in saucepan and poach with onion, celery and bay leaf. Drain, reserving broth for other uses.
Mince celery and onion. Halve grapes. Chop walnut fine.
Dice chicken and stir in minced vegetables, and walnuts.
Sprinkle with crushed rosemary and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Gently fold in mayonnaise, and chill for 1 hour or until serving time.

Summer Fruit Tart

2009-07-21T05:00:00.004-04:00

Summer Fruit Tart
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Clear Glaze for Fruit Tart

Gelatin	1 envelope (7 grams)
Cold water	1 C
Sugar	1/2 C
Fruit	1 1/2 C

Soften gelatin in cold water in a small saucepan.
Add sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring to dissolve gelatin and sugar.
Chill by immersing in an ice water bath until syrupy and slightly thickened.

Wash, dry, and slice fruit. I use strawberries, kiwi fruit, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, apricots and other soft fresh fruit.

Drain fruit for a few minutes on a towel. Dip in glaze and then place on tart.

Recipe for shortbread crust
Recipe for custard filling

This is so easy to make. The only ingredient that isn't on the Simply Frugal shopping list is the gelatin. Otherwise, it only uses stuff that's already in your pantry along with inexpensive seasonal fruits.

The Price is Right

2009-07-20T09:44:00.002-04:00

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
42¢ Pork shoulder bone in (Western ribs) 1.19 per pound (Meijer)
42¢ Ground beef, 73%, 1.59 per pound (Kroger)
51¢ Chicken breast, boneless skinless 7.99 per 4 pounds (Meijer)
54¢ Round steak, bottom round, 1.99 per pound (Meijer)

Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
24¢ Eggs .98 per dozen (Meijer, Kroger)
30¢ Milk, 1.59 per gallon (Kroger)
48¢ Cheese 2.50 per pound (Kroger)

Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving
3¢ Cabbage .33 per pound (Meijer)
8¢ Celery .99 per bunch (Meijer)
12¢ Cucumber 3/1.00 (Meijer)
12¢ Romaine .99 per pound (Meijer)
16¢ Zucchini .99 per pound (Meijer)
17¢ Green beans, .99 per pound (Meijer)
18¢ Grapes, .97 per pound (Kroger)
18¢ Plums, .99 per pound (Meijer)

Stock The Pantry
Pasta .75 per pound (Meijer)
Sugar .40 per pound (Meijer)

Other good buys
Green onions 3/1.00 (Meijer)

Sesame Broccoli

2009-07-07T05:00:00.006-04:00

Sesame Broccoli
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Broccoli, fresh or frozen	1 pound
Lemon juice	1 tsp
Soy sauce	1 tsp
Roasted sesame oil	1/2 tsp
Sesame seeds	1 tsp

Steam broccoli briefly and place in serving bowl.
Mix lemon juice, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Sprinkle over broccoli and then toss.
If you are serving this as a cold summer salad, refrigerate for several hours.
Otherwise serve immediately, sprinkling sesame seeds for garnish.

Note: There are two kinds of sesame oil sold. One, a light golden color, is used as you would use any cooking oil. Dark or roasted sesame oil is a flavoring ingredient that can be purchased in Asian grocery stores and in some supermarkets in the ethnic foods section. Don't try to substitute one for the other. The darker oil has a very powerful flavor.

Simple Potato Salad

2009-07-06T05:00:00.006-04:00

Potato Salad
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Potatoes	4 medium
Oil	1 Tbsp
Vinegar	1 Tbsp
Thyme	1/16 tsp
Basil	1/4 tsp
Dry Mustard	1/8 tsp
Marjoram	1/4 tsp
Celery seed	1/4 tsp
Sugar	1/4 tsp
Celery	1/4 C
Onion	1/4 C
Green olives	2 Tbsp
Mayonnaise	1/4 C

Boil whole potatoes until tender.
Mix oil, vinegar, thyme, basil, dry mustard, marjoram, celery seeds, and sugar.
When potatoes are tender, peel if desired, and cut into 1/2 inch dice while still hot.
Pour oil and vinegar mixture over hot potatoes, tossing gently. Let sit for half an hour or refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
When cool, mix in chopped celery, minced onions, and chopped green olives.
Stir in mayonnaise until potatoes are lightly coated.
Serve chilled.

Notes:
Buy 'salad' olives rather than the perfectionist whole stuffed olives.
Go light on the mayonnaise. It doesn't need to be visible to taste like potato salad.

Extremely Frugal Cornbread

2009-07-04T10:40:00.004-04:00

Cornbread
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Cornmeal	1 C
Flour	1 C
Baking Powder	4 tsp
Salt	1 1/2 tsp
Milk	1 1/2 C
Egg	2
Oil	2 Tbsp

Preheat oven and iron skillet to 425° F, adding a bit of bacon fat or other grease to the pan.
Stir together flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt.
Stir milk, egg and oil into center of flour mixture, taking care to mix egg well.
Stir to moisten flour, then pour into hot skillet.
Return skillet to oven and bake about 25 minutes.

Notes:
Yes, that's my grandmother's skillet in the photo.
About Grease. Grease is a fine southern ingredient. It means whatever liquid or solid fat that you've got on hand. Bacon grease is the ultimate grease, but you can use shortening, butter, oil or chicken fat in its place. This recipe uses grease both in the batter and on the pan.

Extremely Frugal Custard Base For Fruit Tart

2009-07-02T05:00:00.004-04:00

Custard Base For Fruit Tart
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Milk	3/4 C
Sugar	1/4 C
Flour	2 Tbsp
Egg yolks	2
Vanilla extract	1 Tbsp

Heat milk to scalding. (I find a microwave does this better than the stovetop).
Combine sugar, flour, and egg yolks in the top of a double boiler set over hot water.
Stir with wire whisk until it becomes light. Gradually stir in hot milk until well blended.
Cook, stirring continuously, until mixture is about to boil. It thickens and coats the spoon.
Cook 30-40 minutes, just simmering.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Keep stirring until custard cools.
Chill completely, setting saucepan in ice water. Refrigerate, well covered, until ready to use.

Extremely Frugal Shortbread Tarts

2009-07-01T05:00:00.005-04:00

Shortbread Tart Shells
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Butter	1/2 C
Powdered sugar	1/4 C
Vanilla extract	1/2 tsp
Flour	1 C

Soften butter and cream with powdered sugar until well blended.
Add vanilla and mix thoroughly.

Stir in sifted flour, mixing well. Use hands to work dough thoroughly and form into a ball. Wrap well in plastic and chill 1 hour or more.

Preheat oven to 350° F.
Roll dough out 1/3 inch thick on lightly floured board.
Fit into fluted tart pan, trimming evenly and patching as needed.

To bake unfilled:
Prick several times with a fork both before baking and as soon as the crust comes from the oven.
Bake for 20 to 26 minutes.

To bake filled:
Prick several times with a fork, and bake 15 minutes. Prick again before pouring filling into shell.
Bake as directed.

Frugal Tip:
If you don't usually have powdered sugar on hand, don't go out and buy it for this recipe. Just use your food processor. One cup of granulated sugar, plus 1 tablespoon of cornstarch will make 1 cup of powdered sugar.

Simple Lemon Baste Chicken

2009-06-25T00:22:00.005-04:00

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

2009-06-22T22:22:00.004-04:00

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

2009-06-17T07:22:00.005-04:00

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

2009-06-15T10:14:00.004-04:00

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

2009-06-11T19:08:00.005-04:00

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

2009-06-11T13:00:00.003-04:00

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

2009-06-10T08:05:00.005-04:00

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

2009-06-09T09:39:00.004-04:00

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

2009-06-08T21:41:00.002-04:00

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)

The Price is Right

2009-05-24T09:29:00.003-04:00

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
42¢ Whole chicken .89 per pound (Kroger)
42¢ Pork shoulder, bone-in [western ribs] 1.19 per pound (Meijer)
42¢ Ground beef, hamburger 1.59 per pound (Kroger)
45¢ Ham, boneless 1.99 per pound (Kroger)
48¢ Pork loin, boneless 1.59 per pound (Meijer)
48¢ Ground chuck 1.92 per pound (Meijer)
48¢ Ground turkey 1.79 per pound (Kroger)
51¢ Ham, boneless 2.19 per pound (Kroger)
60¢ Bottom round 2.19 per pound (Meijer)
63¢ Chicken breast, boneless 2.49 per pound (Kroger)

Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
24¢ Eggs .98 per dozen (Meijer, Kroger)
33¢ Milk 1.77 per gallon (Kroger)
57¢ Cheese 3.00 per pound (Kroger)

Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving
12¢ Potatoes, .29 per pound (Kroger)
12¢ Onions .56 per pound (Kroger)
16¢ Apricots, fresh .99 per pound (Meijer)
22¢ Nectarines, fresh .99 per pound (Meijer)
26¢ Peaches, fresh .99 per pound (Meijer)
52¢ Cantaloupe, fresh 1.77 each (Kroger)
$1.12 Blueberries, fresh 2.50 per 6 ounces (Kroger)

Stock The Pantry
$1.75 Catsup, Meijer brand 46 oz .04 per ounce(Meijer)
$1.79 Butter, Kroger 1 pound

Other good buys
Almonds 4.99 per pound (Meijer)
Bacon 2.50 per pound (Kroger)

Basil Tomato Salad

2009-05-23T21:16:00.006-04:00

Basil Tomato Salad
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

A Roma tomato, a few chunks of cheese, and a basil leaf cut chiffonade.*

Basil Tomato Salad

Tomato, fresh	1 lb
Cheese, mozzarella	8 ounces
Basil	2 fresh leaves
Vinegar	2 Tbsp
Oil	1 Tbsp

Slice tomato in 1/4 inch slices.
Cube cheese.
Roll fresh basil leaves into cylinders, and slice into thin ribbons.

Mix tomato, cheese, and basil gently in a serving bowl. Sprinkle with oil and vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Refrigerate until ready to serve, at least 2 hours.

*A fancy culinary term that means roll it up and slice it into thin ribbons.

Extremely Frugal Pita Bread

2009-05-22T21:06:00.002-04:00

Pita
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

It's a simple yeast bread, cooked hot and fast in a 500° F oven.

Pita Bread

Yeast	2 1/4 tsp
Sugar	1 tsp
Water	1 1/2 C
Flour	3 C
Salt	1 1/4 tsp

Dissolve yeast and sugar in 1/2 C warm water. Let set 10-15 minutes until water is frothy.

Combine flour and salt, and make a well in the middle.

Pour yeast into well, and slowly add 1 C warm water. Knead 10-15 minutes.

Grease a large bowl. Place dough in bowl and turn once, leaving a thin film on top of dough ball. Cover with a damp towel, and let rise about 3 hours, until double in bulk.

Roll out a thick rope and cut into 12 small pieces. Roll into balls, and place on a floured surface to rest for 10 minutes.

Preheat oven and baking sheet to 500°

Roll dough out into circles 1/4 inch thick. Let proof for 10-15 minutes.

Bake 4 minutes until bread puffs up Turn over and bake 2 minutes longer. Remove with spatula and press down. Cool on rack with moist towel over them.

Don't roll the circles too thin; you'll end up with flatbread crackers that don't puff.

Simple Roman Bean Spread

2009-05-21T20:47:00.004-04:00

Roman Bean Spread
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Navy beans, rosemary, and garlic highlight this simple bean spread, which dates from Roman times. It makes a dip similar to hummus, and is great on pita or flatbreads.

Roman Bean Spread

Navy beans	1 C
Oil	2 Tbsp
Garlic clove	1
Rosemary	1/2 tsp
Worcestershire sauce	1 tsp
Lemon juice	1 Tbsp
Salt
Pepper

Soak beans overnight, drain and rinse. Cover with fresh water and simmer 1 hour or until very tender.

Saute oil, garlic, and rosemary for 5 minutes, let cool.

Put beans in food processor. With motor running, slowly add garlic mixture.

Add Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. Taste for seasoning and adjust salt and pepper.

Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving.

$5 Dinner Roman Navy Beans

2009-05-20T10:04:00.007-04:00

5 Bills
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

$5.00 Menu

This ~$4.25 dinner provides 1/2 cup beans, 1/2 cup tomatoes, 2 ounces of cheese, and 3 pita breads per person.

Roman Navy Beans
Pita bread
Mozzarella Tomato Salad

Buy: Nothing
Pantry: Navy beans, olive oil, rosemary, garlic, flour, cheese
For 4 servings

1 pound flour .46
1/2 pound navy beans .50
1/4 C olive oil .75
8 oz mozzarella 1.50
1 pound Roma tomatoes 1.00
garlic, rosemary,

Total $4.21

The Price is Right

2009-05-17T14:12:00.003-04:00

The Price is Right
Originally uploaded by darthdowney

The Price is Right

2009-05-10T13:41:00.003-04:00

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
29¢ Turkey breast, bone in .88 per pound (Kroger)
43¢ Ground beef, 27% 1.66 per pound (Meijer)
43¢ Pork, country style ribs 1.19 per pound (SaveALot)
46¢ Chicken breast, boneless 1.78 per pound (Kroger)
46¢ Chicken, whole .98 per pound (Meijer)
48¢ Turkey, ground 1.79 per pound (Kroger)
54¢ Round steak 1.98 per pound (Kroger)

Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
20¢ Peanut butter .99 for 18 oz jar (Kroger)
24¢ Eggs .98 per dozen (Meijer)
33¢ Milk 1.77 per gallon (Kroger)

Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving
8¢ Bananas .29 per pound (Meijer)
13¢ Apples .98 per pound (Meijer)

Stock The Pantry
Bacon Plumrose 2.19 per pound (Meijer)
Butter 1.79 per pound (Kroger)
Catsup Hunts 1.00 per 18 oz (Meijer)
Walnuts 3.99 per pound (Meijer)

Other good buys
Mac&Cheese 25¢ per box (SaveALot)

MIlk continues to drop in price. Kroger's $1.77 per gallon is the lowest it's been in a couple years. Also watch for pork prices to drop for a while.

The Price is Right

2009-05-04T19:34:00.003-04:00

The Price is Right
Originally uploaded by darthdowney

The True Cost of Protein

2009-05-01T05:00:00.002-04:00

I usually compare the cost of a meal based on a 3 or 4 ounce serving of meat. I have a personal rule of thumb that I should keep the average cost below 45¢ per serving. See this post for how to calculate the cost per serving.

The cost of protein is a different calculation, since a serving of meat or meat equivalent can vary widely in how much protein it provides. The chart below will give you a glimpse into the true cost of protein.

Price is price per pound except for eggs (dozen), tuna (5 oz can), and milk (gallon). All prices are the lowest price I've paid since January 1, 2009.
Protein cost is for 20 grams of protein, about 1/2 to 1/3 of your daily requirement.

Item	Price	Protein cost
Lentils	.79	.12
Peanut butter	1.21	.22
Navy beans	.99	.22
Turkey, whole	.77	.25
Eggs	1.00	.26
Chicken leg quarters	.59	.26
Milk	1.99	.31
Boneless chicken breast	1.69	.33
Ground beef (26%)	1.60	.38
Whole chicken	.89	.44
Tuna	.71	.44
Pork loin, boneless	1.79	.45
Turkey, ground	1.99	.46
Round steak (bottom round)	2.49	.46
Hot dog (beef & pork)	1.39	.53
Cheddar cheese	3.33	.59
Pork steaks	1.99	.66
Sausage	1.89	.91
Catfish	1.59	1.24

Hot dogs, sausage, and catfish are surprisingly expensive sources of protein. Tuna, chicken, and pork loin are good buys if you want meat as the focal point of the meal. As you might guess, lentils, peanut butter and navy beans can bring your costs way down. But notice that turkey, eggs and chicken, when on sale, are really very cheap sources of protein.

One creative way to provide protein is to use a small amount of meat along with the beans or eggs or peanut butter. The meat helps create some variety in the lentils and bean dishes that I serve several times a week. For example, baked beans at lunch can provide nearly 1/3 of the day's protein, and you'll then find a lot more room in your budget for the chicken or pork main dish at night.

Simple Oil and Vinegar Slaw Dressing

2009-04-28T05:00:00.006-04:00

I make up 2 or 3 cups of this at a time, and then store it in the refrigerator for a fast dressing for shredded cabbage. It's a nice alternative to the more traditional mayonnaise version.

Oil and Vinegar Slaw Dressing

Sugar	1/2 C
Vinegar	3/4 C
Oil	3/4 C
Mustard seed	1 tsp
Celery seed	1 tsp

Stir ingredients together in small saucepan.
Heat to boiling, stirring until sugar dissolves.
Simmer for 5-7 minutes.
Pour into canning jar and store in refrigerator for up to a month.
Use about 1/4 C per pound of cabbage.

Adjust the amount of sugar to your taste. Many people make this with twice the amount, but I find it far too sweet.

The Price is Right

2009-04-26T11:42:00.001-04:00

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
45¢ Ground chuck 1.78 per pound (Kroger)
46¢ Whole chicken .89 per pound (kroger)
46¢ Boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1.79 per pound (Meijer)

Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
25¢ Eggs .98 per dozen (Meijer + Kroger)
37¢ Milk 1.99 per gallon (Meijer + Kroger)
50¢ Cheese 2.69 per pound (Kroger)
50¢ Cottage cheese 1.99 per 24 oz (Kroger)

Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving
12¢ Cameo apples .88 per pound (Kroger)
14¢ Onions .56 per pound (Kroger)
16¢ Green beans, frozen .91 per pound (Meijer)
17¢ Green beans, canned .60 per can (Meijer)
19¢ Broccoli, frozen .91 per pound (Meijer)
19¢ Zucchini, fresh .99 per pound (Kroger)
24¢ Avocado .91 apiece (Meijer)
26¢ Roma tomatoes, fresh .99 per pound (Meijer)

Stock The Pantry
Macaroni + spaghetti .50 per pound (Meijer)
Walnuts 3.99 per pound (Meijer)

Other good buys
Saurkraut .6o per 16 oz can (Meijer)
Mac&Cheese .40 per box (Meijer)

Many Meijer-brand products are on sale this week. It's a good time to stock up on the items on your personal shopping list.

How To Calculate The Cost Per Serving

2009-04-24T05:00:00.004-04:00

Several people have asked how I know what the cost per serving is for different items.

My main source for information is the USDA database called The Nutritional Composition Of Foods. For years I owned the paperback versions that they printed in the 70s and 80s. Fortunately the information is now available online. I use other USDA publications as well, including a pamphlet I picked up when my kids were little that lets you calculate how much food to buy for day-care centers that serve meals. Now I use it to help my sons to figure out how much food to buy for their growing families.

Over the years, I've created a spreadsheet that does all the arithmetic for me. All I have to do is type in the price per pound, and the number of servings and it tells me how much to buy and how much it will cost. This week I spent a bit of time working on the spreadsheet to create some Magic Numbers for folks who read this blog.

The Magic Number for a food item is used two ways.

1) Multiply the Magic Number by the price per pound. That will give you the cost of a 1 ounce serving of cooked meat.
2) Multiply the number of servings by the size of the serving in ounces. Then multiply that by the Magic Number. That will tell you how much raw meat to buy.

Magic Numbers for fruits and vegetables work in a similar way. You'll get a different number of servings from a pound of fresh green beans than you will from frozen. And you'll get a different number of servings from a 1 pound can of green beans than you will from a 1 pound bag of frozen green beans. The Magic Number times the price per pound will give you the cost of a 1/2 C serving of that fruit or vegetable. The Magic Number times the number of servings will give you the amount you need to purchase.

When I post the price per serving each week, I take all these differences into account. That's how I come up with the comparisons between the various sale prices in the ads.

For those of you who want more details:
Let's try an example. The Magic Number for chicken thighs is .1202.

If chicken thighs are 99 cents per pound, you multiply .1202 times .99. That gives you .119. Read that as the dollars per serving, ie $0.119, or roughly 12 cents per 1 oz serving. (Only look at the first 2 or 3 numbers to the right of the decimal point. The rest is just junk).

If you need to serve 4 people, and you want each of them to have a 4 ounce serving of meat, you first multiply 4 times 4, or 16. Then you multiply the Magic Number by 16. 16 x .1202 = 1.92. Read that as 1.9 pounds of chicken thighs. If you want to serve 4 people 4 ounces of cooked meat, then you'll need to buy about 2 pounds of chicken thighs. If you only want to serve 3 ounces per person, then you'll only need 12 x .1202, or 1.4 pounds of chicken thighs.

If people want this information, I will start including it in my posts. Let me know by leaving a comment below.

Simple Savory Custard

2009-04-23T05:00:00.004-04:00

Savory Custard
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Most of us think of sweet desserts when we hear "custard". But custards can be savory as well. When eggs and milk are cheap, think about serving a simple custard that provides bunches of protein in a slightly different style. Quiches are one version of savory custards, but this is a fun version that doesn't require a pie crust and comes in individual servings.

Serve this with a salad for lunch, supper, or brunch. When it is cooler, steamed broccoli complements these flavors.

Savory Custard
6 Servings

Milk	2 C
Thyme	1/4 tsp
Garlic	1 clove
Eggs	3
Egg yolks	2
Cayenne pepper	1/8 tsp
Salt	1/2 tsp
Swiss cheese	1/2 C
Parmesan cheese	1/4 C

Preheat oven to 300F.

Crush garlic and shred cheese.
Boil about a quart of water.
Grease 6 custard cups or ramekins.

Put thyme and garlic into milk and heat just to boiling. Remove from heat (or microwave) and allow to cool.

Beat eggs, egg yolks, cayenne, and salt in a large bowl. Mix in shredded cheese and parmesan. Add milk and beat several times.

Pour or ladle mixture into custard cups. Place cups in a baking dish and place on oven rack. Carefully pour boiling water around the custard cups, until water is about 1 inch below the edge.

Bake until set, approximately 30 minutes. Remove custard cups from baking pan with tongs. Leave pan in oven until cool enough to handle easily.

Simple Broccoli Quiche

2009-04-22T05:00:00.005-04:00

Quiche
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

When eggs, milk, cheese, and broccoli are all on sale at once, try a new twist on the standard Quiche Lorraine. This quiche uses Cheddar cheese and broccoli for its flavors

Ingredient	9 inch	Tart
Broccoli	1 C	1/4 C
Cheddar cheese, shredded	8 oz	2 oz
Onion, grated	2 tsp	1/2 tsp
Flour	1 Tbsp	1 tsp
Salt	1/4 tsp	pinch
Egg	3	1
Milk	1 C	1/4 C

Preheat oven to 450 F.
Grate onion, shred cheese.
Shred or chop broccoli small.
Combine cheese, onion, flour and salt, mixing well.
Layer filling and cheese mixture in pastry shell.
Mix egg and milk, pour over cheese and filling.

Bake in 450 oven 15 minutes, then lower heat to 325 and bake 30 minutes longer, or until just firm in center. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

Mango Salsa

2009-04-21T05:00:00.004-04:00

Mango Salsa
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Here's a way to use the mangos that are in season for the next few weeks

Mango Salsa

Red bell peppers	1 C
Mango	1
Red Onion	1/4 C
Cilantro	1/4 C
Green chiles	2 Tbsp
Lime juice	2 Tbsp
Chili powder	1/4 tsp

Dice mangoes, peppers, and red onions.
Mince fresh cilantro and green chilis.
Combine and sprinkle with lime juice and chili powder, stirring once or twice.
Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or overnight.

Extremely Frugal version
Use canned tomatoes instead of red peppers and canned green chilis.
Substitute yellow onions for red onions and lemon juice for lime juice.

Simple Three-Chili Chicken

2009-04-20T05:01:00.001-04:00

Use mild green chilis, flaked hot red peppers, and chili powder in this chicken and rice combo. You can adjust the heat by adding more red pepper flakes.

Three-chili Chicken
Makes 4 servings

Chicken Thighs	2 pounds
Onion	2/3 C
Green chilis	2 Tbsp
Cumin	2 tsp
Chili Powder	1 Tbsp
Red pepper flakes	1/4 tsp
Garlic	2 cloves
Chicken broth	2 1/2 C
Rice	1 C

Chop onion and green chilies. Crush garlic.
Brown chicken thighs in frying pan, remove. Reserve drippings.
Saute onion, chilis and garlic in drippings until onion is translucent.
Add cumin, chili powder and red pepper flakes and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes.
Stir in rice, coating well. You may want to add a tablespoon of oil if the pan is dry.
Pour chicken broth into pan, and return the browned pieces of chicken.
Bring to a boil, cover tightly, and turn to low.
Gently steam rice for 20 minutes.
Check chicken for doneness before serving.

$5 Dinner Three-Chili Chicken

2009-04-20T05:00:00.004-04:00

5 Bills
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Put a Mexican-flavored dinner on the table with this week's bargains at Kroger
Chicken Thighs Menu - Kroger

This ~$5.25 dinner provides 4 oz of chicken, 1 cup of rice, and 1/2 C salsa per serving.

Three-Chili Chicken, Mango Salsa

Buy: Chicken thighs, mangos, cilantro, red pepper
Pantry: rice, onions, green chilis
For 4 servings

2 lb chicken thighs $1.90
1/2 lb rice $0.35
1 mango $1.00
1 C onion $0.58
1 can green chilies $.99
1 bunch cilantro $0.50

Total $5.30

The Price is Right

2009-04-19T09:31:00.006-04:00

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
36¢ Chicken breast, bone in 1.29 per pound (Meijer)
36¢ Chicken thighs, bone in .99 per pound (Kroger)
36¢ Pork shoulder, bone in .99 per pound (Meijer + Kroger)
50¢ Ground Round 1.99 per pound (Meijer)
51¢ Chicken, whole .98 per pound (Meijer)
53¢ Chuck roast, boneless 1.77 per pound (Kroger)
68¢ Chicken breast, boneless 1.88 per pound (Kroger)

Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
25¢ Eggs, large .98 per dozen (Meijer)
38¢ Cottage cheese 1.00 per pound (Kroger)
50¢ Cheese, chedder 2.69 per pound (Kroger)

Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving
14¢ Apples 1.00 per pound (Meijer)
19¢ Grapes 1.00 per pound (Kroger)
20¢ Broccoli 1.00 per pound (Kroger)
26¢ Mango 1.00 each (Kroger)
30¢ Cantaloupe 1.50 each (Meijer)
30¢ Pears 1.18 per pound (Meijer)

Stock The Pantry
1.98 Milk, per gallon (Meijer + Kroger)
1.00 Mustard 24 oz jar (Kroger)

Other good buys
60¢ Campbell's Tomato or Chicken Noodle soup (Meijer)
Red bell peppers 1.00 each (Kroger)

Let The Posting Begin (Again)

2009-04-18T13:05:00.002-04:00

Weeks ago, I fell and crushed two bones in my right arm, leading to ambulance rides, hospital stays, orthopedic surgery, casts and total inability to use the keyboard.

But I've now got a splint instead of a cast, and I can take it off enough to do my physical therapy and type again!!

Watch for this week's Price Is Right posting on Sunday.

$5 Dinner Roast Beef

2009-03-12T20:58:00.003-04:00

5 Bills
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

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

Corned Beef

2009-03-09T05:00:00.003-04:00

Corned beef requires long, slow cooking. It's a perfect Crockpot dish.

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

2009-03-09T04:58:00.002-04:00

A traditional Irish potato and cabbage dish

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

2009-03-09T04:45:00.004-04:00

5 Bills
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

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

The Price is Right

2009-03-08T14:55:00.005-04:00

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
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)

Cantaloupe Salsa

2009-03-03T08:22:00.006-05:00

An interesting way to make cantaloupe a dinner side dish.

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

2009-03-03T05:00:00.007-05:00

5 Bills
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

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

Simple Fresh Plum Chutney

2009-03-02T11:04:00.007-05:00

Plums
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

An easy side dish for baked ham

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

2009-03-02T11:01:00.003-05:00

5 Bills
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

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

The Price is Right

2009-03-01T10:06:00.000-05:00

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
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.

Simple Sunday Lentils

2009-02-26T05:30:00.002-05:00

Sunday Lentils
Serves 4

Lentils, dry	2 C
Basil	2 tsp
Salt	1 tsp
Water	4 C
Onions	1 C
Cumin	2 tsp
Oil	1/4 C
Garlic	2 clove
Tomatoes, diced	2 C

Boil lentils with basil, salt and water, drain.
Saute onion, cumin and garlic in oil. Add lentils and tomatoes. Cook until very thick.

$5 Dinner Sunday Lentils

2009-02-26T04:00:00.001-05:00

5 Bills
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Lentils are always a good deal at SaveALot. This basil-cumin tomato sauce adds an interesting flavor twist

This ~$3.00 dinner provides 1 cup of lentils, 2 biscuits, and 1/2 cup of green beans per serving.

Sunday Lentils, Cheese biscuits, Green beans.

Buy: Shredded cheddar cheese, lentils
Pantry: Basil, onions, cumin, flour, green beans
For 4 servings

1/2 lb Lentils $0.43
2 cups Tomatoes $0.75
2 cups Flour $0.15
4 ounces Cheese $0.83
2 cups Green beans $0.80

Total $2.96

Parisian Carrot Salad

2009-02-25T10:37:00.000-05:00

Parisian Carrots
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

An easy side dish for winter meals.

Parisian Carrot Salad
Serves 4

Carrots	2 C
Parsley	1/2 C
Olive oil	1 tsp
Garlic	1 clove
Salt	1/4 tsp
Pepper	1/8 tsp
Red wine vinegar	1 Tbsp

Mince parsley very fine, and shred carrots.
Drizzle oil over mixture.
Crush garlic and add to mixture along with salt and pepper.
Stir well, coating carrots thoroughly.
Sprinkle vinegar over mixture, toss, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Simplify:
Use vegetable oil instead of olive oil
Use cider vinegar instead of red wine vinegar

$5 Dinner Simple Lemon Thyme Chicken

2009-02-24T09:57:00.011-05:00

5 Bills
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Broccoli is on sale at $1.00 per bunch, and the Value brand leg quarters are $5.90 for 10 pounds.

This ~$3.00 dinner provides 4 ounces of cooked chicken, 1 cup of rice, and 1/2 cup broccoli per person.

Buy: Chicken leg quarters, broccoli
Pantry: Oil, garlic, lemon juice, thyme, rice, chicken broth.

For 4 servings
2.5 lb chicken $1.50
1 bunch broccoli $1.00
1 1/4 C rice $0.35

Use the chicken broth instead of water to cook the rice. After the chicken has baked, skim off the fat from the juices left in the pan, and pour the flavorful juices over the rice at the table. Sprinkle a bit of lemon juice over the broccoli as it is steaming for a bright flavor.

Simple Lemon Thyme Chicken, steamed broccoli, Rice

You can add some Baked Pears for a seasonal dessert.

Simple Lemon Thyme Chicken

2009-02-24T08:54:00.000-05:00

Lemon Thyme Chicken
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Lemon Thyme Chicken
4 servings

Leg quarters	2.5 lb
Olive oil	1 Tbsp
Garlic	3 cloves
Lemon juice	1 Tbsp
Thyme	1 tsp

Arrange leg quarters in roasting pan skin side up.
Whisk together olive oil, crushed garlic, lemon juice, and thyme.
Brush over chicken, and let marinate for 1 hour.
Place in oven (no need to preheat) and set to 350 F. Roast for 50-60 minutes, checking to be sure thick part of thigh is done.
Drain off pan juices, and skim off fat. Serve pan juices on the side.

Hungarian Pork Goulash

2009-02-23T08:39:00.003-05:00

Hungarian Pork Goulash
4 servings

Oil	1 Tbsp
Onions	4 C (1 lb)
Pork shoulder, bone in	2 lb
Paprika	2 Tbsp
Tomato paste	1 Tbsp
Garlic	2 cloves
Salt	3/4 tsp
Flour	1 Tbsp
Chicken stock	2 Tbsp
Green pepper	1/2 C
Sour cream	1/2C

Slice onions thin, and saute in oil. Add pork, saute 5-10 minutes.
Add paprika, tomato paste, garlic, salt, and flour.
PUt in slow cooker on low for 7 hours, adding liquid if necessary.
Half an hour before serving, dice and saute green pepper and add to meat mixture.
Mix a small amount of the cooking liquid with the sour cream, and stir back into cooker.

Serve over noodles.

$5 Dinner Hungarian Pork Goulash

2009-02-23T08:36:00.007-05:00

5 Bills
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

This week at Meijer, you can get a good deal on western ribs, and green beans.

This $3.50 dinner provides a 4 ounce serving of pork ($2.25), 1 cup of noodles (.53), and 1/2 C (.63) of green beans per person.

Hungarian Pork Goulash, Noodles, Green beans

Buy: 2 lb western ribs, 1 lb frozen Freshlike green beans, 1 green pepper
In the pantry: Sour cream (on sale last week), onions, tomato paste, garlic, salt, flour, noodles.

The Price is Right Feb 22 - 28

2009-02-22T05:00:00.000-05:00

The Price is Right
Originally uploaded by darthdowney

Simple Baked Pears

2009-02-20T22:06:00.001-05:00

Baked Pears
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Seasonal fruits combined in a simple dessert

Pears	3
Oranges	1
Raisins	3 Tbsp
Brown sugar	1/4 C
Water	1/3 C
Butter	1 Tbsp

Slice oranges without peeling.
Layer in bottom of baking dish, and sprinkle raisins on top.
Halve and core pears. Place cut side down on oranges.
Mix brown sugar and water, and pour over pears.
Dot with butter, cover, and bake a 325 F for 45 minutes to an hour.

Fancy it up:
Add 1/2 C white wine before you cover the baking dish. A flavor-enhancer that makes the dish stand out.

Televaros

2009-02-19T10:31:00.003-05:00

An interesting combination of creamed corn with bay leaf

Televaro Casserole

Ground beef	1 lb	1/4 lb
Corn, cream style	1 1/2 C	1/2C
Green pepper	1/4 C	1 Tbsp
Onion	3/4 C	1/4C
Celery	1 C	1/4C
Worcestershire sauce	1 Tbsp	1 tsp
Bay leaf	1	1/4
Salt	1 tsp	1/4 tsp
Sugar	1 Tbsp	3/4 tsp
Noodles	12 oz	3 oz

Brown meat, add celery, onions, green pepper, salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes until tender. Add corn and Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, and sugar.

Boil noodles until just tender.

Layer meat and noodles in casserole. (Optional: cover with breadcrumbs and dot with butter).
Bake at 375 F until browned, about 30 minutes.

$5 Dinner Televaro Casserole

2009-02-18T10:12:00.003-05:00

5 Bills
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

One of my favorite casseroles contains creamed corn. I like casseroles because they put the meat, the starch and the vegetable all in one dish.

Televaros

Televaros Casserole

Ground beef	1 lb	1.60
Noodles	12 oz	.90
Creamed corn	14.5 oz	.50
Green pepper	1/4 C	.25
Celery	.20
Onion	.30
Salad	1.00

Total cost $4.75

$5 Dinner Rosemary Roasted Chicken

2009-02-17T12:29:00.014-05:00

5 Bills
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

A frugal menu for items you can buy at Kroger this week.

The least expensive meat at Kroger this week is the 10-pound bag of chicken leg quarters.

Menu
Rosemary Roasted Chicken, Apple Onion Saute, Roasted Potatoes

Shopping
Chicken leg quarters 2.5 lbs $1.48
Granny Smith apples 1 lb $.75
Onions .5 lb $.28
Potatoes 1 lb $.30

Total $2.80

Provides 4-oz serving of cooked chicken, 1/2 C serving of apples and onions, 1/2 C roasted potatoes for 4 people.

$5 Dinner Simple African Peanut Chicken

2009-02-16T05:00:00.013-05:00

5 Bills
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

A frugal menu for items you can buy at Meijer this week.

Simple African Peanut Chicken, Rice, Steamed Broccoli

Buy:
1 1/2 pounds bone-in chicken breast ($1.50)
1 bunch broccoli ($1.00)

From the pantry:
1 pound rice ($.70)
1 C diced tomatoes(.40 Jan 31 sale)
3/4 C peanut butter ($.55)

Total: $4.15

Per person: 4 ounces chicken, 1 cup rice, 1/2 cup broccoli

The Price is Right Feb 15 - 21

2009-02-15T14:34:00.003-05:00

The Price is Right
Originally uploaded by darthdowney

$5 Dinner Teriyaki Chicken

2009-02-10T05:30:00.005-05:00

5 Bills
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Savealot has chicken leg quarters on sale for 39¢ a pound, canned green beans for 47¢ a can, and rice for 66¢ a pound.

A dinner for four people** would require 2.5 pounds of leg quarters ($1.00), 2 cans of green beans (1.00), and a pound of rice (70¢) or approximately $2.75

Simple Teriyaki Sauce

Simple Teriyaki Chicken

Extremely Frugal Rice

** serving sizes: 4 oz cooked chicken, 1/2 C green beans, 1 C rice. You'll have a couple extra servings of green beans and of rice.

Simple Cabbage Tomato Soup

2009-02-09T08:54:00.003-05:00

Cabbage Tomato Soup
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

A wonderful winter soup.

Cabbage and Tomato Soup
6 servings

Cabbage	2 C
Tomatoes, canned	28 oz
Bacon	3 slices
Onion	1 C
Oil	2 Tbsp
Bay leaves	2
Allspice	1 1/2 tsp
Paprika	2 Tbsp
Brown sugar	2 Tbsp
Garlic	1 Tbsp
Vinegar, cider	1/3 C
Chicken stock	3 C

Saute bacon, bay leaf, and oil over medium heat until bacon is translucent.
Stir in cabbage and onion and saute 5 minutes.
Add allspice, paprika, brown sugar, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Lower heat and let vegetables steam gently in their own juices. Do not brown.
Add vinegar, tomatoes, and chicken stock. Add sufficient water to cover the tops of the vegetables.

Simmer 30 minutes, until cabbage is soft. Puree 1 or 2 cups, and stir back into pan. Taste for balance, and serve hot.

The Price Is Right Feb 8 - 14

2009-02-08T08:54:00.000-05:00

The Price is Right
Originally uploaded by darthdowney

Simple Roasted Chicken

2009-02-02T08:54:00.001-05:00

Roast Chicken
Originally uploaded by Annie Mole

Roasting a whole chicken can give you all kinds of bonus ingredients. In addition to the meat, there are bones and gravy. If you stuff it before you roast it, there's a side-dish of dressing. You can use the bones from the cooked chicken to make stock. In fact, if you roast them after the meat has been removed, the stock has a richer flavor. If I'm feeling especially frugal, I let the fat congeal and refrigerate it until I need to grease a casserole.

Simply Frugal Roast Chicken

Ingredient	4 servings
Chicken, whole	1
Giblets
Water	1 1/2 C
Bay leaf	1
Fat*	2 Tbsp
Onion, chopped	2 Tbsp
Bread*, diced	2 C
Celery	1/4 C
Basil	1/4 tsp
Thyme	1/4 tsp
Sage	1/2 tsp
Salt
Pepper	1/4 tsp
Flour	1 Tbsp
Milk	1 C

Wash chicken, and remove heart, liver, gizzard, and neck.
Place neck, gizzard, and heart in water, along with bay leaf and half the onion. Simmer for 15 minutes. Drain and reserve stock.
Chop heart, gizzard, and liver fine. Saute with remaining onion in fat for a few minutes.
Combine with bread, celery, basil, thyme, sage, salt, and pepper.
Pour stock over dressing to moisten.

Stuff interior of chicken just before the chicken is put in the oven. You can double the amount, and bake the remainder in a greased casserole dish.
Place chicken in oven.
Turn on oven and set to 350 ℉ Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Pour off liquid, and allow fat to rise to the top. Skim and reserve fat.
Add flour to pan drippings. Stir until flour is incorporated. Add milk for cream gravy, add the liquid from the roast for a thinner gravy. Stir over medium heat until gravy thickens.

After the meal, place carcass and bones in a plastic bag, and freeze until ready to make stock.

*Fat, Bread, Preheated Oven
Fat: the frugal cook uses bacon fat, chicken fat, vegetable oil, or butter.
Bread: the frugal cook uses left over bread, bagels, or cornbread.
Preheated oven: the frugal cook knows you do not need to preheat the oven if you are roasting meat.

The Price is Right Feb 1 - 7

2009-02-01T08:54:00.000-05:00

The Price is Right
Originally uploaded by darthdowney

Here's this week's best buys at my local Meijer. Even if you don't live near a Meijer store, these prices will reflect what prices are at the wholesale level. Your favorite store will probably be getting similar deals to pass on to you in the next few weeks. 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)
27¢ Ground Turkey $1.00 per pound
35¢ Pork, shoulder $.99 per pound (Kroger)
37¢ Whole Chicken 79¢ per pound
42¢ Ground Chuck $1.66 per pound
52¢ Pork Loin $1.79 per pound
68¢ Italian Sausage $2.23 per pound
75¢ Bulk Pork Sausage $1.89 per pound

Notice that ground turkey at $1.00 per pound is less expensive than chicken at 79¢ per pound. Also notice that pork sausage at $1.89 per pound is almost 50% more expensive per serving than pork loin at $1.79.

Meat Alternatives
Cost for equivalent to 3 oz serving of meat
25¢ Peanut Butter 17 oz jar (Kroger)
50¢ Cottage Cheese $2.00 per 24 oz
60¢ Yogurt $4.00 for 10 8 oz containers
62¢ Cheese $3.29 per pound (Kroger)

6 ounces of cottage cheese (about 3/4 C) is equivalent to 3 ounces of cooked meat. Yogurt requires 12 ounces to be equivalent to 3 ounces of cooked meat.
Cheese is equivalent ounce per ounce.

Fruits and Vegetables
Cost for 1/2 cup serving

08¢ Onions $1.00 for 3 pounds
09¢ Grapefruit $5.00 for 18 pounds
10¢ Green Beans (canned) 14.5 oz can for $.33
12¢ Potatoes $2.98 for 10 pounds (Kroger)
15¢ Apples .99 per pound
17¢ Green Beans (frozen) $1.00 per pound
21¢ Broccoli (frozen) $1.00 per pound
21¢ Grapes .99 per pound (Kroger)
24¢ Sweet Potato .79 per pound (Kroger)
24¢ Avocado $1.00 per avocado
41¢ Oranges .72 per pound (Kroger)
83¢ Asparagus, fresh $1.99 per pound

Other
.76 per pound Oatmeal* $2 for 42 oz
.40 per pound Sugar, white $1.98 per 5 pounds
.50 per pound Sugar, brown $1.98 per 4 pounds
2.00 per pound Butter
2.50 per gallon Milk*
1.99 per gallon Milk (at Kroger)
.50 per pound Macaroni, spaghetti, thin spaghetti
2.00 per pound Bacon
3.99 per pound Walnuts

*Oatmeal on sale at $2.00 per 42 oz container is not as good as the usual price at SaveALot of $1.89.
*Milk on sale at $2.50 per gallon is not as good as the sale price of $1.99 at Kroger. In my area, Kroger often has better sale prices on dairy items than either Meijer or SaveALot. Cheese is always better and eggs are often better.

Black Bean Soup

2009-01-29T23:06:00.005-05:00

Black Bean Soup
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

A sturdy bean soup with Caribbean flavors.

CUBAN BEAN SOUP
Six servings
Buy: Black beans, pork loin (ham, dry sherry, fresh lemon)

	6 servings	2 servings
Black beans	2 C	2/3 C
Olive oil	2 Tbsp	2 tsp
Onions, chopped	1 C	1/3 C
Garlic	2 tsp	1 tsp
Pork shoulder	8 oz	3 oz
Tomato	1/2 C	3 Tbsp
Vinegar	2 Tbsp	2 tsp
Cumin	1/2 tsp	dash
Bay leaf	1	1/3
Pepper	dash	dash
Salt	1/2 tsp	dash

Wash beans well. Soak over night, drain soaking water. Cover beans with water and bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer until soft, about 3 hours. Drain. Puree the beans. Lightly rinse the pan, and return beans.

Chop pork into small dice.

Heat the oil until a haze forms. Add the onions and the garlic and stir until soft. Add the cumin, bay leaf, and pepper, and stir for 1 minute. Add tomato, pork, sherry OR vinegar, and stir until mixture thickens slightly. Add to bean puree and heat for 15 minutes.

Serve garnished with slices of boiled egg and lemon.

Fancy Fixins
Use ham instead of pork
Use annatto oil in place of olive oil
Use fresh tomato in place of canned diced tomato
Use sherry instead of vinegar

Pantry

2009-01-28T22:52:00.001-05:00

Pantry
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

The heart of living frugally is buying only what you need, and paying the lowest possible price for it.

I'm an impromptu cook who loves looking in the refrigerator and cupboards to whip up an on-the-spot meal. But that requires discipline. I only go to the grocery store once a week, so my food palette needs to have all the basics ready to go. Over the years, I've created a number of inventory lists. Some are for times when you have no electricity. Others are for a basic 1200-calorie exchange menu.

The Bare Cupboard Basics list gives you the very cheapest sources for healthy eating. When my cupboard is bare, it actually has a lot of the basics: flour, sugar, eggs, beans, canned or frozen vegetables, and spices. In a pinch, I can cook two-weeks worth of meals from the cupboard. I buy these in large quantities when the price is right*, and use the list to check my inventory every week.

*The Price Is Right
If you know what the everyday price at your local low-cost grocery store is, you will always be able to tell if a sale price somewhere else is a bargain. More about that in a future post.

The Price Is Right Jan 25 - 31

2009-01-27T23:15:00.004-05:00

The Price is Right
Originally uploaded by darthdowney

The weekly sales flier at my alternative* grocery store usually provides me with the fresh vegetables and meat that I need for the week. I calculate the price per serving and select the least expensive alternative.

This week, the following prices were in effect:

Pork shoulder, bone-in (99¢ per pound)
Boneless, skinless chicken breast (1.69 per pound)
Ground beef, chuck (1.79 per pound)
Pork tenderloin, boneless (2.99 per pound)
Ground beef, sirloin (3.69 per pound)

The cost per 3 ounce serving for each of these was

35¢ Pork shoulder
43¢ Chicken
46¢ Ground chuck
87¢ Pork tenderloin
91¢ Ground sirloin

Cost per serving takes into account the loss of fat, water, and bones when you cook the raw meat. It's a better estimate of the actual cost of the protein in the meat than using the price per pound of raw meat.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Cost per 1/2 C serving

11¢ Apples (83¢ per pound)
15¢ Grapefruit (50¢ per pound)
28¢ Navel Oranges (50¢ per pound)
34¢ Tomatoes ($1.29 per pound)
37¢ Avocado ($1.00 per fruit)

Other good deals that I stocked up on were
Tomatoes, canned 23¢ per serving (.80 for 14.5 oz)
Ketchup .041 per ounce (.99 for 24 oz)
Mustard .049 per ounce (.99 for 20 oz)
Walnuts 3.99 per pound

*Save A Lot is consistently less expensive than my alternative grocery store if I'm just walking in and buying a list of items. But some of the items on my Simply Frugal shopping list aren't available there. And often, sale prices at the alternative store are less than the everyday price at Save A Lot.

My Bare Cupboard Basics inventory list includes the standard price for the item at Save A Lot. By knowing what I'd normally pay, I can quickly decide whether the sale price is actually saving me money. For example, at Save A Lot, I usually pay .056 per ounce for mustard. So I stocked up the pantry at the alternative store this week.

I shop at a regional chain called Meijers. No matter where you are, you can find an equivalent store. Usually a few pennies more per item than Save A Lot, but if you only buy the sale items, you can save a great deal.

Simply Frugal Inventory List

2009-01-26T13:26:00.012-05:00

All you ever need to make the simple or extremely frugal recipes.

Groceries
Catsup
Green beans
Green chilis
Lemon juice
Mayonnaise
Evaporated milk
Oil
Peanut butter
Pineapple
Raisins
Soy sauce
Tomato paste
Tomato sauce
Vinegar
Walnuts
Worcestershire sauce

Dairy
Bacon
Butter
Eggs
Milk

Baking
Banking powder
Baking soda
Cornmeal
Cornstarch
Flour, unbleached
Flour, whole wheat
Dry milk
Honey (or Molasses)
Lard
Rolled oats
Popcorn
Rice, brown
Salt
Sugar, white
Sugar, brown
Vanilla
Yeast

Beverages
Coffee
Tea

Fresh Vegetables
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery
Garlic
Ginger
Green pepper
Onion
Potato

Frozen
Orange juice
Green beans

Beans
Lentils
Navy beans
Pinto beans
Split peas

Simply Frugal -- Herbs and Spices

2009-01-25T08:54:00.004-05:00

Herb and Spices
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

The flavors you add to the basic foods can change a cornmeal concoction from Southern USA to Southern Italy with just a pinch of dried herbs.

If you live in a town with a food coop or a natural foods store, you can probably buy these in bulk at prices that are far less than the itty bitty jars on the shelf in the grocery store. If not, stock up first with cinnamon, chili powder, ginger, and vanilla extract, and add the rest as the budget allows.

Allspice
Basil
Bay leaf
Celery seed
Chili powder
Cinnamon
Cumin
Curry powder
Cloves
Dill weed
Ginger
Marjoram
Mustard, dry
Nutmeg
Oregano
Paprika
Peppercorns
Red pepper flakes
Sage
Tarragon
Thyme

Extremely Frugal recipes only use
Cinnamon, chili powder, and ginger.

Weekly Shopping

2009-01-24T13:39:00.000-05:00

Baseline Prices
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

As much as I'd like to go shopping once a month, I can't afford to.

If I skip three weeks out of four, I have skipped 3/4 of the bargains and sales that keep my pantry stocked. So, each week, I compare the sale prices in the store fliers to the list of Bare Cupboard Basics and make sure I stock up on items I'll need when they are on sale.

To help me, I've created not only a list of Bare Cupboard Basics, but a list of their normal prices as well. Once a year, I take my list with me when I shop, and update any prices that have changed over the year.

With that list in hand, I can immediately tell if a sale is a bargain, or just flashing advertising that will not actually help my budget.

For example, most of us know the price of milk. In my area, it's been hovering around $3.25 to $3.50 a gallon. When it goes on sale for $2.77, it's time to stock up. But if it only goes down to $3.10 I don't.

Caraway Apple Sauerkraut

2009-01-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

Caraway Apple Sauerkraut
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Sauerkraut	2 lb
Apple	1 C
Caraway seed	1 Tbsp

Drain sauerkraut and place in saucepan.
Slice apple very thin and add to pan.
Sprinkle caraway seeds over apples.
Add your choice of liquids to simmer it in.

Wine is traditional, but I usually use apple juice, or applejack. Water works just as well for cooking but doesn't give it the 'secret ingredient' flavor.

How To Shop SaveALot

2009-01-01T08:58:00.000-05:00

SaveALot is an extreme value grocery store. That means that they sell a carefully selected assortment of the items you purchase most frequently, in the most popular varieties and sizes.

For the 53 items on the Simply Frugal shopping list, SaveALot is hands-down the least expensive place to buy them if you can't wait for a sale at Meijer or Kroger.

SaveALot has a monthly, not weekly, flier with great deals that are better than their usual price. For meats and produce, those deals are only available for the first two weeks of the month. I usually shop SaveALot once a month, during the first couple weeks, to take advantage of these specials.

While I'm there, I stock up on the pantry items from the list below. Items on this list usually are not sale items at Meijer or Kroger, so there's no need to wait for a better price. The better price is here at SaveALot, every day.

Groceries
Catsup
Green beans, canned
Mayonnaise
Evaporated milk
Oil
Pineapple
Tomato paste
Tomato sauce
Worcestershire sauce

Baking
Banking powder
Baking soda
Cornstarch
Molasses
Lard
Rolled oats
Salt
Sugar, white
Sugar, brown
Vanilla

Beverages
Coffee
Tea

Fresh Vegetables
Cabbage
Carrots
Green pepper
Onion

Beans
Lentils
Navy beans
Pinto beans
Split peas
Rice

No Coupons!

2008-12-30T23:47:00.004-05:00

I have a budget of $30 per week to feed two people. I don't use coupons, but I routinely save 40-50% on my grocery receipt. It can be done with a little planning and some basic information about the normal price of things on your shopping list.

Next time you're buying something basic with a coupon, take a minute to compare the coupon price with the price of the store brand or value brand. Often, even with a coupon you're paying more than the regular price of the item.

But I seldom buy the store brand at the regular price. For example, elbow macaroni is 98¢ for a 1 pound box when I buy the store brand. When it's on sale, it's only 50¢ a box. So I only buy macaroni and spaghetti when they are available for 50¢ a pound. At that point, I stock the pantry with the amount I'll need until they go on sale again (about once every 6 weeks).

I also only buy milk when it's on sale. The week it's available for $2.00 a gallon, I buy enough for 2 weeks. I also have noticed that Meijer and Kroger usually have milk on sale at different times. So even if I need another gallon, I know where to pick it up at its lowest price.

Using the Simply Frugal inventory list, I've recorded the regular price and the sales price for each of the 53 items on the list. I can immediately tell whether the sale + coupon price of a brand-name item matches the usual sale price of these basics.

Every week, in the post The Price Is Right, I post the current sale prices at Meijer, SaveALot, and Kroger for southeast Michigan. I list pantry items to stock up on, along with the fresh fruits and vegetables, and meats. Check through the recipes to see how I've used those ingredients.

Extremely Frugal Vanilla Wafers

2008-12-28T05:00:00.000-05:00

Vanilla Wafers
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Sugar	1 C	1/2 C
Butter	1/2 C	1/4 C
Flour	1 1/3 C	1/2 C
Baking powder	3/4 tsp	3/8 tsp
Salt	pinch	pinch
Egg	1	1/2
Vanilla	1 tsp	1/2 tsp

Preheat oven to 350° F.
Cream sugar and butter.
Beat egg and vanilla together, then mix into butter mixture.
Stir flour, baking powder, and salt together, and incorporate slowly into batter.
Drop by teaspoonsful about 2 inches aprat on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 10-12 minutes until edges of cookies are brown. Remove to wire rack to cool.

Simple BBQ Sauce

2008-12-27T19:06:00.006-05:00

BBQ Chicken
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Onion	1 C
Garlic clove	2
Butter	3 Tbsp
Worcestershire sauce	2 Tbsp
Sugar	2 tsp
Chili powder	1 tsp
Dry mustard	1/2 tsp
Red pepper flakes	1/2 tsp
Vinegar	1 C
Coffee	1/4 C
Tomato sauce	1/2 C

Mince onion and garlic very fine. Combine with butter, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, chili powder, dry mustard, red pepper flakes, vinegar, and coffee.
Bring to a boil and stir in tomato sauce. Boil 5 more minutes.
Reserve 1/2 C sauce and use remainder to marinate meat 3 hours at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.
Baste with marinade while cooking.
Serve reserved sauce at the table.

Note: the cold coffee can be as strong as you like. Even if it's been left warming in the coffee pot all day, the intensity of the flavor will work well here. Instant espresso is a substitute for strong cold coffee.

Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

2008-12-26T05:00:00.000-05:00

Hard Boiled Eggs
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Ever wondered why you get that black stuff on your hardboiled eggs?

It comes from overcooking them.

Start the eggs in cold water, bring them to a boil, and time them carefully. After exactly 10 minutes, run cold water over them to stop the cooking process.

Same cooking times, but the egg on the left was cooled quickly in cold water. The egg on the right was allowed to cool by sitting on the counter at room temperature.

Salmon Quiche

2008-12-24T05:00:00.003-05:00

Salmon Quiche
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Ingredient	9 inch	Tart
Salmon	1 C	1/4 C
Swiss cheese, shredded	8 oz	2 oz
Onion, grated	2 tsp	1/2 tsp
Flour	1 Tbsp	1 tsp
Salt	1/4 tsp	pinch
Egg	3	1
Milk	1 C	1/4 C

Preheat oven to 450 F.
Grate onion, shred cheese.
Shred salmon.
Combine cheese, onion, flour and salt, mixing well.
Layer filling and cheese mixture in pastry shell.
Mix egg and milk, pour over cheese and filling.

Bake in 450 oven 15 minutes, then lower heat to 325 and bake 30 minutes longer, or until just firm in center. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

Coring The Apple

2008-12-24T05:00:00.002-05:00

Apple Core
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

A utensil that finds a lot of use in my kitchen is the melon baller. I primarily use it to remove the seeds and core of fresh pears and apples.