TIME is MONEY: Preparing Meatballs in BULK can save you money AND time!!

Preparing your ground beef in bulk does NOT need to end with plain crumbled ground beef!!   There are so many varieties to enjoy!
Consider making meatballs in bulk too!  Whether you are making them for spaghetti sauce OR stews, you will find it will save you time and energy!!

A couple of months ago, Savemart had a GREAT sale on hamburger at $1.69 a pound.  I went on a cooking binge and my life has been simplified because of it.  In one afternoon, my family’s meatballs needs were met for over 6 months!!   My freezer is FULL of all sorts of things already prepared and ready to go. 

When I typed my “Bulk” recipe for meatballs, it seemed overwhelming…so I thought I would post the “regular” recipe 1^st.    Even using the “regular” recipe gives me extra meatballs for the freezer…so don’t think you need to do “bulk” recipe.  Make it the size of how much ground beef you purchased!

Regular Recipe Meatballs
1 lb. ground beef

½ c. soft or ¼ c. dry bread crumbs

1 egg
2 Tbsp. finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
½ tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

1.       Heat oven 400 F.

2.       Large bowl combine all ingredients, mixing lightly but thoroughly.

3.       Line cookie sheets with aluminum foil

4.       Pinch off approx 1 inch pieces of beef mixture to make 30 meatballs.

5.       Bake 10-13 min. or until centers are no longer pink. 

BULK  Meatballs

5 lb. ground beef

2 ½ c. soft OR 1 ¼ c. dry bread crumbs

5 eggs

10 Tbsp. finely chopped onion

5 cloves garlic, minced

2 ½ salt

½ tsp. + 1/8 tsp. pepper

1.       Heat oven 400 F.

2.       Large bowl combine all ingredients, mixing lightly but thoroughly.

3.       Line cookie sheets with aluminum foil. 

4.       Pinch off approx 1 inch pieces of beef mixture to make meatballs.

 5.      Bake 10-13 min. or until centers are no longer pink. 

6.    Remove from pan with a fork and put into a bowl.  When meatballs are to desired amount, dump into labeled freezer ziplock baggies. 

  

7.  Clean up couldn't be EASIER!  Just roll up the aluminum foil...and throw it away.         

 

8.   Your next Stew or Spaghetti Sauce recipe is simplified beyond belief!!   

Happy Pinching Pennies...

TIME is MONEY: Cooking Ground Beef in BULK can be FAST & EASY!!

Time is a precious commodity.  The older my children get, the less time I seem to have.  I am always on the lookout for ways to be more efficient, it almost seems to give me MORE time in my day.  I’ve also learned that being efficient is a frugal way to live.  I spend less on food and/or products.

When I a young adult, prior to marriage and directly after, I found myself talking to my uncle who was a well-to-do stockbroker.  He was on many boards and managed millions of dollars.  (As a child it was interesting to talk with him.... and as an adult, it has become even more interesting!)  On the few occasions we talk about money, it is very apparent that we couldn’t be further apart on the budget spectrum.  My budget is pittance compared to his; he works with SO much more.  Yet, even during these conversations, I have learned so much about weighing what is worth spending the time to save money and what is not.   I plan on posting more ideas on time efficiency because I truly believe it a valuable thing.

I was recently at a “women’s education meeting” at church.  That month’s topic was on cooking meals in BULK.  This is something that I already do—but I was hoping to learn something new.  I was not disappointed.  The new trick is so fabulous, that I had to share.  It has saved not only time, but effort as well.

Buying meat in bulk, when it is on sale, can save you hundreds of dollars!!  (Meat is one of the most pricy items of your food budget!!)  I have always bought lots of meat when it is on sale and froze it for a later meal.  However in the last year, I have learned how much TIME I can save by cooking it in bulk as well.  Until this “women’s education meeting” I had been buying my ground beef and cooking all of it in a skillet on the range.  It was a long drawn out process that DID save me time over the long run….BUT I learned a new trick that required LESS effort to cook all that ground beef that I have been using for the last 6 months!! 

      What do you DO with all that precooked  crumbled ground beef?

1)      Taco meat for tacos/soups/ or anything requiring ground beef!!

2)      Sloppy Joes

3)      Beef Taquitos

HOW do you EASILY cook the ground beef?

1)      Purchase at least 5 lb. (or MORE) hamburger

2)      Preheat oven to 350 F

3)      Break into ping pong ball size LUMPS in a large glass casserole dish.  (You can add chopped onions & garlic if you desire)

4)      Cover with aluminum foil

5)      Bake at 350 F for approximately 35-45 minutes OR 400 F for approximately 35 min.
6)      Pull the pan out and DRAIN OFF the fatty liquid.  Rinse off meat.

What the ground beef looks like when you remove the aluminum foil after baking!

Make sure to drain off the fatty fluid to make your meals healthier...and that slight "sludgy" stuff!! (in the left corner of the picture)

The final product:  COOKED & drained ground beef....ready for your next meal to THROW in at your convenience!

7)      Using a potato masher or slotted spoon break up the hamburger.  If it is still a bit pink—put it back in the oven for 10 minutes or so.
8)      Use what meat you need for the current recipe, and bag the rest separately (for individual FUTURE meals) into Ziplock baggies.
9)      Squeeze out air.  Seal.
10)   Flatten out on counter.  Freeze flat.  When it is frozen, it stacks like books in your freezer.
11)   When it is time to use:  DEFOST: 45 seconds in the microwave.  Flip.  Microwave 45 seconds more.  Flip.  Microwave 30 seconds and use in your desired recipe.

Happy Stretching Pennies...

Couscous: Another Inexpensive Ingredient to Stretch Your Food Budget!

Several months ago, our family was treated to a French “fine dining” experience.  It was exquisite!  On that particular night, we were served couscous as a side dish.  My family adored it AND they loved saying it!!

This week I was trying a new salmon recipe and they suggested serving couscous as a side dish.  I decided to go out on a limb and try cooking it.  (I have to admit it helped knowing what it was supposed to look and taste like in order to give me the courage to try it.)  I didn’t want to buy too much in case it didn’t go well, so I went to Winco and bought a small bag’s worth in their bulk section.  I was surprised to learn how inexpensive it was!!  Since I wasn’t familiar with HOW to cook it, I looked it up on www.allrecipes.com and scrolled through their recipes until I came across one where I already had the spices at home.  After reading the instructions, I was struck at how ridiculously EASY and FAST it was to prepare!!

This is my small bag of UNCOOKED Couscous....It more than doubles in size later!
(Its a bit like rice, but in the shape of little balls)
Basically add spices to the water.  Boil.  Add couscous and remove from heat and wait 5 minutes.  Easy huh?

The more I thought about it, each cultural ethnic group seems to have their own inexpensive ingredients that can be made into hundreds of exquisite dishes!!  IF I were to incorporate all the different kinds of inexpensive ways to cook from lots of different cultures—not only would we have a lot of variety in our diet, but our cultural awareness would grow!!

In one of my favorite organizational books of all time, “Confessions of an Organized Housewife” by Denise Schofield she has a section on meal planning and preparation.   I have found her advice to be true and I have adopted it as MY philosophy. 

Meals should fulfill 4 goals:

1.       Nutritious
2.       Fit into an established budget
3.       Please the family
4.       Fit into your time & energy limits

This idea of inexpensive ingredients can go a long way into stretching a food budget.  I use rice, beans, potatoes, bread, and pasta as “fillers”.  In other words, I use these inexpensive ingredients in combination with other things, so that the more expensive items will go farther and last longer!!

Back to this culturally diverse idea….I know there are plenty of cultures out there that I don’t know much about--particularly about their food.  Here's a list to get your thoughts stewing.  So this is NOT an exhaustive list.  It is more like the tip of the iceberg of possibilities.

·         Italy-- pasta & bread

·         Ireland-- Potatoes

·         France-- Couscous

·         Oriental—Rice

·         Hispanic—Rice & Beans

I personally have a large collection of recipes using rice, beans, potatoes, and pasta….I am excited to add couscous to the list of inexpensive ingredients to make thousands of dishes.  I wonder how many different ways there are to cook it….

I wonder what other cultures use for inexpensive dishes….I’ve noticed there have been a few people from other countries look at my blog.  I am really hoping they will leave a comment or two.  I would love to learn more!!

Happy stretching pennies...

Preschool for FREE...OR on a budget

Preschool can be expensive.  A friend of mine went “hunting” for a preschool for her son for this next school year.  I was amazed at the monthly rates she encountered.  They ranged from $145-$250. WOW!!

 There are other options. 

1.       Check to see if you are zoned for an Even Start Preschool OR Early Childhood Development Preschool.  They are typically free.  (We have 2 of these in our town.)  My 2 older children attended these programs and I was really impressed with what they did. 

2.       If your district doesn’t have a free Early Childhood Development program in your neighborhood, consider checking out an “Early childhood Development Center” for your entire city.  There are 2 ways to get into this type of program.  Most of their students are where the kids are behind their peers in 2 areas such as emotional, physical or speech.  They are required to have a peer model for every so many students.  A “peer model” is a child who is above average for their peer group, particularly in speech.  Before they will accept a peer model, they will TEST your child to see if they are an eligible candidate.  In our town, the program is superb and those spots are quickly filled.  A friend of mine, whose child is in the program, is a big fan.  They even have picked up her children on the preschool school bus to bring them to preschool.

3.       If these first 2 options do not fit your needs, or interests…consider starting a “Fun School” with your friends.

My 3^rd child is my only child at home now and I felt strongly that he needed MORE academic and social interaction.  I had been working on things with him individually, but I really felt like he needed to have a classroom-like setting to learn with his peers.  Last summer, I started inquiring which of my friends were interested in creating a “Fun School”.  I wanted to have stability or routines in my own life….so I was looking for people who were OK with an “assigned day”.  I feel lucky that I had 2 friends who were totally on board with the weekly assigned day for preschool at their house—with the mother being the teacher for that day.  I truly have enjoyed teaching the boys their alphabet (and sounds of the letters), #’s, colors, and basic science principals.

 I’ll be honest and say that I attempted doing a “Fun School” with my daughter 5 years ago for the year before she started the Early Development Preschool.  It was intimidating and I felt inadequate.  I didn’t have the resources and I had SO much going on in my personal life that researching for a weekly lesson was too much for me.  (My husband was in graduate school, while working full time and my newborn son had some MAJOR medical issues at the time.)  I ended up quitting the “Fun School” half way through the year, feeling terrible for backing out on my friends—even if it was the best situation for me.

Hindsight is always 20/20 and I wish I had had the resources I have now…back then.  Thus, this is the background for this post about these great resources that I use to put together my weekly preschool lesson.  It has made planning fun…and easy.

Here are my favorite PRESCHOOL websites:

www.everythingpreschool.com

www.preschoolpalace.org

www.coloringcastle.com

www.learningplanet.com

www.preschoolexpress.com

www.first-school.ws

www.schoolsparks.com

www.handwritingworksheets.com

www.kidslearningstation.com

Happy Stretching Pennies...AND educating your cute preschoolers!

Saving Money on your Sewer Bill...

My kids are responsible for rinsing and loading the dishwasher every night, alternating turns.  One evening, as my son was doing his job, my husband noticed the water was turned on pretty high.  He stopped my son to talk about conserving water and our water bill, to help him see the wisdom in the water resembling a “trickle” as he scrubbed the dishes before the dishwasher. 

Water Conservation: "The trickle"

This conversation went even further as he explained HOW the sewer bill is calculated in connection to the water bill.  (I love listening to my "math teacher" husband explain the practicality of math!!)

I found myself riveted, as I have wondered for years HOW they calculated that bill.  It was an “Ah-Ha” moment for me.

HOW is your sewer bill calculated?

This notice arrived on our water bill the month after this conversation took place....what great timing, huh?

In the winter, you are NOT in an “extra water consumption” mode….such as watering lawns, gardens, washing your car or house, using slip & slides, filling kiddie pools, or having your kids run through the sprinklers.  In the winter, you are in a “basic water needs” usage time.  So for a certain chunk of time in the winter they are measuring your water usage that comes out of your faucet.   (For showers, cooking, toilet needs, washing hands, and laundry.)  So when winter is done, they have a pretty accurate idea of how much water is actually going down the drain heading off to the sewer!!  The charge of this calculation is reflected on your bill throughout the year.

So those extra long WARM showers that I am inclined to take in the winter, will just end up costing more ALL year long!!  (This information, in the back of my mind, helps keep that “simple pleasure” under control-- beyond the cost of electricity to heat the water!!)

Happy Stretching Pennies….

Cheaper Drinks and Food at the Airport...

I married a man who is the youngest of 9 children.  Several years ago, we started a new “tradition”.  Whenever one of my sisters-in-law turn 50 years old we have a 3 day/2 nights “Girl’s Retreat”.  We happen to live far away from the ‘main cluster’ of family….soooo….in order for me to attend, I must FLY to the retreat.

Luckily, the timing of this little “Retreat” is around tax return time in order to assist in the purchasing of a plane ticket.  (This month was the 4^th annual party.)  We try and get the least expensive plane ticket within the time frame I can get away…..(though I would imagine most people already do this.)  This is NO exception.  I’ve gone the roundabout way and have a silly layover in an illogical place instead of a direct flight.

As I sit in the airport, I am flabbergasted at the prices of things.  I saw a small breakfast menu item at a café that cost as much as any nice sit-down restaurant!   Drink prices also dumbfounded me.  They do NOT need to be double/triple the price of a vending machine!  It’s like they KNOW you are “trapped” and at the mercy of their prices!  I’m here to say you are NOT!  Food and drinks while flying do NOT need to break the bank.  In fact, a simple “meal” can be done for less than $1 WITH a little planning.

Drinks are the easiest to solve.  No.  I am not suggesting that you only drink from the drinking fountain!!  I remember the 1^st time I flew after 9/11.  I brought a *new* plastic water bottle with me.  I wasn’t familiar with the new security measures.  I had to either throw it away or drink it.  Well…as you can guess: I drank it.  When we finally reached altitude and the seat belt sign came off, I was the 1^st in line for the bathroom!!  I have since learned to bring an EMPTY water bottle with me. 

After I make it past security, I fill it up at the nearest drinking fountain—then drink when I feel like it.  (Who wants to pay $2-$3 for only ONE water bottle????  That’s insanity!)  Drinking only water can get really old.  The one water bottle can be a solve-all.  Think of it as your TOOL to a variety of drinks.  A little forethought goes a long way. 

 

I bring a handful of my favorite ‘single serving flavors’ from my local grocery store….OR from my local dollar store.  (Most times you will pay more for these type items at the grocery store…so usually I opt for the dollar store.) 

This way no matter what you’re drinking, it is 10 cents or less!!

Meals are a bit trickier.  I’m not a miracle worker.  I can’t produce a ”fresh” home cooked meal in an airport.  But… I can suggest a way to keep your belly satisfied for under a dollar until you get to your destination.  What’s something you can easily get in the airport for FREE?  HOT WATER!!  Any little café or little restaurant has a coffee pot filled with hot water or has a hot water spicket. 

The red handle is the hot water spicket at the cafe inside the airport I asked to use.

Consider packing along a “Cup o’ Noodles”.

   When you are hungry, bring it to a little café and ask them to fill it up with hot water.  They will gladly do it.  Then go find yourself a seat.  By the time you sit down, your soup will be ready to eat!! 

Think about it….it already comes with a “bowl” or “cup” and finding a plastic utensil isn’t too hard.  Ask for one at the café you just got the hot water from!  Wala…dinner for under $1 at the airport!

Ponder this idea and let me know if you can think of any other “Add Hot Water” meals to my list….

Happy Stretching Pennies….

Update February 2013: I attended another Girl's retreat...and this time I learned that you can enjoy a cup of noodles while in the air!! 

I just asked the stewardess if she would fill it up with hot water....and I enjoyed a nice easy dinner while on a flight!!

Vacation Planning on a LOW Budget!

We have been planning our family vacation.  Money seems to always be in short supply, but this school  year it seems particularly tight.  (We’ve had one surgery, one car repair, and replaced one washing machine….all while my husband’s school district hasn’t decided what the teacher’s salary will be for THIS year….and this year is more than half over!  Yes.  If they decide to cut our pay, we will have to “give them back money”.  Yikes.)

Anyway…family vacations are important to us.  We aren’t going to let a lack of funds deter us from have a lot of fun as a family!!

HOW do you select a vacation that is budget friendly? 

1.       The 1^st thing you should think of is: WHERE?  I would recommend looking around at unique locations within 2-4 hours of driving distance from your home.  This will greatly aid in keeping costs down.  Do you have National Parks or State Parks in the area?  Museums?  Concerts?  Pageants?  Summer Festivals?  You can incorporate ALL of these into your summer vacations!  I have done a couple of posts on this.  Check them out!

Community Summer Concerts for FREE

University Events for FREE

2.       The 2^nd things you should think of is: HOW MUCH TIME AWAY?  The shorter the vacation, the cheaper it is.  Try keeping your vacations to 2-3 nights away from home.  You might be surprised to see how much you can pack in such a short time!  OR…you might be surprised to find out how many vacations you can have in one summer when they are shorter.  (Try several short vacations instead of one long one!)

The cheapest way to vacation is to camp.  However, I realize there are LOTS of people out there who are NOT campers.  This does NOT mean you are doomed to expensive vacations!!  Check rest stops and trucker gas stations to find coupons for motel/hotels.  Usually Monday-Thursdays are the best rates.   Check for deals online.  Even better, contact the university near your vacation location and see if they are renting out their empty dorm rooms and arrange for your family to have accommodations on campus!!  (I can’t think of a better way to promote going to college to your kids!!)

When you choose a place close to home, you can also “pretend” that your home is a rented “cabin”.  My kids are BIG fan of this.  We tell our friends we are going out of town.  All “normal home business” is STOPPED during the “rental” of our own home.  (We are already paying “rent” for the building…it is NO extra lodging cost on top of our mortgage!)  We turn off all phones, don’t answer doors, arrange to have our mail stopped at the post office (so there won’t be a temptation to take care of business) and we don’t check email!  We do not have chores.  We don’t do laundry.  Remember we are on vacation!  All “normal” home type activities are ceased!  We stay up late and watch movies, we explore our town like tourists- doing things we normal term “too expensive”.   (A great feature is this practice is you have everything you need at your fingertips!!  There is NO forgeting anything!)   My best “example” of how much my kids like this….Once we had to go to the store to get milk during one of these “pretend rentals”.  We ended up running into someone we knew.  My children looked at them and promptly said, “You can’t see us!!  We are on VACATION at our cabin!!  You need to pretend we are NOT here!”  Because our behavior is distinctly different, my children can FEEL when it is “life” and when it is “vacation”.

This year we will be going to a nearby National Park approximately 2 ½ hours away.  We have reservations to camp nearby, therefore keeping costs down.  We will bring plenty of food from home.  We are camping type of family, so we have all the gear to comfortably sleep AND cook gourmet food so the cost should be minimal.  There is plenty to do and see.  Sometimes the most “simple” fun is the most memorable.

Happy Stretching Pennies....

P.S.  Someday I will do a post on the virtues of family camping and how to make it a pleasurable experience.....