Thrify Thursday... it's so meaty!

So it seems that there has been some great sales on meat recently. We eat much more meat in the winter than in the summer. So I thought it fitting for this week.

Due to the overwhelming response to my suggestion of carpooling to BuyLow once a month... (NOT!) I have not ventured down there on my own, so I can't give feedback on what's available through that avenue.
(It seems that my suggestions are lame-o... so I'm not making any more 'group efforts' to support each other)

The thing is, it seems like in order to get the best price, you should by in bulk. I like to freeze meat and use it later. But here are some of MY obstacles in this particular area...

1. Freezer space
Which we were able to solve this issue with an extra freezer I found on KSL.com. I highly recommend looking there before buying new... but I believe that with EVERYTHING! KSL.com is my best friend!

2. Rotating
I get so mad when I find meat at the bottom of my freezer covered in 'freezer burn'. I feel like I'm literally throwing my money in the trash... and I am! What good is saving money if I'm throwing it away in 8-10 months? Argh!

3. I need it when I need it
So I'm not the biggest 'planner'. I really try... and I go through times when I'm better. BUT... sometimes I want to make dinner and there is "no way in hell" the meat in my freezer will thaw in time for me to use it... probably not even for tomorrow. So unless it's Sunday (when I know I'll use a roast) I almost always forget to pull meat out of my freezer. I hate defrosting things in my microwave, I always get nasty edges.

4. Freezer Burn
Now I know that there are ways to avoid it. I use the name brand freezer bags, I even have a vacuum system. I'm just too lazy to open up the meat (which makes me gag) make the little sealed pouches, then re-seal them and label them. I'll be honest... unless I need to divide it up, (hamburger) then I want to throw it in the freezer and be done with it. I'm sure I could fix that if I would just not be lazy.

So those are my gripes about storing meat. Here are my positive thoughts on it...

1. Convenience
It is so nice to have meat on hand for Sunday. I'm married to a 'meat-n-potatoes' man, and he appreciates a roast. If I pull it out of the freezer in time, roasts are easy to throw in a crockpot and not think about. Also, if we go a week without shopping, or times get lean... having meat in the freezer is a nice security blanket.

2. The bigger, the cheaper
Buying meat in bulk significantly lowers the cost of it! Growing up, Mike's family would buy a slaughtered cow every year... someplace in So. Utah... and drive down to pick up the meat. Every night, Mike's Mom would pull a pound or two of hamburger from the freezer and make dinner out of it. Sometimes it was a simple dinner, other times there were more trimmings... but that was dinner.
We bought 1/2 and elk last year (farm-raised, corn fed) and it fed us for months and months. Much longer than I expected.

3. The meat from the co-op is great!
I have been impressed with the quality of meat we have gotten from the food co-op. I can plan on using that each month, and it really supplements our food budget.

So... there's my beef! (hee, hee) Smith's and Albertson's have good specials about once a month. They advertise specials every week, but be careful... they aren't always good sales. Macey's is usually the best place for meat sales.
I personally load up on the drumsticks when they go on sale. I bought two packages last week... they run about 3 dollars a package when they are on sale for $0.99 (or less) a pound. Kraft bbq sauces go on sale for 10/$10 at Albertson's all the time. Here's my recipe for drumsticks... (my kids LOVE these)

Drumsticks!
pkg. of drumsticks, 1 or 2
water
4 cloves garlic, mashed (or garlic powder)
2 Tbsp. salt (or use garlic salt and forget the garlic)
bbq sauce

defrost meat. fill stock pot with water, salt and garlic. put in your meat, and let boil for about 15 minutes. drain and place meat in the crockpot. cover in bbq sauce and turn to low. let them cook for at least 1 hour. they will fall off the bone, and the skins are easy to pull off. (you can pull off the skins before you boil them, but it's harder, and takes more time)

That feeds my family of 6 with leftovers for Mike's lunch the next day. Combine it with some potato pearls and a canned veggie... that's a good meal for about $1 per person.

So what are your thoughts, advise, or questions on freezing and storing meat? Have you got any recipes to share? (If you're Mormon... I know you've at least attempted to make a roast one Sunday!)

I've been meaning to post

I'm here! I've been meaning to post for a while, but it just hasn't happened. Sherian you said you were going to start baking bread all winter . . . so I thought I'd share.

I'm honestly not good at baking the traditional bread-- I love it, I just never get around to doing it. Although I have a recipe I like for french bread. It is really simple and it makes two regular loaves or three small loaves (we usually share with some nice neighbors). See below for the French Bread Recipe.

But, the info I was going to share today is about the bread store. It is located in American Fork. Right off the AF Main street Exit. You turn onto State Street as if you were heading into Lehi and the Sara Lee Bread Store is right there on the corner (across from the Olive Garden). Anyway, I've been buying bread there for atleast a year or so. I buy Sara Lee, but they also have Grandma Sycamore and other kinds (not sure exactly because I always get the same thing). The bread I buy is just $1.00 a loaf, and when you spend $10.00 you get a free item from a special rack (sometimes cookies, buns, or just more bread). So I usually come home with 10-11 loaves of bread and stick all but one in my freezer outside. Some people have wondered if freezing the bread dries it out more. And it might, but we go through bread so fast I never have noticed. I usually have to only buy bread once a month and I love just going to the freezer when in need instead of having to run to the store just for bread.

I also am not good about using the end pieces, my kids don't like them and honestly if I'm going to have a sandwich I would rather use the big pieces too. So, I stick the ends in a large bowl in the cupboard and keep them there till they dry out (a week or so). Then I stick them in a freezer bag and pull them out when I need bread crumbs to top a casserole or something. I then usually stick the bread in the blender with some salt, pepper, onion salt, and whatever else I think it needs . . . and wala . . . homemade bread crumbs.

Anyway, just some thoughts on bread.
Here is the french bread recipe.

French Bread

2 packages dry yeast (or about 4 1/2 tsp yeast)
2-1/2 cups warm water
1 tsp. sugar
6 cups all purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp. salt
Make sure water temperature is 110 to 115 degrees F. (An oven thermometer is a good investment.) Place water in a large bowl and sprinkle with yeast and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes until yeast dissolves and starts to bubble. Stir in 2 cups flour and salt. Cover and let rise for 1/2 hour.

Then gradually stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes. (Knead by pressing on the dough, then folding over and pressing with the heel of your hand.) Then clean the large mixing bowl, grease it with solid shortening, and place the dough in the bowl. Turn it in the bowl so the dough is greased (this prevents the top from cracking as it rises).

Cover the dough and let rise at room temperature for about 2-1/2 hours, until doubled in bulk. With your fist, punch down the dough. Divide in half and place one half on a lightly floured surface.

Using a rolling pin, roll dough to a 12x6" rectangle. Starting with the 12" side, roll up tightly. Seal seams and edges by pinching. Repeat with remaining dough.

Grease a cookie sheet and sprinkle with cornmeal. Place loaves on prepared sheet. Cover and let rise at room temperature until doubled, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray the loaves with a bit of water, then using a blade, made a few slashes across the top of each loaf. Bake at 425 degrees F for 25-30 minutes until loaves are golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet and let cool on wire rack.

Sharing the methods to our madness

So I just picked up a book at Costco. It is my favorite resource on Food Storage thus far. I got home... read the book... then found out she has a blog. Check it out HERE!! The name of the book is "I can't believe it's Food Storage" Cheesy... I know.

If you notice, I've listed a bunch of more websites and resources in the lists on the right. If you've got a minute, they are worth snooping around.

FYI- I let my Deals to Meals subscription expire. I could only go three months without it! I can't believe the difference it makes, just less work for me. I know we all have our own methods, but I would love to hear how people make their shopping lists. Weekly? Monthly? I mean before you go to the store, what do you do?

____________________________________________________________________
My method... I'll just put it all out there!

I budget $100 a week... that includes cleaners, socks, household items, kids needs... everything. I get it in cash (that way I can't overspend... when it's gone it's gone)
I start with the Grocery Guru for my weekly meal planning. I mix in my own standard meals... spaghetti, mac n' cheese... things my kids want to eat, and things to try and rotate our storage.
I have a separate Food Storage budget... it ranges around $300 a month. (I can usually carry over some from the weekly budget... depends on the week.) I know that sounds crazy, but I've been trying to build up my supply of things like laundry and dish washing detergent. Batteries, light bulbs... and cough/cold medicines and pain reliever. It adds up so fast!
The Macey's case lot sale is a separate things too. We spend around $200-$300.

Hopefully that's not too "out there". I really have no idea what other families spend on food, I'm sure it varies quite a bit. I could be high... I could be low... I really don't know. Of course there are those shopping trips that turn into an embarrassing and expensive load of non-essentials, holiday crap, and other fluff. But I try to do my best. (Don't we all?)
My sister is an amazing example to me of frugality. She is really good at "only getting what she needs". I, on the other hand, will admit to a problem with spending. I have gotten better every year, but my shopping trips are sometimes more emotionally driven than they should be.
Giving up my cards and moving to a 'cash only' method has worked wonders. I had to be the one to give up the cards though, if it had be suggested by my husband I would have never done it! When I put the groceries on a card, I don't realize how much I'm spending week-to-week.
I would love to hear what other people do, or how they make it work. I think we can all help each other and give ideas. No judging!

Loves!

Freeze Dried and Powdered Items

I know that Thrifty Thursday wouldn't be until tomorrow... but I was at Wal-Mart in SS last night and saw that some of the freeze-dried food cans were on sale. (#10 cans) Unfortunately not all of them are... but some. They are up to $2.12 off, per can. The only other time I've seen this stuff on sale is at Macey's case lot sale.
I got the apple slices and butter. Did you know you can buy and use butter like that? and they have margarine too!
I know I'll use the apples... apple crisp :) But I'm curious to know what other people use the fruits and vegetables in? I would love some recipes to incorporate these types of things. I have really been hesitant of storing dried fruits and veggies... I'm just not sure how we would use them.
I'm a fan of powdered eggs, and they're pretty easy to rotate, you add them to any baking recipe that calls for eggs. (they're less messy too!) You can also get just egg whites.
So if you need to store butter, eggs (I don't think the eggs are on sale), honey, fruits and veggies, and soups. Check out the Food Storage isle! (oddly located in the back by the painting and automotive stuff... strange!) A little of this stuff goes a really long way... it takes me six months to use my can of eggs.

Happy Gathering, (and fall break)
Sherian

Loadable Coupons

Do you know about loadable coupons??? They are pretty awesome. What you do is go to http://shortcuts.com and/or http://cellfire.com and register your preffered shopping cards for the grocery stores then pick the coupons to load. What I love about this is that you don't have to use ink to print and you can use manufacturer coupons right on top of these so alot of times you have double the amount taken off. It hasn't taken off the coupon every single time but if I had pursued it with shortcuts by sending them a copy of my receipt then I think they would have fixed it. The times that it did work were pretty cool, like the time I had a $2/1 coupon for huggies and I also had a loadable for $2/1. I got $4 off a small pack of diapers. Check it out and let me know if you have any questions about it.

Awesome Deals

I found a new blog that has the best deals. It is called www.myfrugaladventures.blogspot.com and she updates all day long. I still love love love www.savvyshopperdeals.com for my groceries and I look at www.beingfrugalisfabulous.com daily too. I am now pretty much addicted to coupons and deals. I never could have imagined getting this into it but it is exciting to me, shows you how boring my life is I guess. I am not a huge fan of printable coupons because of all the ink they suck up but I do print them sometimes, usually if they are $1 or more. I figure if I was allowed to print dollar bills I am sure I would right? I will try to do better at letting you all know where I find deals. We recently had to move our food storage to a bigger room so I guess these deals I am getting are paying off. Have fun and share your deals here too.

It's what we make of it!

So things have been quiet around here... for all I know I'm the only one reading and posting anymore! (Except for maybe Sally... "hi Sally!")

I wanted to give a shout out to everyone who may follow this blog.... if anyone follows. Don't get me wrong, I know better than anyone how crazy and hectic life gets. Maybe we are all just caught up in the school year, maybe we are having personal or family drama, maybe... well... maybe we just don't have the time or energy to think about food storage and coupon clipping right now.
Regardless, I wanted to challenge everyone to post or contribute in any way over the next week or two. Even something as small as a comment like... "I agree" or maybe "Thanks for the info". I think that a little encouragement can go a long way.
EVERYONE has something to share! I don't want anyone to be afraid of contributing. Or ask a question! When the blog first started, people asked questions on how to store things like flour and brown sugar. I learned a lot and got great ideas! There are no wrong ways to gather food storage or shop for food. And it doesn't even have to be food!
(I like to have all my Christmas shopping done by Halloween, and there are great deals to be had before the mad rush of the holiday shopping begins... I could always share that! But if you are my friend/neighbor... could you forget the bargain and low price of your gift when I bring it over? thanks!)
I know people have been canning... share your bottling triumphs! Inspire us with your achievements! How about some recipes using food storage? (Thanks Mel for yours!) As the days get colder, my potato pearls, rice, noodles and even wheat look more and more appealing! I actually think about making bread from October through March!
(Speaking of bread... my bread maker died :( Does anyone have a type/brand they recommend?)
So I guess I'm saying... BRING IT! Don't be shy. This blog is what we make of it. I can contribute regularly, but nobody wants to hear from me that often... I promise.

In taking on my own challenge, I will commit to what I'll call 'Thrifty Thursday's' Meaning each Thursday I will post something... anything... on my weekly food storage/money saving experiences. And since it's almost midnight... I'm counting my Co-op info for this week. The meat this month is meat I already buy and I know I can easily incorporate into my recipes. I'm excited to see what fruits and vegetables I get. (See what I mean... that was easy!)

Happy Gathering!

Sherian

(PS- If you would like to contribute and have not received an invite, please leave your email address. If you want me to post it for you... send it to gatheringgrub at hotmail dot com.)

Co-op this month

I know it's late notice... but food co-op deadline is tomorrow. The meat this month is:

1lb. lean ground beef
1lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast
2lbs. pork loin roast (center cut)
4 (4 oz) cubed steaks

Awesome meat this month! You still get your fruits, veggies, bread, and lentils. For $23... hard to beat that!
You can register and order online {HERE}

Sherian