Bonita, I agree with you in saving time in the kitchen. Especially, for two reasons: one is to be frugal, which allows me the benefit of being creative with my time and the way I go about things to save money. The other reason is because of my physical pain restricting me from standing up for too long, or picking up heavy jars or pans, for example. Sam 🌷
Bought some grass fed lean ground beef at Walmart reduced 1/2 price it was 1 pound . I sautéed fresh minced garlic then I added it to the bowl of ground beef added Italian seasoning, finely chopped onion, Italian bread crumbs, 1 egg yolk, 3 Tbsp milk,salt ,pepper,powdered onion combine all and made 34 small meatballs & made spaghetti. We have plenty of meatballs left for another meal for tomorrow dinner.
When I have leftover tomato paste from the can I will freeze it in ice cube trays in one tablespoon portions. When frozen I pop them out and put them in a zip bag and stick them back in the freezer so when a recipe calls for tomato paste. I pop out what I need
@PenniestoDollars I do keep one off to the side to use for that purpose but it's just a regular white plastic Ice Cube tray. I do have a dishwasher that I use regularly that gets those really clean so I could actually use it later for ice cubes if I needed to but I have a stack of them so I just keep that one for the tomato paste
I cant wait to get my big freezer so I can do freezer meal prep like this too. I vote smarter not lazier. We make a lot of heat and eat meals though. It just makes the week nicer. We cook most at home. Eating out is shockingly expensive for what you get. I am terrible about measuring hahaha. Thanks for all the tips and tricks. Enjoyed my visit.
I use my top cabinet above my fridge as one of my overflow pantry areas and I can only access it by a 2-3 step ladder as I am only 5 foot 4 inches tall
When I hosted a holiday meal, well in advance I would consider dinner the night before a d food for before. Often this resulted in making then portioning a big pot of chili, spaghetti sauce, freezer meal type casseroles, a cooked meat loaf (and sliced with slices separated by 2 pieces of waxed paper) sliced fruit breads and muffins, etc... These can be made even before Halloween; November works.
I had a long career which center was work. Now retired it was quite an adjustment. I grew up never had measuring cups or spoons. Now have quite a few. I now enjoy coming up with new recipes. I had leftover hot dogs and sauerkraut and rice cooked in chicken broth. Small amounts of each. My friend was a widow in early 30s with 3 children 2 still in diapers. She is an expert on making affordable meals. I told her what I had and she told me to cut up the hot dogs and combine everything and heat it up. Was delicious 😋 I have made it purposely since. While working meals were slapped together with minimal effort. Now I actually plan meals. A lot healthier when gluten-free. Be careful as a senior not monitoring something on the stove. Last week decided to boil up my extra chicken eggs. Put on stove and went outside to do some things forgetting the eggs. Smelling a strange smell my pan burned up and eggs burst. What a mess! Was able to save the pan 😂. Never again....
* I bake hard shell squash whole, like pumpkin or turban squash, to save time and spare my hands. Then, when they're sone, I peel out the flesh and boil the skin and seeds for broth. ** I season dry beans as I would for soup and use the leftover broth for soups. *** We drink the cooking water when I boil beets, for example. This isn't new, I know, because my dad used to drink "pot likker," but I just started doing it. You've encouraged me to start cooking for the holidays now!
@@PenniestoDollars I learned this about beets from my SIL who makes her version of borscht from the cooking water. I learned how wonderful beets are when I moved to my farm!
When we were doing workplace and other potluck type buffet meals, I would go through my pantry seeking the foods we really didnt prefer, shouldn't be eating due to specified or personally decided health reasons, stuff about to date out, and the stuff there was "a lot of". Then I would try to work those items into what we took.
Hi, I like to make the cookies and roll them up in a long tube shape. I thaw for a short bit or can thaw part way in the microwave and slice cookies like the store kind that are ready to bake. I think I am going to do half batches because we don’t eat as many these days.
The recipe I used: 3/4 c butter 1 1/4 c brown sugar 1 egg 1/3 c milk 1 1/2 t vanilla 3 c quick oats 1 c flour 1/2 t baking soda 1/2 t salt 1/4 t cinnamon And then I just added raisins
Bonita, I agree with you in saving time in the kitchen.
Especially, for two reasons: one is to be frugal, which allows me the benefit of being creative with my time and the way I go about things to save money. The other reason is because of my physical pain restricting me from standing up for too long, or picking up heavy jars or pans, for example.
Sam 🌷
I totally can identify with everything you just said!
@ 🤗
We have a “special bond”, lol.
Hoping your pain today is manageable.
This cold wet humid weather is not good for me. 😔
I have had a lot of problems with my arthritis in my thumbs and wrists lately.
Using the other half of the foam meat tray is a great idea. Never thought of that 😊
I hadn’t either until I did. So simple!
@PenniestoDollars 👍
I love that cute little footstool
@@nancyanne5337 It is sturdy and is so handy!
@@PenniestoDollars nice
Premade cookies, great idea!!
💜
@@PenniestoDollars 👍
Bought some grass fed lean ground beef at Walmart reduced 1/2 price it was 1 pound . I sautéed fresh minced garlic then I added it to the bowl of ground beef added Italian seasoning, finely chopped onion, Italian bread crumbs, 1 egg yolk, 3 Tbsp milk,salt ,pepper,powdered onion combine all and made 34 small meatballs & made spaghetti. We have plenty of meatballs left for another meal for tomorrow dinner.
Yum!!
When I have leftover tomato paste from the can I will freeze it in ice cube trays in one tablespoon portions. When frozen I pop them out and put them in a zip bag and stick them back in the freezer so when a recipe calls for tomato paste. I pop out what I need
@@nancyanne5337
Do you keep a special ice cube tray just for things like that?
@PenniestoDollars I do keep one off to the side to use for that purpose but it's just a regular white plastic Ice Cube tray. I do have a dishwasher that I use regularly that gets those really clean so I could actually use it later for ice cubes if I needed to but I have a stack of them so I just keep that one for the tomato paste
I cant wait to get my big freezer so I can do freezer meal prep like this too. I vote smarter not lazier. We make a lot of heat and eat meals though. It just makes the week nicer. We cook most at home. Eating out is shockingly expensive for what you get. I am terrible about measuring hahaha. Thanks for all the tips and tricks. Enjoyed my visit.
Oh, I hope you get your freezer soon! It helps so much!
Great tips! Thanks ❤
Thank you, Debbie!
As you enjoy your individual soup add veggies you have to make each soup meals different. Dollars General $1 aisle is so economical
👍
I use my top cabinet above my fridge as one of my overflow pantry areas and I can only access it by a 2-3 step ladder as I am only 5 foot 4 inches tall
@@nancyanne5337 Thanks for responding to that question!
@@PenniestoDollars absolutely!
I still use bread sacks for storing and freezing.Love your concept Bonita.
They work great for free!!
When I hosted a holiday meal, well in advance I would consider dinner the night before a d food for before. Often this resulted in making then portioning a big pot of chili, spaghetti sauce, freezer meal type casseroles, a cooked meat loaf (and sliced with slices separated by 2 pieces of waxed paper) sliced fruit breads and muffins, etc... These can be made even before Halloween; November works.
That makes it so much easier when the time comes! Cooks should be able to relax and enjoy the holiday as well!
I had a long career which center was work. Now retired it was quite an adjustment. I grew up never had measuring cups or spoons. Now have quite a few. I now enjoy coming up with new recipes. I had leftover hot dogs and sauerkraut and rice cooked in chicken broth. Small amounts of each. My friend was a widow in early 30s with 3 children 2 still in diapers. She is an expert on making affordable meals. I told her what I had and she told me to cut up the hot dogs and combine everything and heat it up. Was delicious 😋 I have made it purposely since. While working meals were slapped together with minimal effort. Now I actually plan meals. A lot healthier when gluten-free. Be careful as a senior not monitoring something on the stove. Last week decided to boil up my extra chicken eggs. Put on stove and went outside to do some things forgetting the eggs. Smelling a strange smell my pan burned up and eggs burst. What a mess! Was able to save the pan 😂. Never again....
That is a great reminder! I’m so glad your neighbor is able to find ways to save, and share her tips!
Yes ma'am I had leftovers just about every day last week, some original and some I made it a totally different meal
Yum!!
* I bake hard shell squash whole, like pumpkin or turban squash, to save time and spare my hands. Then, when they're sone, I peel out the flesh and boil the skin and seeds for broth.
** I season dry beans as I would for soup and use the leftover broth for soups.
*** We drink the cooking water when I boil beets, for example. This isn't new, I know, because my dad used to drink "pot likker," but I just started doing it.
You've encouraged me to start cooking for the holidays now!
I have never heard that about beets! We didn’t grow up eating any. Thank you for sharing all of those wonderful tips!
@@PenniestoDollars I learned this about beets from my SIL who makes her version of borscht from the cooking water. I learned how wonderful beets are when I moved to my farm!
@ireadnewton my dad never grew them, so I never grew up with them.
Could you do your menu for Thanksgiving? I really like some frugal ideas especially for a large family
👍
When we were doing workplace and other potluck type buffet meals, I would go through my pantry seeking the foods we really didnt prefer, shouldn't be eating due to specified or personally decided health reasons, stuff about to date out, and the stuff there was "a lot of". Then I would try to work those items into what we took.
Smart way to use it!
Hi, I like to make the cookies and roll them up in a long tube shape. I thaw for a short bit or can thaw part way in the microwave and slice cookies like the store kind that are ready to bake. I think I am going to do half batches because we don’t eat as many these days.
That is a great way as well! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Bonita! Love oatmeal raisin cookies!
They are my favorite!
Can you do the oatmeal raisin cookie recipe? I have an abundance of raisins and oatmeal that I need to use up.
The recipe I used:
3/4 c butter
1 1/4 c brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 c milk
1 1/2 t vanilla
3 c quick oats
1 c flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/4 t cinnamon
And then I just added raisins