Thursday, December 22, 2011

Thursday's Kitchen Cupboard 12/22

Haven't done well at keeping up on meal price analysis this week but sure have been using from the freezer.  Not sure if I even remember what we had for dinner some nights this week.

Thursday night I had a birthday party to go to so DB had a TV dinner I had made with left over Spanish Rice so no cost.

Friday night was left over Chicken and Broccoli Curry over rice.  Only cost was the rice which was $.32.

Saturday night was dinner for 4.  Mashed potatoes, baked tilapia and cauliflower from the freezer in cheese sauce.  Don't have a cost as the tilapia has been in the freezer and not sure what it cost at the time.

Sunday night Beef Stir Fry with angel hair pasta.  Peppers in the stir fry were from the freezer.   Cost $2.25

Monday night had a Christmas Party.  DB had left over Beef Stir Fry  No cost.

Tuesday night Meat Sauce over pasta made with fresh picked basil from the Aero Garden.  $2.00

Wednesday night DB had a TV dinner from the freezer of meat loaf, mashed potatoes and peas and I had linguini with white clam sauce from the freezer both had been figured in the cost of a meal when made and froze.  Another free night.

So over all I would say we ate well from the freezer and total cost for the week of our main meal was $10.

Have also been baking for the holidays so the garden pantry came in handy.  Made Pumpkin Date Bread with pumpkin and applesauce from the canning as well as applesauce Bread.  Banana Bread was made with the managers special bananas that were also in the freezer.

Note on a substitute.  While baking this week I ran out of baking powder and for me to go to a store is a 10 mile round trip so only go when there are a number of things to do with the expense of gas.  You can make a substitute for baking powder and it seem to work very will.  For every teaspoon of baking powder a recipe calls for add 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tarter and 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda.

Some of the basil from the aero garden this week.

A recipe to share
Also makes 8 small loaves with a cup of batter each.  Bake 35 minutes.
Be sure to visit our host of Thursday's Kitchen Cupboard The Gardener of Eden and see how others are using the stash from their gardens this winter.  

Happy Holidays to everyone and a joyous new year of gardening and cooking.



Wednesday, December 21, 2011

DIY Heat Mat Speeds Seed Starting - Vegetable Gardener

Just got this on an email and thought it might interest some. If any of you have bought heat mats you know how expensive they are. You would definitely need to have the plywood on hand to build it for $16 but I think you could also use a 1x12" piece of pine which would be much less expensive than a whole piece of plywood. BTW Vegetable Gardener is a great email to receive.




DIY Heat Mat Speeds Seed Starting - Vegetable Gardener