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.
I guess for me it is easy. I needed figs for a recipe this morning so I walked a handful of blocks to the Greek store and picked some up. I've got two full sized grocery stores, a Trader Joes, and two Whole Foods a mile and a half from me. And quite a handful of ethnic stores (Oriental, Indian, and Greek) within about half a mile. Oh and I have a full sized grocery store just a half mile from me, but I don't like it so have only gone a couple of times there. But then again I don't have a car so have to walk and bike everywhere. I do miss the woods though. City living is nice in some ways and not as nice in others.
ReplyDeleteDaphne, I have to laugh when you tell of all the stores you have as we have one store in town and if you are lucky they might have what you want. Then about 2 miles the other side of town is a gas station and store but rather pricy. Living on top of the mountain you learn to stock up, keep inventory and improvise a lot. When I plan a trip to the city for shopping I know I will be broke for the rest of the month as that is when I stock up. That is a 45 mile trip one way. Do have a WM only 20 miles away but their prices are not that great either. No competition. Ethnic stores well I have to find them on line.
ReplyDeletelooks like you had a a busy week. Your recipe looks very yummy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mrs. P. All the baking I have done is gone and need to start over again tomorrow for gifts for Christmas Eve. Maybe I will get to eat some this time.
ReplyDeleteThat recipe is a good one Wilderness. I have a lot of pumpkin puree in the freezer. After the holidays I will have to make this recipe in small loaves and put them in the freezer. It will make a nice snack for "The Italian's" lunch.
ReplyDeleteI have lived in the country and in the city. They both have their pros and cons. But, I really think that I like the country better.
I'm going to write down that baking powder subsitution. I don't think that one is in my BC Cookbook
It is very impressive how well you eat, yet inexpensively. I have always heard the healthier you eat, the cheaper it is. You are a great example of that. I have finally gotten where I almost hate to go out to eat. The food is not very healthy, it's expensive, and loaded with calories. I feel so much better when I cook at home, with no preservatives. Have a very Merry Christmas!
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