Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Taco Chicken Mac

This is a quick dish, for some of that shredded chicken in the freezer.
 
My kids love taco anything, so this works for a quick fix after a day in the garden!


Taco Chicken Mac
4 cups cooked pasta,cooked with one large diced onion
1 1/2 cups cooked beans (pinto, canned chili beans, whatever is on hand, even black beans)
1 small can green chilis
1lb shredded chicken
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup ketchup or tomato sauce
taco seasoning (use one pack or equivalent of homemade or bulk mix)
shredded cheese (opt)


Bring the 1/2 cup water to a simmer and toss in the chicken and taco seasoning. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes and add the ketchup, chilis, cooked pasta, and beans. Heat to a simmer. (Add more liquid if necessary.)
Serve topped with cheese if desired.

*********
Frugal notes:
Chicken was bought on sale at .99lb as split chicken breasts. Cooked in bulk and frozen.
Ketchup and sauce are bought in bulk as well.
Chilis were bought at a discount store.
Pasta was whole grain, bought in the clearance bin in a bulk ziploc bag.
This dish was made for less than $2.

Psa 136:26  O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Menu Plan: May 25, 2014



Sunday:
-Cinnamon Rolls
-free lunch at friends- woo hoo!
-Vegetable Chicken Soup, strawberries
snacks: none needed, we were stuffed at friends' and ate soup late
(soup made from stock and 1lb chicken from the freezer @ .99lb, bits of veggies from garden and freezer, berries were bartered for with homemade baked goods so they cost me pennies pretty much)
total approx. daily cost: $2.00
Monday:
-Cinnamon Rolls
-Tomato Veggie Soup, Sourdough, homemade Raspberry Jam
-Eggs-Onions-n-Pasta, baby chard and kale salad from the garden, strawberries
snacks:strawberries
(tomato sauce bought in bulk and frozen in portions, veggies from garden and bits of carrots and potatoes, berries were bartered, eggs are almost free from our chickens, pasta bought in bulk)
total approx. daily cost: $1.75
Tuesday:
-Smoothies, toasted sourdough and butter w/ honey
-Cranberry Beans (but using home-rendered cracklin's rather than bacon), corn from the freezer, squash relish, Nourishing Kraut
-Venison Mushroom-n-Onion Soup, sourdough, strawberries
snacks:cream cheese and celery
(smoothies made from the bartered berries and homemade kefir, honey bartered work for, cranberry beans from dried from the freezer, corn was free for the pickin', squash relish and kraut was made from home-grown or free ingredients from farmer friends last year, venison free, mushrooms free, berries bartered)
total approx. daily cost: $2.25
Wednesday:
-Masa Porridge
-15 Bean Soup (no meat), fried cornbread, sauteed kale, strawberries
-Spaghetti Sauce with Turkey Meatballs over whole grain pasta, chard salad, strawberries
snacks:leftover smoothie popsicles
(porridge is .12 for 5 servings, half the soup today and half tomorrow, cornbread pennies, kale from garden, berries bartered, sauce made in bulk, turkey meatballs made 1 big batch by recipe linked, split for 3 meals, pasta bought in bulk on clearance 1 gallon bag for under $2, chard from garden, smoothies leftover from breakfast the day before)
total approx. daily cost: $4.75
Thursday:
-Bug Oats
-leftover soup and cornbread, berries
-leftover Spaghetti as a side, Tangy Kale Salad, green beans with onions, pickled carrots
snacks:Cinnamon-Applesauce Salad
(steel cut oats were given to me months ago, leftovers are free as their costs were figured in yesterday, kale is free from the garden but the other ingredients are a few cents, green beans free from freezer from last year's garden, pickled carrots were almost free for the making last year, applesauce bought #10 can for less than $2 on clearance and other ingredients are a cheap)
total approx. daily cost: $1.00
Friday:
-Orange Date Muffins
- fried eggs, baked potatoes w/ fake bacon bits, strawberries
-Shredded Chicken w/ Ramen and bits of shredded veggies, chard-kale mix from garden
snacks: Orange Date Muffins
(oranges on the cheap at Aldi weeks ago, dates in bulk, eggs basically free from our chicks and potatoes were bought at .18 per lb at local market, ramen bought in bulk, shredded veggies are pennies)
total approx. daily cost:  $4.00
Saturday:
-Granola Bars
-Bologna Sandwiches, pretzels, sliced apples
-Venison Stew, Sourdough Bread, Blueberry Jam
snacks:Impossible Pumpkin Pie
(oats and choc chips for bars bought in bulk, bologna at .99 pack, pretzels @ .99 bag, half a bag, 2 large apples .40, venison free, veggies from garden with 2 potatoes @ .18lb, bread pennies to make, jam free for the making, pumpkin was free-cooked-pureed and frozen -no crust, so pennies to make the pies)
total approx. daily cost: $3.25

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Easy Vermicomposting

We had lots of educational fun at Nature Fest again this year. 
The kids sat through salamanders, bats, and of course, Birds of Prey
(Probably the trophy of the fest for kids!)
 For me, along with the bliss of sitting in a class taught by the local legend, Hector Black, we also got to listen to an amazing organic farmer, Randy Dodson, from The Waters Farm.
I've met his son and another worker on their farm and they all are a wealth of information!

Vermicomposting was one of Mr. Dodson's demonstrations.
It's a subject that I've wanted to learn more about but online sources and books often made it sound SO complicated. 

But Mr. Dodson made it as simple as pie!

(Vermicompost is used just as compost, manure, fertilizer, etc. So this is a cheap DIY project to keep your gardens frugal and productive!)
 
 Ready?

First- a tub or empty container with 2 rows of air holes. Don't make the lower row too low or all of your worms will escape. (Some might regardless.)
You can use old ones, yard sale finds, or they are a little over $5 at Walmart.
Next, place some moistened cardboard in the bottom. (I used rainwater to moisten mine.)Worms apparently aren't exceptionally picky, and just about any cardboard will work.But not too compact, just a layer will do.
Moistened cardboard on the bottom.
 Next; add some composted horse manure, a little peat moss,dirt, vermiculite, or a mix. I used year old horse manure. (Be aware of your horse manure- if they've wormed the horses and this isn't aged- it will uhm, worm your worms!)

You will want to moisten this.It needs to be wet enough to drip one or two drops of water if squeezed with one hand, but not standing in water.
Some nice composted manure, thoroughly moistened.

Worms need grit for their crops- who would have thought? You can use a handful of sand if you have it. I plan to get a handful from the creek later and add to my mix but for now, I've ground some egg shells and added that.

Now-Where are you going to get your worms?

Uncle Jim's is a good place if you must purchase them, I hear. But as for me- I think worms should be free! And, whaddaya know, so they are! See?
WORMS!!!
I keep a few boards thrown around the yard. (Yeah, my poor neighbors! :) But seriously, I don't know if they can even see them.) ...I started this habit for my chickens as a means of collecting a bug and worm feast for them. If you leave it long enough, you will find that you have plenty of worms to harvest for your compost. Try to get as close to a pound as possible, or more. Babies too! It's suggested to use 1 to 2lbs per square foot of bedding/dirt/compost.
Red worms usually stay in the top 3 to 4 inches of ground and will surface right under a board or anything left laying around for a while. Just turn several spots over with a shovel and break apart the clod and pick your worms.

Add the little squirmers to their new home. (Be aware that some will try to sneak out. It's okay, it doesn't mean you're a bad landlord! Enough will stay if you keep the apartment nice and comfy!)


You can use some shredded cardboard and tiny bits of kitchen scraps (just a handful!) to feed them. Just lay on top of the bed/soil. (They supposedly love the cardboard, which is why I guess you use so much of it in this process.)

Mr. Dodson said the waste from juicers is especially a treat since it's already so broken down and they particularly like sweets, like banana peels. You do not want to overfeed. It can build up mildew and ick, and harm the worms. Not to mention a smell! ...But if you have time to chop up your scraps, it will give them a head start, but isn't necessary.

What else can you feed them? Coffee grounds, wet hay, grass clippings, melon rinds, and other fruit and veggie scraps.

You will feed them once or twice a week, if previous feedings are gone.(They only eat about their body weight a day. So- if you can weigh the worms you add, that will give you a tiny idea of how much to feed.) I tried to start slow with feedings so as to avoid a problem. Also, you don't want to develop a 'composting' situation, so only add small bits of scraps.Otherwise it could heat up and harm your worms.
Bits or moistened cardboard, and kitchen scraps.

Now, finally, you will wet another big piece of cardboard.( I have 2 tubs (beside the rain barrels) in my yard where I can easily dip the cardboard and swish it side to side.) Then, just tuck them in and let them work their magic!

You need to keep them shaded. Remember they like it dark, they're used to being underground. You will need to keep them completely shaded , or in the garage, barn, etc. (There are vermicomposters that go under your kitchen sink. Pricey, though.) If using a dark container, which is good as far as keeping it dark, you will need to especially avoid the sunshine.

If you have them outside, you will have to pay more attention to moisture. Temps need to be between 60 and 80F. At 85-90F, they will leave and/or die.(They seem to be able to tolerate freezing temps and I asked if the containers could be sunken in the ground during the winter to help preserve them. Yes!)
 

One big 'blanket' of moistened cardboard to tuck them into their new home!

You will need to add water to the dirt to keep moistened. Better to keep it on the wet side than to have it dry out. Worms must have moisture, else they will start packing their bags and trying to get out! Worms can live in water, but they can't live where it's dry. (They are driven out of the ground during rain, for lack of oxygen.)

If you were to notice the least little bit of mildew or mold, I suggest you remove as much food scraps as possible, scrape the icky stuff out, allow it to stand outside (still kept dark by the cardboard covering) in a shady spot to air out some. Don't add anymore food for a few days until the problem resolves.

Gradually over time, your tub will fill up. Worms can double every 90 to 100 days if conditions are great, and that means faster fills in your tubs! And possibly more tubs! Think of the possibilities! Worm cousins, great-great-great cousins, great-great-great-great-great aunts!?!?!!

You can scrape your worms from the top, keeping the castings (ie worm manure, worm poop :) mostly in the bottom and ready for use in your gardens.

There are different methods to do this. You can just take the top 4 inches off and create another bin, and whatever worms may be in the castings can just go into your gardens. 

You can scrape off the top and pick through it for the worms, if you like. ...Boring!

You can even dump mounds of it onto a covered table late in the evening or after dark. Use an overhead lamp (let it hover over the mound for 10 minutes or so), which will drive the worms down so you can scrape the castings off the top. Do this little at a time until you've went through the whole bin.

You can also rotate which side of the container you feed them on. Before harvesting, you will know more which side they are on.

And their are other more elaborate systems you can research if you like.(Some with screens and stackable drawers.)

Vermicompost apparently has more nitrogen, higher nutrients, higher moisture (70%), and other benefits. It makes a great compost tea; suggested soak/steep 24 hours to retain the benefits. It can also be added straight to the garden after collection, as it won't burn like other manures.

The worms are also of value to expand your vermicomposts as they grow and reproduce, you can start more bins, feed them to your chickens, or sell to fishermen!

The biggest two problems?
Overfeeding and not enough water. 

If this can be kept in balance-  why you might could have an entire worm colony!

Happy frugal gardening!

 Isa 51:8  For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Menu Plan: May 18, 2014

Sunday:
-Homemade Coconut Granola
-Bologna Cups, homemade sourdough w/homemade pumpkin butter, home-canned pickles, sliced apple, sliced tomato
-Homemade Chicken Soup, sourdough, homemade blueberry jam
snacks:sunflower seeds
(granola, used coconut flour that was given to me, bologna bought on sale at .99-used half pack, eggs free from our chickens, grew cukes and pickled, was given pumpkins and canned, apples were 2.99 for 5lbs and used only one big one, tomatoes were .69 lb- used one, soup- homemade broth, chicken at .99lb-.25 for pasta, pennies for onions and celery, handfuls of chopped baby chard and kale from the garden)
total approx daily cost: $4.25
Monday:
-Bagels, cream cheese, honey
-leftover cup-of-soup, grilled cream cheese sandwiches, sliced tomatoes
-Pork Hash (with rice, rather than potatoes), pureed butternut squash, home-canned green beans
snacks:raw goat cheese and crackers
(bagels @ .99 clearance, used half bag, cream cheese clearance at .25- used 1/3 pack, honey free bartering with bee keeper, bread for sandwiches clearance at .99, used 1/2 loaf, tomatoes at .69 lb used one, pork was given to me by someone who killed their own pig, rice pennies in bulk, squash grown last year and beans, goat cheese was bartered for with homemade bread)
total approx daily cost: $1.75
Tuesday:
-Bagels with cinnamon butter
-Onion-Kale-and-White Bean Soup, Chocolate Custard
-egg and cheese sandwiches, side salad, home-canned applesauce
snacks:Pumpkin Breads
(bagels at .99- used half a bag, onions- pennies, kale from garden, beans from dried- pressure cooked and frozen, custard made from our chicken eggs, bread at .99-used half, cheese in bulk, salad made from free lettuce from a farmer who had leftovers at the market, pumpkin from pureed frozen free pumpkins)
total approx. daily cost:  $2.50
Wednesday:
-leftover Custard
-Cranberry Beans w/ cracklin', cornbread, home-canned squash relish, Pepper Jelly
-Venison Goolash, Cinnamon Cake
snacks:crackers w/ zesty raw goat cheese
(custard price figured in the previous day, beans from dried-pressure cooked and frozen, cracklin' from free pork, relish and jelly made from free or produce given to me from other gardeners, free venison, pasta bought on sale with coupons, diced tomatoes bought in bulk and separated and frozen, cake mix was given to me from someone cleaning out pantry, cheese bartered for with bread but counting the cost of the bread)
total approx daily cost:  $2.25
Thursday:
-Millet w/ butter and honey
-Bologna Cups w/ mustard, Simple Slaw, sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob
-Garden Lentils with Chapatis, leftover cake
snacks:chapatis w/ butter and honey
(millet bought at .99lb, bologna at .99-used half pack, our eggs, cabbage at .39lb and will last for several meals, tomatoes at .69lb used one, corn from another farmer last year, will use baby chard instead of spinach in lentils, green onions from garden, peppers frozen last year- and other garden veggies, honey free for bartering work for bee keeper)
total approx daily cost: $2.75
Friday:
-Frugal Vanilla Granola and milk
-Zucchini Soup, Sourdough w/ whipped cream cheese
-Shredded Chicken Sandwiches, leftover slaw, sliced apples
snacks:Fried Bananas
(zukes from last year- shredded and frozen, cream cheese bought at .25 clearance, chicken at .99lb using 1.5 lbs, apples at 2.99 for 5lbs- using one large)
total approx daily cost: $4.00
Saturday:
-Cinnamon Rolls
-PB and J sandwiches, baby carrots, homemade pickles
-Homemade Pizza, fried apples
snacks: sourdough with homemade Blueberry-Strawberry Jam
(bread bought at .99, using half, carrots bought at .99lb, using 1/3, cheese and pepperoni bought in bulk, apples from ours and orchard- frozen)
total approx. daily cost: $5.75

Monday, May 5, 2014

Menu Plan: May 4, 2014



Sunday:
-Oatmeal
-pb and homemade gifted boysenberry jelly sandwiches, homemade Choc Chip Granola Bars
-fried eggs (our birds), homemade Sourdough Wheat Bread, home-canned apple butter
snacks:lemonade   (not the most nourishing day, but we were on the go- frugally!)
total approx. daily cost: $3.00
Monday:
-Rye Porridge (someone gave me the rye, their family didn't like it- yay me!)
-Venison Stew, Sourdough Wheat Bread w/ Watermelon Jelly (stew- free venison, onion, a leftover nub of cabbage, free mushrooms (farmer), a stick of celery, and carrots and their tops from the garden- pennies to make, jelly homemade from bartered watermelon last year)
-Baked Kickin' Chicken Thighs, greens and onions from the garden, last 2 giant sweet potatoes from another gardener (only 4 here tonight- 1.5 lbs chicken at .99lb, split the sweet potatoes in halves)
snacks:kefir-blueberry smoothies (homemade kefir, berries a gift from someone cleaning out a freezer, will have a handful of spinach blended in from the garden too)
total approx. daily cost:  $2.75
Tuesday:
-Oatmeal w/ frozen (gifted) berries
-fried eggs (our chickens), home-canned applesauce and apple butter, Country White Bread
-Venison Stir Fry (venison free, mushrooms free, greens from the garden, .50cents worth of frozen veggies, rice bought in bulk), home-canned Cinnamon Apples
snacks: tortilla chips w/ home-canned Fermented Bean Dip
total approx. daily cost: $2.00
Wednesday:
-eggs, toasted Country White Bread, gifted boysenberry jelly
-Zucchini Soup (zukes shredded in the freezer from garden last year, green onions from garden) Sourdough Wheat Bread, Blackberry Jam
-Spaghetti, Birthday Cake and Ice Cream
snacks:cake and ice cream!
total approx. daily cost: $6.75
Thursday:
-Scrambled Omelets (eggs from our chicks, peppers frozen last year, onions), toasted Country White Bread, home-canned Lemon-Balm Jelly
-1/2 recipe: Cream of Pea Soup, grilled cream cheese sandwiches on homemade bread (cream cheese bought on clearance at .25 per pack)
-3 Bean Meatless Chili with Jalepeno-Cheddar Cornbread
snacks: Homemade Fruity Yogurt
total approx. daily cost: $3.25
Friday:
-Masa Porridge
-Grilled Cream Cheese Sandwiches, leftover cup of chili
-Chick Pea Stew (from dried beans, garden greens and onions, celery stick, carrots from garden), fried cornbread (some with honey for dessert)
snacks: graham crackers and peanut butter
total approx. daily cost: $2.00
Saturday:
-Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
-PB and J sandwiches, pretzels
-turkey, Sweet Potato Casserole, Green Bean Casserole (turkey was given to me, sweet pots were bought on clearnce in #10 can, green beans from garden), Welcome Home Cake
snacks:leftovers
total approx. daily cost: $5.75

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Homemade Fire Starters

Well, it's almost time to cover the stove pipes and enjoy the warmth of summer, but it's not too early to be planning for next winter's fires!
 
Note to self: Must cover stove pipe before another bird get's down it!

I have already started to collect some items, otherwise known as 'garbage', to use for next year's fires in the wood stove.

I used them a lot in late winter and early spring and found them to work better (for me) and they are made from items that are basically free!
(Those starter logs and sticks are expensive!)
 
The garbage you need?
Toilet paper rolls and lint from the dryer.
 
What you need to buy on the cheap?
Petroleum jelly
(But a little goes a long way!)

It only takes a teaspoon or two of the p.j. and you spread it thinly inside the rolls.

Then lightly stuff with lint, no need to pack.
If you like, you can wrap the lint in one square of tissue paper and leave it sticking out a little to use as a wick, but it's not necessary.
One little boy here likes to go out in his socks- can you tell from the straw?
There you have it- fire starters on the frugal!

Psa 104:4-5  Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Menu Plan: April 28, 2014

 We were given a nice fat turkey this week (pretty cool gift, huh?!?!?), but- I'm gonna save it for week after next. Sailor Boy #2 is coming in and I may cook it with the fixin's to have that week.
We have lots of homemade bread and eggs this week. I'm also trying to keep focused on moving some home-canned goods before it's time to can more. :)

We will have a few grab-n-go days so I'm trying to plan for that too.
And you local-yocals don't forget, Nature Fest starts this week!


Monday:
-leftover Cinnamon Rolls
-Pizza Pockets (like these but with pizza stuff!), romaine salad, home-canned spiced-pickled carrots
-Fried eggs, Sourdough Wheat Bread, home-canned pumpkin butter
snacks: homemade Granola Bars w/ dried cherries
total approx daily cost: $2.00
Tuesday:
-Cream of Wheat
-fried eggs, toasted Wheat Sourdough, homemade jam, blueberry-kefir smoothies
-Chicken Tacos, shredded romaine with green onions from the garden, home-canned Cardamom Apples
snacks:Cinnamon Toast from Sourdough
total approx. daily cost:  $3.25
Wednesday:
-Peanut Butter Granola
-Homemade Vegetable Soup, toasted homemade 10 Grain Bread with butter and Parmesan
-leftover soup with some leftover shredded chicken tossed in, leftover bread
snacks: Kefir-Blueberry Smoothies (berries were a gift!, kefir-homemade)
total approx. daily cost: $2.50
Thursday:
-Oatmeal Sundaes
-Spaghetti, Birthday Cake, Homemade Ice Cream
-Roasted Chickens w/ homemade gravy, carrots, Macaroni Salad, home-canned green beans (will freeze some of the leftover shredded chicken)
snacks: leftover cake and ice cream
total approx daily cost: $8.25
Friday:
-Sourdough, butter, and jam
-Bologna Cups, green beans and corn on the cob (freezer)
-leftover chicken and gravy on thick-sliced homemade Sourdough Wheat Bread, leftover macaroni salad
snacks:leftover cake and ice cream
total approx. daily cost: $2.75
Saturday:
-Breakfast Cookies
-PB and J Sandwiches, home-canned pickles, homemade granola bars
-home-canned Pumpkin Soup, homemade Spelt bread, butter, and jam
snacks: Homemade Granola Bars
total approx daily cost: $3.50
Sunday:
-leftover cinnamon rolls
-Grilled Cream Cheese Sandwiches with chopped chives, spiced-pickled carrots, mint tea (from the herb bed)
-egg-onion-pepper-cheese wraps, sourdough and jam
snacks:crackers-cream cheese-red pepper jelly
total approx. daily cost: $1.75

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Dandelion Fritters


While some folks fret over getting dandelions out of their yards, others eat them!
Why?
They're good for you!
And- - -you can eat the entire plant :)
Blissful, huh?

The greens can be eaten in a salad or cooked as you would other greens, the root can be dried and or/roasted and ground and used as you would coffee.

The flowers can be used to make jelly and syrup, stuffed in cakes, muffins, or pancakes- and as you see here, they can be fried.

 You can dip and fry each flower individually or stir them all in your batter and drop by spoonfuls into hot grease- uhm- lard :)
When cooked this way, they hardly have any taste, but my mind seems to trick me into almost thinking it's squash, except much milder. The texture? Sorta chewy, and good!

You can mix up a whole grain batter if you like but this is quick, frugal, and easy....and being from the south, frying cornmeal, especially in lard, is tops!

DANDELION FRITTERS

2 cups rinsed, drained dandelion flowers
1 cup self-rising cornmeal (or flour, or half and half, or whole grain with salt and soda)
1 egg, beaten
1 cup of milk

Mix flour/meal, egg, and milk. Dip individual dandelions in batter and drop them into hot oil.
You can also stir the flowers into the batter and drop by tablespoons into hot oil.
Fry on each side until golden.
Drain on paper towel.
Serve plain, salt and peppered, or with a dip, such as Ranch.

Song of Sol. 2:12  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land...

Menu Plan April 20, 2014

We will have LOTS of leftover bread this week along with lots of eggs, and a few things from the garden. I'm also trying to weed out last year's jams and jellies.
But these homemade and homegrown goodies will help in the frugal quest- especially when I need quick foods because there's so much work to be done outside :)
These gals have really been earning their keep- providing us with some wonderful eggs!

Sunday:
-Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
-Breakfast Sandwich Biscuit, fruit
-Wilted Kale and Green Onions with bits of bacon, bananas
snacks:kefir smoothies(with banana, leftover berry jam- gotta move some of these jars!), Wheat Sourdough
total approx. daily cost:  $5.25
Monday:
-leftover Cinnamon Rolls
-eggs, sourdough and jam
-beans, green onions, Fermented Kraut, toasted sourdough and jelly
snacks:Fried Bananas
total approx. daily cost: $1.25
Tuesday:
-Homemade Wheat Bread and Strawberry Jam, bananas
-Cranberry-Almond Chicken Salad, home-canned spicy-pickled carrots, romaine salad, sourdough and jelly
-Home-Canned Vegetable-Barley Soup, Grilled Cream Cheese Sandwiches
snacks: Chocolate-Banana Smoothies
total approx. daily cost: $3.75
Wednesday:
-Fried eggs, sourdough, boysenberry jelly (gift!)
-Home-Canned Pumpkin Soup with sour cream, Sourdough Bread w/ homemade Violet Jelly
-Bean and Rice Burritos, romaine salad w/ green onions from the garden
snacks:Coconut Custard (our eggs)
total approx. daily cost: $2.75
Thursday:
-leftover Coconut Custard, sourdough toast
-Homemade Pimiento Cheese Sandwiches, cup of veggie-broth soup (from leftovers)
-Salmon Mac and Cheese, home-canned beets and green beans
snacks:carrots and celery sticks with veggie dip
total approx. daily cost: $3.75
Friday:
-Brown Rice Pudding
-Baked Eggs in Toast Cups (homemade bread), home-canned apples, buttered carrots with chives (garden)
-Baked Potatoes with fried eggs, romaine salad
snacks: Root Beer Floats (splurge!)
total approx. daily cost: $3.25

Monday, April 14, 2014

Menu Plan: April 13, 2014

Frugal Chatter-
 I bought a large pack of hamburger meat on Saturday, on "sale" for $2.19 a lb. I made a BBQ Joe mix that we will have multiple times on homemade bread.
We will have spinach and lettuce, green onions, chives, and kale from the garden.
The chickens have been providing a surplus of eggs! Go chicks!
I will also make a batch of slaw that will last for multiple meals. Love getting in raw veggies!

Sunday:
-Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
-Sandwiches, homemade Granola Bars
-BBQ Joes (used BBQ sauce- out of ketchup-crisis! :)homemade buns, spinach salad (from the raised beds)
snacks: fried livers (treat!)
total approx. daily cost: $5.75
Monday:
-bagels (half bag bought on clearance at .99bag), cream cheese (bought on clearance)
-leftover BBQ Joes on homemade buns, spinach salad (raised beds), leftover homemade Granola Bars
-Sausage ($1.49) on brat buns (half pack bought on clearance at .99) with onions and spicy mustard, slaw, home-canned Cardamom-Cinnamon Apples
snacks: toasted homemade Wheat Bread with homemade jam
total approx. daily cost: $5.50
Tuesday:
-bagels (half bag bought on clearance at .99bag), cream cheese (bought on clearance)
-home-canned Vegetable-Barley Soup, Sweet Potato Muffins
-the remaining BBQ Joe Mix on sandwich bread, slaw, sliced oranges
snacks: popcorn
total approx. daily cost:$4.00
Wednesday:
-egg and onion wraps (free eggs from our chicks)
-home-canned Pumpkin Soup, Quick Dinner Muffins (wheat)
-Grilled Cream Cheese Sandwiches, slaw, leftover muffins and jam
snacks: kefir smoothies
total approx. daily cost: $3.25
Thursday:
-Polenta (half recipe), fried eggs (free)
-Cranberry Beans with Cracklin' Cornbread, home-canned Squash Relish (yum!)
-leftover beans, cornbread, relish, kale from the garden
snacks:Orange-Apricot Muffins
total approx. daily cost: $2.50
Friday:
-Chocolate Oatmeal
-Frittata (onions and chives from garden, eggs-chicks), Tangy Kale Salad,(garden), home-canned apples
-Chicken salad sandwiches, chips-n-salsa
snacks: homemade Cinnamon Rolls
total approx. daily cost: $2.75