Been a while

Ok, so I haven't done what I've said I would do. But now I am going to try and get back on track and try and help you save some money.

Look on line for coupons. www.couponsonline.com is a good one to try. You need to go on to this one on the first of the month or some of them will have reached their print limits. Also, go on to the www.bettycrocker.com and www.pillsbury.com sites for more ideas for meals and coupons.

Will start working on new menu's and ideas for you.

See you later,
Gma Julie

Hi all,

So, it has been a long time since I was on this. The month of December was very hectic and then I had surgery on top of that and am finally back in my own home, ready to go back to work.

I am working on a menu for January and hope to have it ready to go by the end of the week.

Got a few new recipes for you to try that I've made and then a few that looked good so am going to include them even tho I haven't made them yet.

I will also have some info on where to get online coupons. Hopefully, this year will bring you lots of ideas on how to keep your food budget lower and also help in making good wholesome meals.

Take care,
Gramma Julie

November 8, 2009

Here the first weekend of deer season is over. They got 3 deer for 7 hunters. Remember, back when we used to have about 17 hunters? Lots of fun back then with Uncle Virgil, Candy, Bonnie, Caley and all the rest of the crew. We sure had lots of venison to cut up then. It has been so warm that we put the venison in the cooler to keep cool until next weekend when we will get them cut up.

I hope that you are finding useful stuff on this blog. I know that I haven't kept up to date as much as I want to. Hopefully, this winter I will get things more organized on it.

Take care,
Gma Julie

Well, as you see I haven't posted much. I was trying to get the calendar up and running. Boy this is some hard work for my old brain. Finally, I think I know what I'm doing on it. Now my next step is putting a counter on it. Hopefully, it won't take as many hours to do. I still need to find out how to put all the recipes on the side of the blog under headings. Nothing I've tried so far is working. I told you this was a work in progress.

I've got the wood fire going tonight. It is chilly and damp again. I'll have half of my wood burnt before winter begins.

Hope this finds all of you in good health.

Love,
Gramma Julie

First list of Basic ingredients to have on hand

Basic List:

Flour
Sugar
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder or salt
Cider Vinegar
Cornstarch
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Vanilla
Chili pepper
Cumin - ground
Cream of mushroom soup
Spaghetti Sauce
Bay Leaves
Celery
Onions
Potato
Sour Cream
Cream Cheese
Butter
Ketsup
Yellow Mustard
Honey Mustard
Grey Poupon
Milk
spray oil like Pam
white rice
macaroni - your favorite kind
ground beef
individual frozen chicken breast

This is all I can think of this minute but will keep adding to the list as I remember things.

Chit chat

So here's the menu. Now remember you don't have to follow it day by day it isn't carved in stone, but if you use day 30 recipe on day 18 you will have the ingredients for day 18 on hand so don't forget to make that meal one day. I always had a couple of quick meal stuff on hand so if time was running short you could still whip something up. Poppa's favorite was Au gratin Potatoes from a box with polish sausage or smoked sausage on top. I always added a little finely chopped onion to the box when I mixed it up and then lay your sausage on top and bake til done. Serve with a salad and you've got a good fast meal. Your favorite macaroni and cheese is another one to have on hand.

If you make a menu taking into account what you have in your pantry, freezer or where ever you stash stuff, your grocery bill will be a lot less for the month than going out and buying from meal to meal. One you will eat better because you won't be buying those high calorie, salt processed food and you will be cooking good wholesome food.

In another post I will try to give you a list of things you should have in your pantry at all times.

Here's my quick foods to have on hand: Boxed Au gratin Potatoes, Mac & Cheese, mashed potatoes, cream of mushroom soup. I also like to have at least in the winter time biscuits and cookies from the dairy case. Smoked Sausage or Polish Sausage, individual frozen chicken breasts, ground beef. I also like to buy an original rotassiery chicken once in a while. Depending on how many in your family will determine on how many meals you get. For the two of us I usually serve the leg/thigh when I get home with it hot with instant potatoes and package gravy. I then use the breast for salad, sandwiches, or enchilada's. The rest I cook down and it makes a great batch of soup or you could use this for a pot pie. It has always been a joke on how many meals can you get out of a chicken. Give it a try it's kind of fun. Also, remember most of us eat way too much meat per serving. A serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards.

Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes

2 lb ground beef
1 small onion diced fine
Ketsup
Yellow Mustard
Worcestershire sauce
Brown Sugar
Salt, pepper, garlic powder

Brown ground beef and onion. Drain if greasy. Add about 1 cup ketsup, tablespoon of yellow mustard, couple splashes of Worcestershire sauce, seasonings, and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. You may need to add a little more of everything to have the right consistency. Spoon onto toasted hamburger buns.