One way I stretch our meal budget out is immediately after cooking a meal, and before it even gets near the table (or the kids will instantly suck it in like a vortex) is to put a portion in a Ziploc container, freezer bag or other freezer safe container and put it in the freezer.
Later on I use these meals are used in a variety of ways.
1. Frozen lunch, grandpa and I use these instead of the ones from the freezer section of the store that are bad for you anyway. I've noticed that it's much easier to get the kids and Grandpa to eat leftovers a week or two later that it is the very next day.
2. Sometimes I pull out a couple and have a "pot luck" style dinner where people can choose a bit of this and a bit of that for dinner, add some veggies or a salad and we have a meal in a hurry on a busy night.
3. Soups, I throw into the crock pot, and heat it on low all day for a hot meal that is ready when we get home. Or just heat it up in the microwave when I forget to put it in the crock pot in the morning!
None of these cost me anything additional in time or money since I already made the dinner, plus it leaves a bit less on the dinner table to curb the helpings of seconds and occasionally thirds - which also helps the waist line in the long run also not only the pocketbook!
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Thursday, March 26, 2009
Vacation from my vacation
So we are just now recovering from our vacation trip...most of the clothes washed and put away, suit cases ready to be stored and personal care items back in their storage areas.
But I'm way behind on menu planning and so that's been just flying by the seat of my pants these last few days. Luckily enough I've had some extras in the freezer that we have been able to heat up and eat in a hurry.
But I'm way behind on menu planning and so that's been just flying by the seat of my pants these last few days. Luckily enough I've had some extras in the freezer that we have been able to heat up and eat in a hurry.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
Menu Plan Monday
A bit late tonight but done:
Monday
Sloppy Joes
Salad
Tuesday
Crockpot Vegetable soup
Homemade rolls and butter
Wednesday
Cheesy Beef Spirals
Garlic bread
Salad
Thursday
Crockpot Porkchops (from a Fix-it and Forget-it cookbook)
Mashed Potatoes
Salad
Friday
Orange Roughey (baked)
Salad
Corn
Saturday
Tacos
Cheesy Mexican Rice
Sunday
Will have to come up with later - it's the only day "off" I have this week.
Simple Vacation Tips
Somethings I did during my vacation that I thought would be helpful:
- Snag all those free shampoo/lotions they give you at all the hotels since they're rarely a type that I like so I dump them out (or use them to replace shaving cream) and then I refill them with my own products. Saved me ton's of money on "travel sizes". Also refill them immediately when you get home from your trip and place them all in a ziploc bag and into your overnight bag. This way you always have a ready "overnight" bag, and you don't have to remember what you need to pack the next time.
- Definitely use a ziplog bag - just in case things spill. I will usually put like uses in smaller ziplocs and then place them all into a larger one in my suitcase. Double coverage that way, plus it's easy to pull out the shower items when you are ready to shower, etc.
- Call ahead and make sure the pool is open at the place you are visiting. There is nothing worse than disappointed kids because the pool isn't open. You know that is the one thing they look forward to the most.
- For longer trips I usually pack 2 or 3 garbage bags for dirty clothes. I separate colors into the different bags before they are put back in the suitcase so that when I get home and I'm exhausted it is easier to just dump a bag in the washer and not have to worry about sorting them out. Plus this way it is easier to keep track of what is dirty or clean in your suitcase and eliminate washing the clean stuff too.
- Snag all those free shampoo/lotions they give you at all the hotels since they're rarely a type that I like so I dump them out (or use them to replace shaving cream) and then I refill them with my own products. Saved me ton's of money on "travel sizes". Also refill them immediately when you get home from your trip and place them all in a ziploc bag and into your overnight bag. This way you always have a ready "overnight" bag, and you don't have to remember what you need to pack the next time.
- Definitely use a ziplog bag - just in case things spill. I will usually put like uses in smaller ziplocs and then place them all into a larger one in my suitcase. Double coverage that way, plus it's easy to pull out the shower items when you are ready to shower, etc.
- Call ahead and make sure the pool is open at the place you are visiting. There is nothing worse than disappointed kids because the pool isn't open. You know that is the one thing they look forward to the most.
- For longer trips I usually pack 2 or 3 garbage bags for dirty clothes. I separate colors into the different bags before they are put back in the suitcase so that when I get home and I'm exhausted it is easier to just dump a bag in the washer and not have to worry about sorting them out. Plus this way it is easier to keep track of what is dirty or clean in your suitcase and eliminate washing the clean stuff too.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Mass cooking day
I now have 24 breakfast burritos getting freezer burn in my freezer. I spent all last weekend cooking potatoes, sausage, eggs, peppers and onions and putting them all together with cheese into tortillas.
The are the best though for a quick, avoid the drive-thru type breakfast though. Just over a minute in the microwave and I have nice warm portable breakfast.
Today I will be making my homemade Bisquick mix since I didn't realize how long it would take me to make so many burritos.
I have a blanket to make for a baby due in about a month too so I need to get on that as well. I'm leaving for Vegas on Monday also so things are crazy at the moment.
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