Comments on: Frugality and Time Series: Cooking Like You Have All Day http://frugalhacks.com/2009/02/10/frugality-and-time-series-cooking-like-you-have-all-day/ Good stewardship in action. How do you do it? Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:10:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: sillygeese http://frugalhacks.com/2009/02/10/frugality-and-time-series-cooking-like-you-have-all-day/comment-page-1/#comment-7409 sillygeese Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:44:57 +0000 http://frugalhacks.com/?p=970#comment-7409 I precook my hamburger meat and store in meal portions, this way I don't have to defrost then cook, I put the frozen meat in a pan with 1/2 cup of water cover heat, and it defrosts in less time than the microwave would defrost the raw stuff. Also I stock up on premium frozen pizza's(the $6.99 frozen pizza's) when I can get them for $2.50 or less. Always be aware of the cost of normally consumed items so you know when a really good deal comes around. I precook my hamburger meat and store in meal portions, this way I don’t have to defrost then cook, I put the frozen meat in a pan with 1/2 cup of water cover heat, and it defrosts in less time than the microwave would defrost the raw stuff.
Also I stock up on premium frozen pizza’s(the $6.99 frozen pizza’s) when I can get them for $2.50 or less. Always be aware of the cost of normally consumed items so you know when a really good deal comes around.

]]> By: Veracruz http://frugalhacks.com/2009/02/10/frugality-and-time-series-cooking-like-you-have-all-day/comment-page-1/#comment-4420 Veracruz Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:38:07 +0000 http://frugalhacks.com/?p=970#comment-4420 On nights when I haven't planned ahead and the moments are ticking away, I tend to draft hubby and kids and set them to chopping, rinsing, peeling and measuring. I remind them that if they don't, they'll probably be eating around 9 p.m. or later, if at all; that usually helps spur them to action. I also tend to take a look at the Desperation Dinners website. Yes, they use a lot of prepackaged foods for speed's sake, but if you have people helping you with the prep work, you don't have to use the prepackaged versions. For instance, you can turn a bone-in, skin-on chicken breast into a boneless skinless fillet in a minute or two--then use the leftover bones (with a bit of meat on) to make a small pot of homemade chicken broth. Strain, add carrots and pasta and you've got a first course. On nights when I haven’t planned ahead and the moments are ticking away, I tend to draft hubby and kids and set them to chopping, rinsing, peeling and measuring. I remind them that if they don’t, they’ll probably be eating around 9 p.m. or later, if at all; that usually helps spur them to action.

I also tend to take a look at the Desperation Dinners website. Yes, they use a lot of prepackaged foods for speed’s sake, but if you have people helping you with the prep work, you don’t have to use the prepackaged versions. For instance, you can turn a bone-in, skin-on chicken breast into a boneless skinless fillet in a minute or two–then use the leftover bones (with a bit of meat on) to make a small pot of homemade chicken broth. Strain, add carrots and pasta and you’ve got a first course.

]]> By: Amanda http://frugalhacks.com/2009/02/10/frugality-and-time-series-cooking-like-you-have-all-day/comment-page-1/#comment-4415 Amanda Mon, 23 Feb 2009 05:28:24 +0000 http://frugalhacks.com/?p=970#comment-4415 Oh i am so with you on menu planning. I do that every Saturday before I grocery shop. I make my grocery list as I am putting my menu together. I completely agree with chopping the veggies ahead of time but can't say that I do it religiously. Thanks for the reminder, I need to stay on top of that :) i've started a new blog event called Thrifty Thursdays if you are interested in blogging along! http://amandascookin.blogspot.com/2009/02/gauging-interest-thrifty-thursday.html :) Oh i am so with you on menu planning. I do that every Saturday before I grocery shop. I make my grocery list as I am putting my menu together.

I completely agree with chopping the veggies ahead of time but can’t say that I do it religiously. Thanks for the reminder, I need to stay on top of that :)

i’ve started a new blog event called Thrifty Thursdays if you are interested in blogging along! http://amandascookin.blogspot.com/2009/02/gauging-interest-thrifty-thursday.html :)

]]> By: Anne-Marie http://frugalhacks.com/2009/02/10/frugality-and-time-series-cooking-like-you-have-all-day/comment-page-1/#comment-4386 Anne-Marie Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:46:50 +0000 http://frugalhacks.com/?p=970#comment-4386 Another option that keeps forever in the pantry is pasta and a jar (or more, depending on the size of your family) of commercial spaghetti sauce. Emergency dinner in 20 minutes at less than a dollar per person. Another option that keeps forever in the pantry is pasta and a jar (or more, depending on the size of your family) of commercial spaghetti sauce. Emergency dinner in 20 minutes at less than a dollar per person.

]]> By: Kate http://frugalhacks.com/2009/02/10/frugality-and-time-series-cooking-like-you-have-all-day/comment-page-1/#comment-4366 Kate Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:45:12 +0000 http://frugalhacks.com/?p=970#comment-4366 There are some great tips here! I like to have a set time when I start dinner, so at 4:30 (for example), I stop what I'm doing and start cooking. Also, I love to play praise music while I cook. Then my daughter and I can sing along and dance and have a good time. =) It definitely puts us in a good mood for when my husband gets home! ~Kate "Which Proverbs 14:1 Woman?" http://proverbs14-1.blogspot.com There are some great tips here! I like to have a set time when I start dinner, so at 4:30 (for example), I stop what I’m doing and start cooking. Also, I love to play praise music while I cook. Then my daughter and I can sing along and dance and have a good time. =) It definitely puts us in a good mood for when my husband gets home!

~Kate
“Which Proverbs 14:1 Woman?”
http://proverbs14-1.blogspot.com

]]> By: lola http://frugalhacks.com/2009/02/10/frugality-and-time-series-cooking-like-you-have-all-day/comment-page-1/#comment-4364 lola Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:27:51 +0000 http://frugalhacks.com/?p=970#comment-4364 One thing I always try to do is buy "you bake" pizza's with coupons and stash them in the freezer,they feeze nicely. When you want a night off you do have to get them out in time to thaw and rise a while, but what a deal. Pizza for $6.99! One thing I always try to do is buy “you bake” pizza’s with coupons and stash them in the freezer,they feeze nicely. When you want a night off you do have to get them out in time to thaw and rise a while, but what a deal. Pizza for $6.99!

]]> By: Brooke http://frugalhacks.com/2009/02/10/frugality-and-time-series-cooking-like-you-have-all-day/comment-page-1/#comment-4363 Brooke Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:00:18 +0000 http://frugalhacks.com/?p=970#comment-4363 i've always thought veggies stayed good longer if you didn't cut them till you used them. who am i to question rachael ray? ;) i’ve always thought veggies stayed good longer if you didn’t cut them till you used them. who am i to question rachael ray? ;)

]]> By: Mrs. Vinca http://frugalhacks.com/2009/02/10/frugality-and-time-series-cooking-like-you-have-all-day/comment-page-1/#comment-4362 Mrs. Vinca Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:21:33 +0000 http://frugalhacks.com/?p=970#comment-4362 Ditto on using your pantry. Not only does it make shopping easier, but when you buy bulk you save money and your sanity. There's a lot of peace of mind when you know you have food stored that can be used in numerous ways. However, our family is large enough we've been developing a pantry list so that we know when we're getting too low in an item. So, I would recommend going through the pantry once a week when you do the menu/grocery list and update the inventory. Otherwise, we've found we have the illusion of having enough when we barely have enough to get us through the week. (Our goal is to have 3 months of food stored up so that if we were cut off from a store we could live off what we have... right now we're lucky if we last a week or two.) Ditto on using your pantry. Not only does it make shopping easier, but when you buy bulk you save money and your sanity. There’s a lot of peace of mind when you know you have food stored that can be used in numerous ways.

However, our family is large enough we’ve been developing a pantry list so that we know when we’re getting too low in an item. So, I would recommend going through the pantry once a week when you do the menu/grocery list and update the inventory. Otherwise, we’ve found we have the illusion of having enough when we barely have enough to get us through the week. (Our goal is to have 3 months of food stored up so that if we were cut off from a store we could live off what we have… right now we’re lucky if we last a week or two.)

]]> By: Andrea http://frugalhacks.com/2009/02/10/frugality-and-time-series-cooking-like-you-have-all-day/comment-page-1/#comment-4361 Andrea Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:57:56 +0000 http://frugalhacks.com/?p=970#comment-4361 Ditto making menus! Also, when I see I am pretty stocked up on staples, I make menus based off what I have. For examnple: If I see I have 7 cans of tuna, I will check to see if I have pasta and frozen veggies to throw together a tuna casserole. I also had a ridiculous # of cans of beans so I bought 3 boxes of cornbread for 99-cents and we had a big pot of mixed beans soup with cornbread...yummo! I have been doing this for the last two weeks and have used up a lot of overstock and saved quite a bit on meals :) Ditto making menus! Also, when I see I am pretty stocked up on staples, I make menus based off what I have. For examnple: If I see I have 7 cans of tuna, I will check to see if I have pasta and frozen veggies to throw together a tuna casserole. I also had a ridiculous # of cans of beans so I bought 3 boxes of cornbread for 99-cents and we had a big pot of mixed beans soup with cornbread…yummo! I have been doing this for the last two weeks and have used up a lot of overstock and saved quite a bit on meals :)

]]> By: lynette355 http://frugalhacks.com/2009/02/10/frugality-and-time-series-cooking-like-you-have-all-day/comment-page-1/#comment-4359 lynette355 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:51:26 +0000 http://frugalhacks.com/?p=970#comment-4359 Also #1 on savings with home cooked meals. Don't throw out left overs. Be creative or eat repeated meals. But putting food in the trash is like flushing money. Silly, wasteful and ruins a good day. Make a left over stew pot in your freezer. Use that bit of meat in a salad. Can the rice be in a stir fry tomorrow. Look and figure out how to get the most out of what you have already cooked. Also #1 on savings with home cooked meals. Don’t throw out left overs. Be creative or eat repeated meals. But putting food in the trash is like flushing money. Silly, wasteful and ruins a good day. Make a left over stew pot in your freezer. Use that bit of meat in a salad. Can the rice be in a stir fry tomorrow. Look and figure out how to get the most out of what you have already cooked.

]]>