6 Meals, $30 of Groceries
In keeping with my Low-Spend March, I am continuing my Thrifty Fasting for Lent and trying to clean out the pantry, fridge, and freezer in order to continue to be as frugal as possible while still preparing nutrient-dense, whole foods. Read the rest of this entry »
2010 Goal Updates: No Spend March!
Can you believe that one-sixth of 2010 has already passed us by?
I can’t! But 1/6 of the way through the year is a great time to check in on your New Year’s Goals and set some new goals as well.
According to DH, we are doing better on the spending. My No-Spend January and my pulling in the reigns on the food spending have really helped, as has my foray into couponing!
I’m learning ever so much about couponing, and you can check out my Real Food Couponing for some tips in that regard.
The Missed Goals:
*The Hair: I couldn’t not cut my hair. I just couldn’t. It was looking horrible and I had to get it trimmed. I might still try to gradually grow it out, but it’s very short and layered right now (an a-line “wedge”) and needs to stay under control….but the good news is I’ve found a way to earn some extra cash on the side, so I should be able to justify the haircuts.
*Blogging: I feel like I’m really not blogging as often as I’d like, because I have so many topics I’d love to write about, so many recipes to share, so many projects brewing….but I don’t know how to manage it with my schooling, my kids’ homeschooling, and housekeeping/food preparation. Right now those take priority, and hopefully soon more time will avail itself!
The Met Goals:
*Save more money: As I said above, DH gives me the “thumbs up” in this department, which is HUGE for me! He’s the accountant in the family. Your continued support of this blog (and support of my sponsors on the Resources page and purchases through the Amazon store) keep the pocket change rolling in and help this stay-at-home mom do more blogging! Oh, and it helps me toward my yurt/5-acres/goats-and-chickens fund!
*Begin making and selling cultured veggies. This was a secret goal I didn’t mention on the blog, but I’m excited to say that I have fairly successfully started selling jars of cultured veggies at a local co-op! I call them “ApotheCultures“. I keep getting positive feedback and the inventory continues to sell, so I’ll take that as a positive sign! I wish I had a way to do mail-orders for my wonderful out-of-town blog readers….but alas, it’s not yet the time for that!
New Goals:
*Nutritional Therapy: I’m halfway through my program now, and learning so much. I have two big projects turned in and a good score on the mid-term behind me, so I can spend the next month working on studying, reading, and putting what I’m learning into practice with my practice clients. This is such an amazing opportunity and I love the opportunity to work with my “guinnea pigs”! Some very neat opportunities have already presented themselves for the future of my practice, and I’m very thankful and excited at the prospect! I will reveal more details in the months to come, but suffice to say, it looks to be a great opportunity.
*Creating an e-courses: Not that I have anything great to add to the myriad of amazing works out there, but my niche seems to be feeding families with special diets (such as GAPS) in a kid- and budget-friendly way. I am hoping to put together some practical e-courses to help people learn more about the ins and outs of transitioning to a nutrient-dense, paleo way of eating that is low in sugar and starch. I am also working on a practical guide to Saving Money on a Gluten-Free/Paleo diet. So I ask you, dear reader, what kinds of e-courses would you be interested in seeing? Please leave your feedback in the comments!
*Start Seeds for My Garden- I have already started broccoli, kale, arugula, endive, and some lettuce in doors. I planted my peas (snow and sugar snap) outside in the garden. Last week the kids and I covered the entire plot of garden with some special stuff to break up the clay soil and threw lots of compost onto it. That was fun. I think my kids are going to be much more “in” to gardening this year. I plan to start tomatoes and other stuff soon as well.
*No-Spend March- Last but no least, I am dedicating the entire month of March to a no-spend month. That means NO going to Walgreen’s or Rite-Aid unless I can get something for FREE! That also means cooking from the pantry and resisting the good deals (even if New Seasons does have amazing sales!) Of course I will allow a little bit for some fresh perishables that we might need (on sale, of course!) but otherwise I really want to be frugal and in keeping with the spirit of Lent. My freezer is stocked with shrimp, scallops, veggies, and lots of leftover meals. So we should be able to make it through!
*Lower my grocery budget: I’ve been inspired by Crystal’s “31 days to a lower food budget” and am going to start buying my groceries in cash in order to help control spending. We’ve been doing really well, but I want to try to do even better! I’m planning to make the transition starting next week, but to really go full-force with a refined budget for April. I’ll keep you posted!
*Try a month of Freezer Cooking: I have never done “Once a Month Cooking” but I’m intrigued by the notion of saving time, and taking advantage of the best prices on quality ingredients in order to create nourishing, affordable meals. I will make April my “Freezer Cooking Month” and am going to begin planning now for that adventure. As always, I’ll keep you posted! I’m most excited at the idea of have breakfasts made ahead of time, such as grain-free muffins, granola, and crustless quiches.
How are you doing with your 2010 goals? What has gone well, and what are you hoping to improve upon?
Menu Plan Monday: Lenten and Paleo
I can’t believe it’s March!!!! Time to start seeds, sign the children up for swimming lessons, and figure out what we’re doing for Kindergarten next year! But, more immediately, it’s time for this week’s Menu Plan! Read the rest of this entry »
Pantry Cleanout Menu Plan
I’m beginning to see the light at the end of my freezer! There’s still lots there, thankfully, and I think I’m just going to keep up this Pantry-Based menu planning and utilize sale items and my CSA to round out the meals. This week I snagged some great deals and was able to stock up on some household essentials as well as pick up great deals on my favorite organic items using a killer combination of coupons (many mentioned in this post). Read the rest of this entry »
Pantry Cleanout Menu Plan: January 11th
Another week of eating from the fridge and pantry! I’m still excited because there’s still enough there to make creative meals….ask me again in a couple of weeks and I might not be so jazzed. But I’ve gotta say; last week was one of the simplest meal plan weeks I think I’ve ever had (considering I cooked every night)! It was simple, the food was good, and the prep was pretty easy. I think I’m going to start saving my more “involved” meals for Saturdays and Sundays! Here’s what’s on tap this week:
It’s week two of my month-long Pantry Challenge and today I’ve got an update for you as well as a recap of some of the savings in the works for our household budget, as well as a tale of how 1 pot roast turned into about 5 meals!
The Organic & Thrifty Pantry and Shopping Guide
Finally, I’ve done it. In an effort to simplify and streamline meal planning and spending in 2010, I’ve made a comprehensive list of all of the foods we buy and eat regularly and have organized them by store, where I find the best deals. I am going to make this into a 1 page document with checkboxes to help me stay focused on what we need week by week rather than whimsical wants. Of course, sales and deals are always allowed, and can be great substitutes for other things on my list. And since I’m “living off the pantry” this month, I decided to really quantify what were the essentials. Read the rest of this entry »
Day 4:Pantry Cleanout Pot Roast
I tell ya, this eating from the freezer and pantry thing is really fun! Maybe it’s because I’m finally enjoying the bounty of meats purchased months ago on major sale or finding creative uses for random root vegetables at the bottom of my veggie bin, or those last few Cajun walnuts given in a Christmas basket (thanks, Cathy!). It’s the odds and ends that sometimes come together to make the best meals…. Read the rest of this entry »
Pantry Cleanout Menu Plan: January 4th
I’ve been so excited by the challenge to eat from the pantry/fridge for the month of January (and beyond, if necessary). In a way, it makes me really thankful for all that we have and not so inclined to wastefulness. This week, while there’s still bounty, there is a lot of inspiration and I found this menu quite easy to plan for. We’ll see how things go as the weeks go by. Read the rest of this entry »
Homemade Bone Broth: Maximum Nutrition for Pennies
Day 2 of the Fridge and Pantry Cleanout was pretty minimal, as we were away all day receiving the hospitality of my dear in-laws who graciously served us lunch and dinner. Breakfast was grain-free granola (a perfect “clean the pantry” kind of breakfast!) with raw milk.
Yesterday, however, I was so excited to “harvest” 10 quarts of bone broth made from 100% grassfed cow bones. After 72 hours simmering on the stove, it was finally time. I always like to have an amply supply of ready-made beef bone or chicken broth on tap for making soups and sauces.
Why Broth?
According to Sally Fallon’s article called Broth is Beautiful:
Science validates what our grandmothers knew. Rich homemade chicken broths help cure colds. Stock contains minerals in a form the body can absorb easily—not just calcium but also magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur and trace minerals. It contains the broken down material from cartilage and tendons–stuff like chondroitin sulphates and glucosamine, now sold as expensive supplements for arthritis and joint pain.
Many of us are mineral-deficient, and the mineral supplements we take are not very bio-available. Broth is not only super nutritious, it’s so cheap and simple to make! It’s amazing what a difference in flavor cooking in broth produces!
Bone broth also contains gelatin, which Sally Fallon further expounds on in her article:
“Although gelatin is not a complete protein, containing only the amino acids arginine and glycine in large amounts, it acts as a protein sparer, helping the poor stretch a few morsels of meat into a complete meal. During the siege of Paris, when vegetables and meat were scarce, a doctor named Guerard put his patients on gelatin bouillon with some added fat and they survived in good health.”
To read the rest of the article, go here.
As for the price breakdown, I have a source for beef bones locally and can get them for $0.50 per lb!!! I use 1-2 lbs of bones at a time, along with the “ends” of the celery hearts (you know, the part you always throw away), a few carrots, and 2 large onions. Oh, and I always throw in a sheet of kelp (the see vegetable) which they say adds lots of additional trace minerals. I put it all into an 8 gallon stock pot and simmer for about 3 days.
Upon harvest, I estimate that I easily obtained about 3 gallons of beef broth, and I spent maybe $1.50 at the most for 3 gallonsof broth! This is mineral-rich, flavor-rich broth adds so much bioavailable nutrition, and enables me to stretch my meals endlessly almost. What better way to utilize some unappealing leftovers then to mix them with delicious bone broth? Better yet, is there any more inspiring way to clean out the pantry than to create your own soup?
Here are a few tips for making Thrifty Bone Broth:
1) Find a source of grass-fed beef, preferably farm direct, and ask about bones. Often butchers just throw these big bones away, so you might score a really good deal! You’re looking for large femur and knuckle bones.
2) Ask your butcher at Whole Foods or other health food store if they can order bones for you. These often come at a very fair price.
3) Save any ribs or bones from steaks that you eat in the freezer. Continue to add meat scraps until you have enough to make broth. This goes for chicken bones as well (note: I never by boneless chicken anymore; not only is it more expensive, but you don’t get the double-bonus of bones to make into broth at the end!)
4) Same with veggies; start saving the “butts” of your celery, carrot shavings/tops, and random pieces of veggies that can become a “stock kit” in your freezer.
5) When cooking your broth, assemble all ingredients in a pot with water. Add 1-2 TBS of vinegar and let it sit, unheated, for 30 minutes to an hour. The vinegar, being acidic, acts to draw the minerals out of the bones so that they are released into the broth and bioavailale!
6) Once you begin cooking, you will see “scum” form at the top of the broth. Gently skim this off. These are the impurities rising from the cooking process.
So, for Day 2 of my Fridge and Pantry Cleanout I essentially filled my fridge and freezer even more with a stash of bone broth…..but I utilized a bunch of veggies that were going bad for the broth, as well as some onions from the pantry, as well as a couple pounds of bones. I still have a huge box of bones in my freezer….I estimate these will get me through half the year at least, but we’ll see!
Tune in tomorrow to see what the menu plan for the week is, as I plan to cook from only what’s in the fridge, pantry, and freezer this week!
