Bacon n Egg Pie

Short crust ready rolled pastry 2 sheets-
1 Onion.
4 Rashes bacon

9 Eggs

1t Chives

1t Parsley

1T Milk

Pepper

Grease pie dish and place one sheet of pastry on the bottom.

Finly chop onion and bacon place in microwave for 2 minute.

Add bacon and onions to dish.
Crack eggs and place them scattered re picture.
Sprinkle on fresh parsley
good ground of pepper. Don't use salt as bacon is salty enough,

Place pastry on top & prick air holes with a fork.
Place your tablespoon of milk on top of the pie and brush with a pastry brush

Bake in a moderate oven until brown - about 20 mins.

Variation can be made with sausages too...

Plum Jam

2kg plums washed & stoned.
2 cups water
7 cups sugar.

Bring to boil fruit & water & cook until fruit is soft.
Add sugar & stir until it is dissolved.
Boil steadily for about 30 minutes or until the jam sets. I use a saucer with a bit of water & then plop a teaspoon of jam in to test, wait till it cools & then run a clean finger through the jam. IF the channel made by the finger remains open & the jam wrinkles it will be ready to bottle. If the chnnel runs together you need to keep cooking for a bit longer. The cooking time does depend on type of plums so the test system is best to use rather than time.
Pour into hot sterlized jars, seal while hot so you get the pong seal sound

Sundried tomatoes in herb olive oil

Dry your tomatoes - I use a sunbeam dehydrator
Pack dried tomatoes in sterilised jars with peeled garlic & sprigs of fresh rosemary. Fill jar with olive oil - resist eating them for at least 2 weeks so the flavours blend.

Beetroot Chocolate Cake

125g butter melted in microwave (but not runny)
75 Dark chocolate melted over a pot on stove.
300g brown sugar
4 eggs from chooks - or 3 large shop eggs
225g flour sifted
1 teaspon baking powder sifted
50g cocoa powder sifted
250g cooked beetroot grated (about 4 beetroot)

Put the butter, sugar & eggs in a boil & beat well. Mix in the melted chocolate. Fold in dry ingredients. Fold in beetroot.

Place in a 9inch cake tin well greased. I spray tin with cooking spray & pop in freezer before I begin making the cake.

Pop in a preheated oven at med heat abut 160 deg c for about 45 minutes - test with skewer & it is ready when skewer is clear.

Ice with chocolate icing. I like to use a block of chocolate melted as my icing.

$100.00 per week grocery challenge

Well I can't do $100.00 per week. Blowed if I can.
I've been keeping account of how much I am spending in side bar - even the extra trips to gas station for milk & cream.
It's Monday of week 3 & I spent $47.50 vege box & $158.24 supermarket. I've been keeping a note of main meals we are eating.
My shopping includes all meals - I pack lunches & no takeaways. And it included special foods such as rice dream milk $4.65 & rice flour $4.84.

I'd really like to see what sort of meals folks are eating on $100.00 per week, I can't get mine below $200.00 per week. And my $200.00 per week is not a true & accurate figure as I have a big stockpile, beef & lamb in freezer which cost of home kill will be included if I keep a record. And rice bread I need a new delivery this week - so that will bump up this weeks food bill.

How are you all going on keeping a record of your grocery bill?

Chili Beef & Coleslaw

Again photo never looks as appealing as it does when we sit down to eat...

Chili Beef is a quick meal & relatively inexpensive - broccoli compliments of the garden.
I got a $15.00 pack of schnitzel on sale - which will do two meals & if lucky schnitzel sandwiches.

As used less meat - and have cabbages that need to be used up as organic vege box delivery is Tuesday I beefed up the meal with coleslaw - red cabbage, green cabbage, grated carrot, avocado, mandarins & handful of raisins.

Irish Stew

A cheap meal - I make a $12.oo of rump steak (shich was on special) do two nights meals -

2 large onions
500g beef or lamb (can use less or more) I cut all the fat off meat - we don't like fat so will be less than 500g once done this.
4 large potatoes cut in chunks
5 carrots sliced
3 ribs of celery
salt n pepper
a bay leaf
a sprinkling of mixed herbs (dried) or pop in some fresh herbs of parsley, thyme & sage.
Place all in a big stock pot & cover well with water.
Let it simmer on the stove top until veges tender & you are ready to serve (about 2 hours)

I serve it in soup bowls with a sprinkling of parsley
And served with home made poor mans bread - which I add in fresh herbs in the dough - to make herb poor mans bread.

Roast Lamb

Lamb is a cheap meal for us - due to home kill - I have got quite good at making lots of different lamb meals. My roast lamb is prepared with slits in the meat & insert cloves of garlic (home grown - when my new garden is underway I am going to plant a lot more garlic) and rosemary. Plus lots of fresh sea salt.
A rosemary bush is a must have in the garden - Do you know a home where rosemary thrives is ruled by a woman.

I like cooking roasts - once all prepared it pretty much cooks by itself leaving me time to do something I like - usually sneak some craft work in, and the left over meat is good for lunch.
Roast lamb served with roast potatoes, yams, kumera, carrots, cabbage & spinach & frozen mint peas with gravy.
My photo taking is getting better - some of the meals have looked blah in photos - I bet for all the glossy cookbooks the food is cold.

Rosemary originally came from the Mediterranean and was brought to northern Europe by the Romans. It is used in cooking, as a medicine, and as a pest control. It has been considered an herb of romance and faithfulness throughout the centuries. It is used in wedding decorations, as a charm ensuring fidelity and remembrance and given as gifts. Legend says that a man who doesn't like the scent of rosemary will be a lousy lover.

Sunday times article

The Sunday times article states that a basic food only BASIC budget for a mum & dad, teenage son & teenage daughter is $260.00 per week (living in Auckland or Wellington) Add in non-food items such as cleaning products and toiletries and the bill goes up by $16 a week. Total grocery shop per week is $276.00

A moderate shop that contains some convenience food and greater variety leaps to between $328 (Dunedin) and $339 (Wellington) whereas a liberal budget which allows for more expensive cuts of meat, specialty items and convenience products comes in at between $393 (Dunedin) and $407 (Wellington). That would climb again with non-food items costed at $31 for a moderate shop and $48 for a liberal spend.

From this article I would put our family in the Liberal class as we do like nicer cuts of meat and require specialty items for food allergies this would mean my food budget should be $455.00 per week.

Now this just proves that the way I shop, buying in bulk, buying on sale, keeping a price book, buying meat from home kill & raising our own sheep, keeping our own hens for eggs, having a vege garden (even tho not producing much at this time of year)packing our own lunches is totally well worth all my efforts. And I bet the Sunday times figures doesn't take into account brought lunches & takeaways.

Tacos & Apple Pie

Again there is something satisfying when you can provide a meal from the land. It really doesn't get better than picking a lettuce straight from garden. The mince was lamb mince (about 500g but you ca use beef & can use less mince just beef it up with kidney beans), I gave a leg of lamb to a fried this week & she wanted to know what it's name was so they could give thanks at the dinner table...

One of James friends is a very fussy eater - doesn't eat any fruit or vegetables. So when he stays I make meals that I know he will eat & we can still enjoy our veges. And I can't help myself I sneak in some fruit & vege he will eat - such as apple pie.

This is a great beginners meal & both kids can whip this up.

500g of mince - I don't mind cheap mince as I just boil it dry - ie no water or oil, drain the fat, boil again. Doesn't take long then I add finely diced onion, crushed garlic, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander, 1/2 teaspoon chili (adjust to taste) salt n pepper.
2 tins watties tomato pasta sauce -
Optional is add a tin of kidney beans or chili kidney beans - can use less mince & make it go further

Then just prepare toppings, I've found kids really enjoy meals where they can help themselves.
lettuce, grated carrot, chopped tomato, taco sauce, cheese (we just make sure seperate tongs are used for cheese & everyone is careful not to contaminate the food - this is really important for guests to learn) mashed avocado - we had 3 avocados in vege box so I mashed 2 - due to allergies I just mash the avocado - if had visitors that would prefer sourcream, would split it & add sour cream & lemon juice to one bowl- but you do get use to not having sour cream.


Apple Pie
There was no need for pudding - but as James friend enjoys puddings I made an apple pie.
Very, very cheats way. I buy prerolled pastry - sweet short pastry, just peel off two sheets per pie, I'm not brand fussy - just which ever is on sale.

Peel & stew the apples - great way to use up bruised or mushy apples. - peel, take out core & cut finely - while preparing have pot of water to cover apple slices. I always make a big pot as can freeze the puree - usually it gets eaten for breakfast next day.
Once all peeled drain & leave a little water in pot & put on to cook.

I like chuncky apple pie not pureed so don't fully stew apples.
Best if you can prepare this ahead - as hot apple on pastry makes it go soggy.
But if no time - just pop dish in oven with bottom layer of pastry for a few minutes until it cooks. Then place apple on top - with about 1 teaspoon of cinamon sprinkled. - Top with another sheet of pastry. Prick holes & bake at 160 deg c until cooked.
Serve with whipped cream for those who like it/ can have it.

James just enjoys a large bowl of stewed apple.

Budget - a quick trip to shop for cream & milk $7.40 weeks budget = $174.46

Beef Casserole

Organic vege box delivery $47.50 - total weekly spend on food this week $167.06

Beef Casserole

Approx 500g beef I prefer rump steak & buy it when on special - we like lean non gristly meat & I cut off every bit of fat - so for our family worth paying a bit more for the cut of meat - less waste.
1 large onion diced
2-3 carrots sliced
2-3 stalks celery
2 bay leaves (James gave me a bay leaf tree fo my birthday & I just love picking the leaves!)
about 4 stems of parsley
salt n pepper
1 packet of beef stock - I use cambells real stock & top up with water to cover ingredients.
I try & let this for a day or at least overnight.

Pop in a med oven about 160 deg c and let it slowly cook. Just before serving I thicken if needed with 1 tablespoon of cornflour (make a paste in a cup of gravy water with 1 tablespoon of cornflour - then stir back into dish)

Served with mashed potatoes (yuck) - we only mash & have a dollop of olivani (dairy free) o milk we have got used to this
cabbage & cauliflower

And caught in the act eating dinner on our knees as I had forgoten to snap a photo. This is one of my least fav meals - but the family enjoy caseroles especial on a cold winters night.

Stockpiling

This weeks stockpiling at woolworths $119.56
Specials I homed in on - was rain check from last weeks chickpeas $1.59 - I got 10 tins
Baked beans watties on sale again - another 4 tins for $5.00
Shaved ham 2 packs for $5.00 - Brent likes these in his lunch & as full of preservatives they keep
Choysa tea bags $2.99 each so I got 2 - I'm over being fussy with brands for tea - I buy what is on sale.
Purex 16 pack for 6.99 - good price works out to be 44c roll good buy!
tegal chicken pieces 2kg $10.99

No photo sorry - time just was too short next coffee break I'll add in side bar a running total of weeks shopping -

It takes time to get to where I am for grocery shopping (ie bulk items are on sale because my pantry is stocked) Again I find it fun beating the supermarkets at their game and rather satisfying knowing we can shop at home cheaper.

If you are just starting out - your price book is the key. Then slowly as you watch the weekly specials you will see a bargain.

From excess money you have gathered - be it from eating frugal for a few weeks, making the weekly shopping last an extra day -( so after a few weeks you actually have a spare weeks shopping money), selling items on trade me, using tax refund.. watching what you are buying at the supermaket - cooking from scratch, making families lunches, having morning tea/afternoon tea at friends houses not cafes, not buying magazines, using the library, what ever means to get a few spare bucks ywhich you can use to start stockpiling.

Start slow - buy only items you will eat/use - watch expiry dates!!!!
Only buy one or two extra tins to begin with - slowly over the year your stockpile will grow & you will have extra cash to buy more in bulk once you begin shopping from home.

Meals for the 9th July

Packed lunch....
I had packed Brent some left over soup & then found out he was going on a course - mm no time to change lunch plan so $10.00 from shopping budget - Brent & I are big kids & we make our frugal lifestyle a game (nb we are frugal by choice, we both like nice things & have hobbies so we choose what we want to spend our money on - brought lunches is not one of them!) And by us being frugal it is like I am out earning a part time wage - but I get to stay home BEAM!

Brent was shocked - it was $16.00 and a few cents for his lunch at a cafe - he said it was nice bar the price. - He had a fish cake with a poached egg on top, rocket, fancy mayo stuff 1/2 a tomato & a small tiny, wincy bottle of orange juice. - He prefers my packed lunches.

Dinner....
I only buy my meat when on special - we like nice cuts of meat & they do come on special, we have lamb off paddock & 1/4 a beef from friends home kill. This pack of $12.00 rump steak will do two dinners & two lunches.
I prepare them in the morning to get flavours though the meat - Brent doesn't like meaty taste if you know what I mean - so marinating the meat gets the meat to take on the spices & flavours.
Meal one was Beef curry recipe here

I'm not too good at taking a photo for you all - it's like dish up & go while it's hot.
I added purple cauli - not a good choice looked a bit blah in meal - we also had fresh mango which is a bit of a treat & jazzes up the meal. (we fight ver who is going to suck the pip)

Mairinating in casserolle dish is a beef casserolle for Friday nights dinner - easy all I have to do it turn it on - great meal for when busy - or excellent for crockpot (both of these will be nice in crockpot)

Food for 8th July

Packed Lunch...
Lettuce & beetroot from garden, carrot,, celery, cheese & egg from then hen, Tin of sweet chilli tuna (comes on sale often!) fruit & a hedgehog.

Bacon & vegetable soup Served with poor mans bread


My soups never ever turn out the same they are what ever is in fridge type soup.
My base was a bacon hock ($4.95) and then everything just gets thrown in pot covered with water & left to simmer away all afternoon. My family likes is all whizzed up to a soup texture before serving (take out bacon & shred it retun shredded bacon back to pot after whizzing soup, Family enjoy getting chunks of bacon).
Soup is a cheap, easy meal - I often pop in crockpot if going to be out & want a meal ready when I get home. Or prepared early & started to cook before turning off & then just reheating when I get home.
Ok I threw in this soup - leeks, onion, celery, pumpkin, kumera, potato, carrots - no rules just what ever is on hand - I don't add salt as bacon can be satly enough but do add pepper & family seasons it to their taste.
Always enough left over soup & bread for lunch

Meals for 7th July

Packed lunches today were sandwiches with lettuce, ham, grated carrot, tomato & cheese, home baking & fruit.
Dinner was cornflake chicken
take a pack of chicken pieces - watch for these they come on special often. Clean out fat & guts. If no egg allergy roll the pieces in egg & milk then roll in crushed cornflakes. We have egg allergy & for safety issues I just miss out the egg step, - don't dry the chicken & the cornflakes stick ok - but not as well with being dipped in egg first.
Drizzle olive oil over the top & bake at mod oven until cooked.
Served with Roast Medley I used potatoes, kumera, onion, beetroot & parsnip
Served with fresh beans & brussel sprouts

Costing ummm
$10.99 2kg tegal chicken pieces (on sale) I used full 2kg pack but I have enough left over for lunch tomorrow. Living with allergies I usually have left overs for lunch. Members who are wheat free get first pickings.
Have no idea how much beans & brussel sprouts say $3.50 per pack =$7.00
3 potatoes, $1.00
1 kumera $1.00
2 carrots 40c
1 parsnip $1.00
1 onion 50c
beetroot free from garden
extras - garlic (was free from garden) olive oil, salt n pepper - herbs free from garden, cornflakes $2.00
approx costing $23.89

But again left overs for lunch. I like in season food & new season food is usually dearer - new small brussel sprouts are the best time to eat. And we love fresh beans (probably from overseas sigh) - could make it cheaper with different vegetables but well we like variety.

Hedgehogs

These are my personal favourite biscuits, my mums recipe.

4 oz butter
20z sugar (use 4 oz if you like sweet - I always have less sugar in most of my recipes)
1 egg
6 0z flour
1 Tablespoon golden syrup
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup sultanas (don't be stingy)
cornflakes

Cream butter & sugar, add other ingredients. Roll into small balls & then roll into cornflakes.
Place on greased tray in a mod oven for 20 minutes.

Food for 6th July

What's in the tins this week.

Apple cake - recipe here

Anzac Biscuits (allergy free) - recipe here

Hedgehogs - recipe here

Packed Lunch - Monday
1 tin spaghetti, add 1 egg, grated cheese salt n pepper - a mix for toastie pies to make up at work - 6 slices of bread as Brent missed breakfast - running out of time. Apple cake, & 3 pieces of fruit.

Dinner....
Chili Con carne recipe here
Price... mince was lamb mince from paddock only 250g so if brought in shop approx $2.50
1 tin chili beans $1.59
1 tin tomato paste $1.83
rice $1.00
$1.00 to cover onion, garlic, spices
Coleslaw
1/4 cabbage 61c
2 carrots grated 20c
1 beetroot grated free from garden
2 stalks celery 20c
1 avocado $1.58

Total price $10.51
Plus there is one serving left over for lunch

Anzac biscuits (allergy Free)

50 g rice flour
50 g sugar
1/4 cup coconut
1/2 cup rolled oats
50g olivani (dairy free spread)
1 Tablespoon golden syrup
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 Tablespoons hot water.
Mix together flour, sugar, coconut & oats. Melt olivani & golden syrup. Disolve baking soda in boiling water. Make a well in centre of dry ingredients, add wet ingredients & mix well.
Add more rice flour if mixture is too wet.

Roll into balls & put on sprayed tin. Bake at 180 deg c for about 20 - 25 mins. Leave on tray to cool.

Beginning to stockpile

I've had a few friends ask me how can they start stockpiling when their money is tight.

My first suggestion would be get your price book going this is the key to stockpiling. If you don't start learning your prices you will not know when there is a bargain to stockpile.
Again I've shared here how I use my price book - you can be as simple as me or if I had a fancy phone/palm I'd love to have it in that - but a budget exercise book works fine. The key is just start & begin - don't get too hang up on how to do it. I've got a friend who wants to but likes things done just right - hence she still is yet to start.

Starting to stockpile on a budget.

1. For a week or two (pick your weeks when life is easy ie husband away on travel, no visitors, no one sick) and plan a week of frugal meals - more challenging if you have food allergies but if not meals like maccaroi cheese, soup, pizza, toasted sandwiches, pancakes, pudding for dinner, bacon n eggs, baked beans on toast. It's not going to hurt you for a week or two to go without meat & veges and if you get all the family on board it can be fun!

2. Cook from food in your fridge, pantry or freezer for the week - buying only must haves.

3. Go through house & look for items you don't need any more - hold a garage sale, or have a stall at market - or put items on trade me.

4. Join in the no spend weeks currently run on blogs

5. If your panty, fridge, freezer is low then just keep $10.00 aside from this weeks grocery to begin your stockpile fund.

6. Change your shopping day each week so the food is lasting 8 days not 7 - eg if normally shop Wed, next week go Thursday, following week Friday so on it's really fun how inventive your meals can be to make that day before shopping last - have another frugal meal as above in no 1.

Go get your pric book set up - start planning some frugal meals for this week, sell some no longer wanted items,. But just choose one or two things this week from the above to do - if you try & do it all you will feel too stressed & give up.

You will be doing great this week if you just get your price book started.

Stir Fry Chicken (left overs & allergy free meal)

A quick meal that can use up left over roast chicken.

Prepare all veges then shred left over chicken.

Veges I used - 1 large onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1/2 inch of fresh ginger chopped.
2 carrots, broccoli, purple cauli, shredded cabbage, few fresh beans.

Boil the jug & pour hot water over rice put on heat.

Heat big pan or wok, add a bit of olive oil heat then add onion, garlic & ginger - have heat hot you want to cook everything fast.
Add carrots then shredded chicken.
I like broccoli, cauli crunchy so add next. Then throw in beans, lastly the cabbage - it doesn't take long - mine was over cooked waiting for family members to come inside - timing can be an issue when cooking.

Then add tinned pineapple pieces & about 1/2 in juice, couple of good squirts of tamiri sauce (soya sauce),
Drain rice should be cooked by now & dish up.
This meal is one of my takeaway meals - it is fast to cook - bit of time taken to chop up the veges but get the kids to help, even little kids can help.
If you are going wheat free keep some for leftovers for lunch & take to work/school in a food flask or heat up for lunch.

Costing...
$4.50 left over chicken (we didn't use any for sandwiches so quite a lot of chicken in this dish could get away with less)
$.50c 1/2 a tin of budget pineapple
$1.00 1/2 broccoli
$.61c 1/4 cabbage
$2.00 to cover carrots, purple cauli, ginger, tamiri sauce, olive oil, onion, beans (garlic free from garden)
$1.00 rice
Say approx $10.00 to feed 2 adults & 2 teens - with one very hungry teen boy.

It is also an easy meal if visitors pop in you just add more veges & rice & it will feed a lot more people. I smiled catching James saying to a friend - stay for lunch my mum will always find you something to eat.