Love Those Two-fors!!!!

Love Those Two-fors!!!
I love my grocer’s specials and coupons. You can easily save 25% and more on your monthly grocery bill by taking advantage of two-for-ones, buying staples in bulk and using coupons. Realistically, most manufacturers’ coupons are for toiletries and junk food. A better find are your local grocers ‘deals of the week’ on dairy, meat, vegetables and staples. Many grocers now offer items labeled organic, although these are less often ‘on sale’ (as opposed to ‘for sale’). Spend 5 minutes at the beginning of the week checking out the advertisements in your local newspaper. Find where the specials are, then plan your menu for the week accordingly. Be a little smart about ‘the math’ as ‘sale items’ are not always a good deal. Make a list or circle the items on your flyer; this helps you to stick to your budget when you are in the store. It’s a smart idea not to grocery shop when you or your kids are hungry. Sometimes a trip to more than one store is an advantage, but this may not be feasible if the transportation costs outstrip your savings. If your finances and space allow, take advantage of the specials of the week and purchase a bit more to freeze or store in your pantry. Remember the lemons? I bought those at the end of the summer 5/$1.00. Two are still in my freezer waiting to be enjoyed.

TIP: Defrost lemons whole in the micro wave (careful they get really hot!) or on your countertop in a small dish. Use the juice in place of bottled…it’s much better tasting. One lemon has approx 2 Tbsp juice. The zest or peel is easiest to grate frozen and is delicious in baked goods.

Love Your Freezer

I love that I live in an age where I can freeze stuff....all kinds of stuff. Did you know that you can freeze lemons? (and then have fresh lemon juice or zest in winter....in Wisconsin..... without paying exorbitant prices!?!) Yep, I freeze lemons, extra chopped onions, all kinds of herbs, vegetable peelings for vegetable stock, ham bones, bread, cookies (!) as well as the more usual things that normal people freeze....like meats that go on sale, vegetables and an occasional pizza. Judicious use of your freezer is unbelievably convenient. You can take advantage of sale items and freeze some for later use, thus saving cash and your time. You can make extra black or pinto beans for chili, an extra pot of soup, an extra lasagne (if you are making one, why not two?) or a sauce base like a curry or a creole to freeze now and pull out later for a fast dinner. If you have a garden, you can preserve home grown vegetables (you know if chemicals have been put on it and how fresh it was when you froze it). There ARE a few items that do not freeze well....noodles being one but for the most part, anything you freeze can be an ingredient to a cooked dish. You may want to keep an inventory of sorts so you don't find interesting food-like substances in bags lurking in the far recesses of your freezer. I still find an occasional surprise, but......... I love my freezer!!!!!