In anticipation for the holiday season and the birth of our baby, I have decided to do some bulk cooking to put in the freezer.
This week the stores have great sales, so here I go.
Pork Roast .88 cents a pound
ground beef 2.00 a pound and
chicken quarters .59 a pound
Sausage .99 a pound
Today I spent a lot of time cooking 30 pounds of chicken quarters. Then I boned it and shredded it- blech!!
I ended up with around 100oz of chicken, great right?
Well I spent $18 for 30 pounds of chicken. It was reduced to around 7 pounds of chicken after cooking and throwing away bones and skin. That is about 2.80 a pound. Moral of the story... next time boneless skinless chicken is on sale for 1.99 buy it and save a lot of work! :)
Tomorrow I'll continue my quest for 60 freezer meals...
I sat at the table while I shredded though and watched a great movie- Take Me Home. It's and independent film about driving cross country in a cab and the relationship that ensues. I really enjoyed it.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
Time is Money
I love to make it myself and save.
Sometimes though, time is more valuable and it pays to know when to buy it instead of make it.
Reading at this blog has helped me to make decisions about whether or not it's worth it to make it myself.
I am a stay-at-home mom. Occasionally I work as a substitute teacher. When I work, I make $12 an hour.
My logic:
Spend my time wisely by buying things:
I gave away many tomatoes yesterday, but still the box stared at me from across the room.
My decision? Spend time to make them into sauce, or throw them away. Spaghetti and pizza are some of our families favorite meals. Still, I was tempted to carry the treasure to the can since it's trash day.
Instead, I found a recipe and got to work.
I set the timer to see if my time would pay off.
It took me one hour and twenty minutes to do all of this. It should yield 18 cups of sauce.
My hour and a half yielded about 9 family servings. My time is worth that. Also this is organic sauce and I know exactly what is in it, which is priceless to me.
Now I'm going to nap while it simmers. I'm six and a half months pregnant and I've been really busy, so I think I've earned it.
An hour of sleep is worth more than $12 to me!
PS- logging back on to offer one more tip. When I went to stir the sauce, I noticed the water/juice had risen to the top. I ladeled it off and got four bowls of tomato soup so that it would have evaporated away. I loaded it up with cheese and sour cream for my lunch! :) Gotta have a full tummy for my nap!
Sometimes though, time is more valuable and it pays to know when to buy it instead of make it.
Reading at this blog has helped me to make decisions about whether or not it's worth it to make it myself.
I am a stay-at-home mom. Occasionally I work as a substitute teacher. When I work, I make $12 an hour.
My logic:
Spend my time wisely by buying things:
- that would take me more than an hour to make
- and that cost less than $12.
My decision? Spend time to make them into sauce, or throw them away. Spaghetti and pizza are some of our families favorite meals. Still, I was tempted to carry the treasure to the can since it's trash day.
Instead, I found a recipe and got to work.
I set the timer to see if my time would pay off.
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| Washed and ready to go- the bad spots were trimmed off. |
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| While I waited for the water to boil, I set up my assembly line. |
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| I decided to add a blender because I don't like chopping and my littles like smooth sauce. |
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| Boiling to remove skins. The worst part! :) Tip: recipes say 30 seconds to split, mine took much longer. Just keep boiling, enjoy your free steam facial! |
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| Put in ice bath- yay for ice makers! This is the first one I've ever had! :) |
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| Another tip- keep your cutting board in cookie sheet and catch all that juice- no drips! |
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| Slide skins off. Some tomatoes never split, I made a slice and they slid off. |
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| Put in blender- whirl em up. |
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| Between batches I cut up onions, peppers and garlic. I added WAY more garlic and onions! |
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| Done! It has to simmer a long time to thicken. I remembered to rinse all pots, blender and utensils so they won't have glued on terribles. Also I used the damp towel from drying the tomatoes to wipe all cabinets/counters that may have splashes or drips. :) After it thickens and cools, I'll freeze it. Real canning intimidates me and I don't have jars. |
My hour and a half yielded about 9 family servings. My time is worth that. Also this is organic sauce and I know exactly what is in it, which is priceless to me.
Now I'm going to nap while it simmers. I'm six and a half months pregnant and I've been really busy, so I think I've earned it.
An hour of sleep is worth more than $12 to me!
PS- logging back on to offer one more tip. When I went to stir the sauce, I noticed the water/juice had risen to the top. I ladeled it off and got four bowls of tomato soup so that it would have evaporated away. I loaded it up with cheese and sour cream for my lunch! :) Gotta have a full tummy for my nap!
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Nursing pads
Are you noticing a theme?
Yes, I'm on a major sewing and getting ready for baby kick.
I had registered for some reusable nursing pads. It cost $10-15 for six pads. It made me feel bad to ask someone to buy circles of cloth for that. So I read up on it and made some out of two old shirts, a microfiber towel scrao and some fleece scraps. It cost me $0.50 for the scraps I had left over from other projects.
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| Layers- blue fleece, 4 layers of T-shirt and the light blue microfiber towel in them middle. |
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First I drew five inch circles on a pile of fabric. Then I pinned and zigzagged around them twice.
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| Cut carefully |
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| Done. The blue microfleece will wick so I'll be dry. The other side is white. |
Cloth Diaper
I have decided to use cloth diapers with our new little guy coming in December.
I enjoy saving money, maybe more than spending it!
I like spending on experiences, vacations and family times, but I really don't like spending money on things I throw away. Things like paper towels, expensive toilet paper, zip top bags, paper cups and plates are wonderful to have, but annoying because I'm essentially paying for something to use one time and throw away.
As I think on the coming years of baby wonder, I don't relish the idea of spending hundreds of dollars on diapers and wipes to let baby make a mess on and then throw away. I would so much rather work a little more to wash and save up and buy a plane ticket to see my precious family in California and Arizona.
So I began my quest of cloth diapering. Man, there are many options! It's not grandma's diaper and pins anymore, thankfully!
As I sorted through these piles of options, I was shocked to see how much diapering could cost. The point of using cloth is to save money right?!
Some diapers were so expensive that I couldn't imagine spending all the money up-front to save money eventually.
So I googled and read and found that I can make my own diapers. I dusted off the old Singer and got to work. I did buy some materials, but mostly I upcycled fabric!
I bought some water proof covers for them to keep all dry and tidy.
I enjoy saving money, maybe more than spending it!
I like spending on experiences, vacations and family times, but I really don't like spending money on things I throw away. Things like paper towels, expensive toilet paper, zip top bags, paper cups and plates are wonderful to have, but annoying because I'm essentially paying for something to use one time and throw away.
As I think on the coming years of baby wonder, I don't relish the idea of spending hundreds of dollars on diapers and wipes to let baby make a mess on and then throw away. I would so much rather work a little more to wash and save up and buy a plane ticket to see my precious family in California and Arizona.
So I began my quest of cloth diapering. Man, there are many options! It's not grandma's diaper and pins anymore, thankfully!
As I sorted through these piles of options, I was shocked to see how much diapering could cost. The point of using cloth is to save money right?!
Some diapers were so expensive that I couldn't imagine spending all the money up-front to save money eventually.
So I googled and read and found that I can make my own diapers. I dusted off the old Singer and got to work. I did buy some materials, but mostly I upcycled fabric!
I bought some water proof covers for them to keep all dry and tidy.
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| This is a fitted diaper. I made it out of Grandma Smith's towels. |
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| I lined it with new fleece so that baby will feel dry! Added elastic for a better fit. |
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| I left the pocket open so I can add a more absorbency if needed. |
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| This funky pattern is called a Quick Flap Wrap Snap- you fold in those wings to make a soaker- |
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| OFWS folded up. |
Friday, September 28, 2012
Upcycling
That is such a nice word that means to reuse something to make something new.
Perfect idea for people who love second hand shopping, like me!
I am a no nonsense thinker and also I am a thrifty (read cheap!)
Yesterday at the thrift store, I found a big ole bag of 6.5" quilt squares. It looked like someone planned to make a T-shirt and flannel quilt and then decided to donate it to the thrift store instead.
What did I see? Upcycled cloth wipies!
Perfect idea for people who love second hand shopping, like me!
I am a no nonsense thinker and also I am a thrifty (read cheap!)
Yesterday at the thrift store, I found a big ole bag of 6.5" quilt squares. It looked like someone planned to make a T-shirt and flannel quilt and then decided to donate it to the thrift store instead.
What did I see? Upcycled cloth wipies!
Today I sewed 35 double sided wipes! I just zigzaged around he edge and trimmed close to the seams. I think the knit will wash great. Hubby won't be using these to change baby, but I figured I could use them and save a few dimes for airfare and vacations instead. Priorities you know!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Overwelming gratitude
Today I'm so thankful for what I have and the things I've been given. God's blessings are so evident.
Fall is my favorite season and because of years of school and teaching it reminds me to take stock of all I have, organize anew and prepare for the year. It is more motivating to me than New Year's or Spring cleaning. :)
I love my town: small streets, each with a sidewalk with fall leaves floating down from the trees above. love!
My kid's sweet teachers: helping me to raise them giving me sweet reprieve and a time for renewing.
My home and all that fills it: No nonsense things that never go out of style like cast iron frying pans and old fashioned arm chairs I found and fixed up.
My dear children: I love checking on them at night; seeing their beautiful angel faces and having that sweet time to pray for them and remember that everything is going to be OK, no matter how hard the day may have been.
My sweet husband: and his patience for me. That guy knows me and all my crap, and still loves me, how can it be?
New blogs to start again fresh. I hope to be an encouragement here to love what you have, live how you need to and realize that not "everyone is doing it" and that the "Jones'" don't matter.
A joyous day to you!
Fall is my favorite season and because of years of school and teaching it reminds me to take stock of all I have, organize anew and prepare for the year. It is more motivating to me than New Year's or Spring cleaning. :)
I love my town: small streets, each with a sidewalk with fall leaves floating down from the trees above. love!
My kid's sweet teachers: helping me to raise them giving me sweet reprieve and a time for renewing.
My home and all that fills it: No nonsense things that never go out of style like cast iron frying pans and old fashioned arm chairs I found and fixed up.
My dear children: I love checking on them at night; seeing their beautiful angel faces and having that sweet time to pray for them and remember that everything is going to be OK, no matter how hard the day may have been.
My sweet husband: and his patience for me. That guy knows me and all my crap, and still loves me, how can it be?
New blogs to start again fresh. I hope to be an encouragement here to love what you have, live how you need to and realize that not "everyone is doing it" and that the "Jones'" don't matter.
A joyous day to you!
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