Hello I need some help I have been trying to make things from scratch but do to health reason I don't have the engery to make alot of things from scratch, any ideas on how I could still lower my food bill, Right now I make these from scratch
Rice krispy treats (for kids snacks, hubby's lunch)
muffins, (banana and pumpkin (fresh pulp i did my self from whole pumpkins and froze)
most meals,
Side dishes with bought pasta and rice
I have stopped buying soda the kids drink Kool-ade, and lemonade the store brand of if it is on sale for 10 for $1.00
I have bought marked down meat and divided it.
smoothies for the kids made with frozen fruit, and store bought yogurt
I have been using dried beans instead of canned.
things i buy already made
Yeast rolls (frozen store brand 24 rolls for $1.88 thats 2 meals for our family)
tortillas had coupons got them for 84 cents
have some store bought sides bought on sale with coupons
gravy mixes,
cearl when on sale and when i have a coupon I buy malt-o-meal with coupons
pancake mixes
syurp
that is all i can think of right now, any ideas would be helpful thanks

I make lemonade from the concentrated lemon juice from Aldis and sugar. The HUGE bottle is only .99 and lasts us a LONG time.

Is there a bread thrift store near you? I can get 2 large packs of dinner rolls for $1.00 most times, good bread 2/$1.00 and sub buns 3/$1.00. I fill the freezer with them!

kj

It sounds like your doing pretty good already. My thought is to get those kids in the kitchen! Let them scan the ads, tell them your grocery budget and how many meals you need for the week. Teach them how to coupon, how to look up recipies online and then let them cook it.

My dd's are 18 and 20 years old and they just love to contol the grocery money. They will even shop for me. The added bonus to this is that they know how much money there is and if they help plan the meals, they can not complain about the meals.

I also have an 11 year old neice who will come to stay with us on weekends that can cook up a storm with my supervision.

*waldorf salad: celery sliced small, aplles sliced, and walnuts.
*clam chowders(with juice) or corn (cream style corn)
*tortillas, P.B. rolls for lunches; heated up or cold with sald and favourite cooked leftover meat. i use salad drssings in mine. I t spread margarine, garlic and make them in slices, then bake at 400 F till slightly crispy, makes great snacks.
*oatmeal is amust in my family, for muffins ( half oat. half flour), and on top of desserts, and in cookies, and breakfast, i use mollasses ontop of our oatmeal.
*cereals - i use cornflakes, for breakfast and coating chicken. i use shreded wheat beacuse it doesnt take as much to fill them up. and i put them in cookies.
*i use powdered milk for baking never cows milk, too exspensive, and for package puddings; i use puddings also for thick shakes, and half fill up with ice, blends all together thick.
*baked beans and biscuits
*french toast, not just for breakfast
*

*instant noodle ans soup mixes, graet for starter soups and amkes agreat meal if put veggies and meat in them. they cost here generic brand .25 cents per one.
*graham squares covered in P.b with apples celery. cream cheese on them with apple. snacks
*banana bread , freezes easily
*lemon pies or choc. pies, i find it cheaper to buy at dollar stores, (fillings) and put in graham crust.
*waffles if u have the machine (almost same as pancke mix, thicker), they freeze well and easy to heat up in toaster. this is cheaper to make in bulk for me, them buy prepared.
*mayonaise biscuits( i ahve reciepe if u want it) very cheap and easy to make
*jamfilled buns--biscuit dough with hole in middle, put jam in it, and bake
*tuna casseroles
*i find chilli to cheaper to buy at wendys and freeze then make.
*easy choc. drop cookies-- if u want recpie , easy to make and feeze and put extras in it, like choc. chips. mm, smarties, skor bar, etc.

Looking at your list of things you buy ready-made and considering that you have health issues, these are my suggestions.

1. Continue to buy yeast rolls and tortillas as these require time in the kitchen, on your feet, to make.

2. Consider making your own yogurt. I have a tutorial over in the scratch cooking area. I'll find it and bump it up. You can heat the water while you're making a meal and then while it incubates, you don't have to be in the kitchen. A quart of milk makes a quart of yogurt and my milk costs half of what yogurt costs.

3. Consider making your own pancake mix. You could sit at the table and mix up a large batch of flour, sugar, baking powder, etc. Then when you want to make pancakes it's all ready to go, just like store-bought. You'll save significantly over the cost of ready-made mix.

4. As we come into the warm months, fresh seasonal fruit may be cheaper than frozen fruit, for the smoothies. Bananas are always cheap.

5. You can also make your own large batches of homemade gravy mix. I have a recipe at home - if you haven't found one on the 'net by Monday, pm me and I'll share my gravy mix recipe with you. It's basically milk powder (purchased bulk), bouillion and corn starch. Pretty cheap ingredients.

6. As far as cereal, does your family like oatmeal. You can buy old-fashioned oats dirt cheap. On a day you feel well, sit down and put together ready-made packets. I make mine with oats, brown sugar, raisins & cinnamon. I have a second baggie with premeasured powdered milk (it clumps if I put it with the other ingredients). When my kids want oatmeal for breakfast, I put water in the pan, mix the milk baggie into the other baggie, bring the water to a boil, mix in the ingredients, cook & stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes. I also save and reuse those baggies over and over.

HTH! :)

If you don't have the energy to make a lot from scratch, I recommend making big mixes that are basically 'just add water and stir'. Or cooking double/triple batches, eating one and freezing the others. Though looking at your family composition that might be more difficult. Other than that, I second getting those older kids in particular into the kitchen to help cook. They can make the snacks, treats and desserts. Also the salads. You can do the main course at first. Eventually they should be able to cook one supper meal a week. My older teens do/did this.

Jean

Canadian Gardener does alot of once a month cooking (OAMC). This is especially helpful for those that don't have the energy or time to cook from scratch daily. Look up those threads too.

Also, Miserly moms has put out a cookbook with cheap meals in it. I have read through it and haven't tried any yet. But there is a thread somewhere here about frugal meals that'll get your through.

Thanks for all the great ides, I do have a bread store, here, but, the rolls and such are no more cheaper then if i buy them frozen and do the last rise my self, figured it out the frozen was ceaper plus they cook better, I would love any recipes that you have I have read the yogurt making recipes just have not had the engery to try it my kids do help with meal planning, and looking for deals and coupons, I also have a kitchen helper each night so they are learning to cook I buy bananas at walmart for 29 cents a lb and what my kids do not eat i freeze, I plan on making the mixes from scratch pancake mix and biscute mix but my problem is there is just so much to get done when i am have a good day it never seems i have the time. I have gotten a decent stock pile built up which helps, and right now i am going to be using most of it in the next few weeks due to some high utility bills, i am going to try the yogurt recipe this week. also if you would post the recipes for the gravy mix and others you mentioned i would appricate it I have only one kid that really like oatmeal. I would love the lemon aid recipe using lemon contractat I have been looking for one and can't find one. I did make my own beef rice mix last week and everyone loved it I got some bags of vemichille for 25 cents a piece they have enought in them to make 4 bags of mix for my family that equals 3 store bough boxes, so i am going to make those up I think i will get my 2 oldest that are 19 and 20 to help me make up some mixes this week, does anyone have some good recipes for home made cake mixes. and frosting like butter frosting or cream cheese frosting. also recipes on makeing jello form geltin, i have not found any of these yet. thanks for all the help i really apprictate..

My only suggestions would be this:

-have you tried homemade tortillas? "Not Just Beans" by Tawra Keller has a great recipe that I use and it's cheaper than store bought (and probably better for you).

-homemade dinner rolls rather than storebought. My recipe makes 30 rolls (more if you make them smaller) and comes out to less than 4 cents per roll (now that I've found yeast in bulk at Sam's Club).

-adding oatmeal to ground beef to stretch it in meals like meatloaf, tacos, or sloppy joes.

-maybe look into making homemade granola bars instead of the rice krispy treats. The price may be the same, but at least granola bars have a little more nutrition in them than r/k treats.

Yankee Mom, i would love to make things from scratch the problem is my health does not allow me to that as much as i would like, thanks for the web site i did check that out but i have just been in so much pain and my enegry is so low that sometime it is very hard to even move, your roll recipe can you frezze it and i tried making tortillas but they did not come out right and it took alot of engery that i just do not have right now but i would like the roll recipe if i can freeze them, i might be able to try on a good day.

Pam, I'm so sorry your health is poor.
I would definitely enlist the help of the kids. My 13yo is often in charge of making simple things like pasta, soup, even desserts.

My roll recipe can most definitely be frozen. You can freeze the dough or you can cook the rolls then freeze them. I've done it both ways.
Here is the recipe:
2 cups lukewarm water
2 Tbsp yeast (or 2 pkgs)
1/2 cup sugar
Mix well. Let set for about 15mins or until bubbly. This will test if the yeast is good. Bad yeast won't bubble.
Add:
2 eggs
1 Tbsp salt
1/2 cup oil
6-8cups flour (until not sticky)
Mix until dough forms. Let set 45mins or more. Punch down & knead. Divide into loaves & place in greased loaf pans OR pull off dough and form into 2" balls to make hot rolls. Bake at 350F 45mins to 1hr for bread, 20-30mins for rolls. Makes 2 loaves or 30 rolls.

Here's a few mixes I use regularly

Cream Soup Mix:
2 cups dry milk
3/4 c. cornstartch
1/4 c. chicken or beef boullion
1/2 tsp. crushed thyme ( opt.)
1.2 tsp. basil
1.2 tsp dry parsley
1/4 tsp. granulated garlic
2 shakes of onion powder
mix and store in ziploc....To use: 1/3 c. dry mix , 1 c. water put in pan and heat till it thickens this will equal 1 can of cream soup....use in your recipes when it calls for a can of whatever
--------------------------
Large Batch Biscuit Mix:

12 cups flour
7 tsp. salt
20 tbls. shortening
12 tbls. baking powder

Mix and ziploc bag, store To Use: 2 cups mix plus enough premade dry milk to form a soft dough. Roll out on floured surface, cut and bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 15-20 min. at 350 degrees

Variations:
Cheddar cheese: 1/4 tsp. granulated garlic, 1 large handful shredded cheese
Herb: 1/4-1/2 tsp. favorite herb
Fruit: 1 large handful favorite dry fruit
Spice: 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, or 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
Meat: 1/2 cup chopped ham, cooked sausage etc. (can add handful of shredded cheese and pick an herb...)
----------------------
Flour tortilla Mix:
8 1/2 cups flour
2/3 c. dry milk
1 tbls. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. shortening
Mix all and cut in shortening, store in ziploc bag...

To use: To make 30 tortillas 5 cups mix, 2-2 1/2 plus cups water ( Note: not too dry and not too sticky with the water to form the dough)mix, knead till smooth.......roll into a 3 inch thick log...take your spatula and chunk off about 1/2 inch circle pat into a circle and with a floured rolling pin roll till thin...hint: flour the top or the circle and keep everything floured!! It won't stick and will roll thin...now set up your electric fry pan and at 350 degrees begin with zero oil put your tortilla in and for just a few minutes on each side Cook. Take off. Cool.
-------------------
Buttermilk Pancake Mix
2 cups dry buttermilk powder
7 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup sugar
8 tsp baking powder
4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp salt
½ cup soy flour
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Store in an airtight container (up to 6 months).

PANCAKES
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup water
Combine the above ingredients. Then blend in 1½ to 2 cups of pancake mix (depending on your preference). Allow the batter to rest for up to 5 minutes.
---------------------
Chicken Gravy Mix:
1 1/3 c instant nonfat dry milk
3/4 c flour
3 Tbsp instant chicken buillion
1/4 tsp sage
1/8 tsp thyme
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 c butter or margarine

Combine milk powder, flour, buillion, thyme, sage, and pepper. Stir with a wire whisk to blend. Cut in butter or margarine until evenly distributed. Spoon into a 3 cup container with a tight fitting lid. Store in fridge or omit butter until ready to cook and store in pantry.
------------
Beef Gravy Mix
1 1/3 cups powdered milk
3/4 cup Wondra flour
3 tablespoons beef bouillon granules or low sodium
1/8 teaspoon thyme or celery powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon sage or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup butter/margarine
3 teaspoons Kitchen Bouquet

Mix well and store in an airtight container.

TO USE: Pour 1 cup cold water in saucepan, using a whisk to blend, stir in 1/2 cup mix. Stir constantly over medium heat until gravy is smooth and slightly thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Makes 1 cup gravy.


That should keep people busy for awhile :)

Valerie,

Those recipes look delicious. I'm going to use a couple myself. My freezer is getting a little empty so its time to fill it back up again.

Great recipes Valerie!!!

The biscuit & tortilla mixes, do you keep them in the fridge to keep the shortening from going bad? Or just a cool dark place in the pantry?

syrup could just be 2 prts brown sugar to 1 part water & bring to boil.

Also, you could buy maple flavoring in the spice section & use that ...the recipe is on the box...I use the mapeline brand.

My SIL uses just plain brown sugar, though, and it's good!

Also, how do you use the chicken gravy mix and what is Wondra flour?

If you're going to use a mix withing three months, something containing shortening (like Crisco) shouldn't need refrigeration.

The instructions for the Chicken Gravy are the same as the Beef (just below the beef ingredients). With one exception. If you've omitted the butter from the Chicken, you'll need to add it in at the time of reconstitution.

I have no idea what Wondra flour is - that's how I copied the recipe off the site I found it. I've made the recipe with all-purpose flour and it's turned out just fine. Sorry that I can't edit that out to avoid confusion.

Wonder is a type of flour I use it all the time it acts like a thicking agent with out any taste, I love it I use it all the time for soups and ect, it is in the baking area, it comes in a round can...... hope this helps. Thanks for all the recipes

Great! Thanks Valerie & Pam :)

I am bumping this up, I am still looking for ideas, some recipes i need are a butter milk pancake mix, (simple one), some easy homemade snacks that can be frozen, also looking for homemade fabric softern recipe, I have 2 cook books coming that my dh got me 5 ingrediants or less and slow cooker so that should help though stuff in the slow cooker and forget it, so anyone got any of these recipes, i would appriaate it,.. thanks again

also looking for homemade fabric softern recipe,

Why not use vinegar in place of fabric softener? It softens the clothes and does not leave a vinegar smell on the clothes.

I haven't read all of this thread so if this has already been posted....sorry.

Go to your local library or on line library and order 'The Complete Tightwad Gazette, by Amy Dacyczyn (pronounced - Decision)
Anyone and everyone who wants to save $$$ should have this book on their shelves. IMO
She has so many great ideas for saving money in this book it's just amazing!
Most people probably already have it or have read it. :)

other ideas
Keep a grocery price book
Run the numbers on if an item (food) is less expensive to make from scratch or buy at an outlet bakery or even the Can food discount store in your area.
If you need to use the local Food Bank, do so. When you are in a better financial situation then donate to that food bank.
Buy all of your clothing and other items at the second hand stores. (exceptions of course.)
Don't buy books unless you use them over and over. Get them at the library, Movies and CD's to.
Make your gifts - many recourses and ideas at the library.
Grow a garden - The kids will love this.

I have this set, i love it, i was just looking for ways that i could save money that does not require me to make things from scratch, and i do the other things that you mention all most all of the clothes in this family come from second hand stores or garage sales except the ones i get on clearance for almost nothing. i do use the liabray and i made almost all of the christmas gifts, the garden i am going to grow at my moms, because she has the yard space and i don't so we will share the work and the veggies. because of health issues. so i was looking for other ideas, it is hard for me to do alot anymore, but i will read those books again. thanks to everyone for their help, and unfortunaly i do not have any reall good discount stores here,no can food discount stores and the bread store, is not cheaper then getting the bread at the regular store, i am not bad off enough to use the food bank, so i am trying to find other ideas, on how to save on the grocery bill and with no outlet stores it makes it hard to really save...
I haven't read all of this thread so if this has already been posted....sorry.

Go to your local library or on line library and order 'The Complete Tightwad Gazette, by Amy Dacyczyn (pronounced - Decision)
Anyone and everyone who wants to save $$$ should have this book on their shelves. IMO
She has so many great ideas for saving money in this book it's just amazing!
Most people probably already have it or have read it. :)

other ideas
Keep a grocery price book
Run the numbers on if an item (food) is less expensive to make from scratch or buy at an outlet bakery or even the Can food discount store in your area.
If you need to use the local Food Bank, do so. When you are in a better financial situation then donate to that food bank.
Buy all of your clothing and other items at the second hand stores. (exceptions of course.)
Don't buy books unless you use them over and over. Get them at the library, Movies and CD's to.
Make your gifts - many recourses and ideas at the library.
Grow a garden - The kids will love this.

I make my own pickles by saving old pickle juice and slicing cucumbers to add to the jar. The pickles must be refrigerated for at least a week before you eat them.

Hello I just wanted to say thank you for all your help my health has been making a come back the steriod shots seemed to have worked this weekend I spent time making things from scratch:cloud9:
banana muffins (made from bananas bought on sale and froze when they got to ripe)
krispy treats
peanut butter
beef rice mix
fabic softner
I really appricat all the help that you have given me and I am going to keep making things from scratch as my health will allow, it has been great here so many ideas and everyone is so nice once again I thank you all for all your help...

Valerie Thanks for the recipes :)


Also, how do you use the chicken gravy mix and what is Wondra flour?

http://www.gmflour.com/gmflour/ourheritage.asp

1963 Gold Medal Wondra instantized flour introduced

In May, Gold Medal Wondra Instantized Flour was introduced. It was an all-purpose flour in a revolutionary new granular form. It was made by a process of agglomeration of small flour particles to make a more uniform instantized product. There were no chemical additions in the processing and the baking characteristics of all-purpose flour were not changed. Wondra had the same nutritional food value as any other enriched flour and was made of a specially selected blend of wheats to make it suitable for all types of baking. Wondra. was particularly useful for making lump-free sauces and gravies because it dispersed instantly in cold liquids. It poured freely and evenly and measured the same, cup after cup, because of its controlled uniformity. Wondra was also dust-free. (The name was later changed to Wondra Quick- Mixing Flour.)

1964 Gold Medal Wondra Flour Pour ‘n Shake container introduced (labeled "Sauce ‘n Gravy in January, 1986)

In June, Wondra Instantized Flour was introduced in a 13.5 ounce Pour 'n Shake container. The convenient, round cardboard cylinder had a plastic tip with a slot for pouring and measuring, it also had holes for shaking. (The Pour 'n Shake container was labeled "Sauce 'n Gravy" in January, 1986.)

My Dad did lots of cooking & this Wondra flour was always in the cupboard @ my house while growing up! I also use it for making lump free gravies, etc. now!

http://www.ochef.com/21.htm

What Are Instant Flour & Wondra?

I have come across recipes listing Instant Flour and Wondra Flour. What are these, and how can I replicate these? Instant flour is a low-protein, pregelatinized wheat flour to which some malted barley flour has been added. It has been formulated to dissolve quickly in either hot or cold liquids, and is most often called for to thicken gravies and sauces. Because of its low-protein content, it is also sometimes used in making pie crusts and other recipes that call for cake flour, which is also lower in protein than all-purpose flour. Some bakers find the slightly acidic taste of cake flour objectionable and prefer the instant flour. Two of the leading brands available in this country are Wondra and Shake & Blend.

If instant flour is unavailable where you live, you can substitute all-purpose or cake flour. But you want to recognize what the recipe writer is trying to accomplish in calling for instant flour. If the flour is used to thicken a sauce, you can certainly use all-purpose flour, but you may have to take added precautions to avoid the development of lumps in the sauce (i.e., stir like mad). If the instant flour is used in a baking project and is called for in a relatively large quantity, it is probably specified because of its protein content, and your best option would be cake or pastry flour.

Thank you ladies!

Glad you're feeling better. The crockpot really is a wonderful thing, and if you can manage to have the basic ingredients in the house, there's no reason why your kids or DH (before he leaves) can't throw it together for you. Raw meat, fresh vegetables (including carrot and potato), some seasoning, some water, will simmer away during the day and you don't have to do anything to it. Add a rice cooker if you don't have one (I love ours) and you don't have to worry about the rice overcooking or burning in your pot. Put rice and water in cooker and press one button. It's done in about 15-20 minutes. If you're feeling up to it, make a simple salad or steam some veggies, but if not, it can still be a good meal.