The Theory of Running Out of Stuff

[Daisygirl]

I wrote about this on my blog, but I thought it was such a good idea I wanted to post it here. I have been allowing myself to run out of things that would usually send me running off to the store. Things like eggs, bread, sugar, Koolaid. Instead of going to the store more often than I planned, I decided to try and use my creativity to do without the item until my next planned trip. I don't know about you, but I find it nearly impossible to go to the store and just buy one thing, Something else always catches my eye.

For eggs, when baking, I used apple sauce, for breakfast, I simply made something else. For Koolaid, I used sugar, lemon juice and water and made lemonaid. For sugar (obviously ran out of that at different times than the Koolaid, lol) I used brown sugar or corn syrup. For bread, I made cornbread or muffins. You get the idea. I think I can save a lot of money this way, and also use things up that I might otherwise neglect to use.

What substitutions can you come up with for common items?

[lottaLove]

Instead of salad dressing or dip, we sometimes mix ketchup, mayo and a bit of relish for home made "thousand island". We've also added other veggies to our mashed potatoes if we don't have enough potatoes to make a whole batch, such as cauliflower, turnip, etc.
I've also ground up a can of kidney beans to add to a tomato sauce to make it stretch further, and I've been known to finely dice up veggies and pass them off as ground beef in various dishes (like chili or spaghetti sauce). I find if I do this, I can use very little ground beef (as little as 1/4 cup), and no one can tell the difference.

[celina]

i always have soy flour and use that instead off eggs in recipes...1 heaping tbsp of soy flour to one of water...its real cheap at the bulk store so always have on hand.

[Michelle-Lea]

Can you really use applesauce in place of eggs? What is the ratio? I often run out of eggs, but keep applesauce on hand most of the time.

[Laurie in Bradenton]

We do this when general contractors don't pay on time. We see how long we can go before we hafta go to the store. We will drink up all liquids in the house and start on the freezer , I often save the juice fruit comes in thining it with water til it has a good flavor. Will go throught the food pantry and cabinets having all those little gift size coffee and teas. I'll hit my depression cookbooks for all sorts of bars, coffeecakes, cookies and puddings. Pudding used to a cooked item not an instant thing. hahaha We'll have really odd meals made up of those mystery packages in the freezer. Soups becaome really popular.

Laurie in BRadenton

[Daisygirl]

Michelle Lea, I am afraid I am not much of a measurer, so this is not exact. i put in a heaping tablespoonful (or a big glop as I like to call it) per egg. I haven't had a problem doing this yet. It works ok in both muffins from a mix and pancakes. I want to try it in something from scratch next.

Celina -- I will definitely get te soyflour. That is an easy cheap addition to the pantry and then eggs can be used just when I want actual eggs -- like scrambled or deviled, etc. Cool idea.

I know this is not exactly revolutionary, but for some odd reason it just never occurred to me before, lol, to substitute instead of replace.

[ScrapMama]

You guys are giving me some great ideas. Please keep them coming.

[peanut]

Laurie in Bradenton: Could you post the titles of some of your depression cookbooks? I'd like to order some through interlibrary loan to get some new frugal recipes.

~ I use applesauce or pureed squash/pumpkin to replace fat in baking.
~ I cut sugar in half in baking.
~ I use a medium egg instead of a large egg.
~ I use homemade yogurt instead of buying milk. Makes baking fluffier.
~ I make my own croutons by toasting bread and rubbing it with cut garlic clove...no frying it in butter in the fry pan for me! Too fatty.
~ when I run out of ice-cream I make a fruit sorbet or frozen vanilla yogurt, or make maple yogurt from maple syrup and homemade yogurt.
~ when I run out of real maple syrup, I substitute with homemade maple syrup.
~ If I don't have maple flavouring to make maple syrup, I'll use a failed jam recipe for a pancake syrup. Seems I always have lots of that!
~ I replace butter with canola oil or water...depending what I'm doing. If it's sauteing, I just use water. If it's in baking I'll use canola oil and pureed squash/applesauce combination.
~ I replace squares of chocolate with cocoa powder, and don't bother to add the butter/margerine they recommend on the side of the container. It just adds unwanted fat.

That's all I can think of right now.

[Daisygirl]

Wow, Peanut! Those are some great substitutions I never would have thought of. WHat I really like is that they are all super-healthy!

[cspp04]

i also use things up to save on trips to the store. every couple of months i do a mini stockpile and then work with that. i head to the store once a week for perishables. just by changing my spending routine i saved $200/mth in groceries. for me it wasn't the foods i was buying but how often i was at the store..to buy more!

[Laurie in Bradenton]

Peanut these are a few of the depression era books I use.

My grandmother actually got me hooked up with the first two. They are signed by the author who included a nice card back to me when I requested them.
Stories and Recipes of the Great Depression of the 1930's Vol 1 and Vol 2.
By Janet Van Amber Paske
Home Economist
C/o Van Amber Publishers
P.O. Box 267
Menomonie, Wi. 54751
Phone (715) 235-7702
No this address is over ten years old but its worth a try.\

Dining During the Depression
Put out by Reminisce Books
P.O. Box 990
Greendale, Wi. 53129
1-800-558-1013

We'll Eat Again (English)
By Marguerite Patten
Put out by Reed International Books
ISBN # 0600325245 (should help libarian)

Not a depression book but also helpful
Waste Not Want Not
Helen McCully


Laurie in Bradenton

[peanut]

Thanks Laurie!

[missymomof3]

wow these are great ideas! I will usually use applesauce to replace oils but didn't know I could do it with eggs!
Now that the wedding and honeymoon are over I can get back on track. I can't wait to try these ideas!