This is so cool. My friend Susan posted this back when the Mr. and I had our forum up. I just remembered it this weekend when grocery shopping. We are attempting to eat cheaper...not that we don't eat cheap now. But I wanted to kick it up (or down) a notch. I look at it as training or preparing for what may be (probably is) ahead.
The kiddos here just love to eat plain pasta. I mean plain! But I do provide sauce and meat and urge them to moisten it with something. They also love as a meal bread sticks- homemade...recipe to follow shortly Lord willing. We do a lot of eggs and potatoes and that can be done cheaply as well. I am working on different soups as those stretch the budget and I usually bake bread every day, so that rounds out any meal.
In this video, Clara makes pasta with peas. I don't really like canned peas, but I bet this would work just as well with split peas or chick peas or any kind of bean. One thing she does that I wouldn't do, is peel the potatoes. It is my understanding that there are a lot of nutrients and fiber in the skin so I rarely peel mine. But she is in her nineties, so she may know a little more than me. ;)
Please post your favorite cheap meals. We could get a "recipe box" together.
The kiddos here just love to eat plain pasta. I mean plain! But I do provide sauce and meat and urge them to moisten it with something. They also love as a meal bread sticks- homemade...recipe to follow shortly Lord willing. We do a lot of eggs and potatoes and that can be done cheaply as well. I am working on different soups as those stretch the budget and I usually bake bread every day, so that rounds out any meal.
In this video, Clara makes pasta with peas. I don't really like canned peas, but I bet this would work just as well with split peas or chick peas or any kind of bean. One thing she does that I wouldn't do, is peel the potatoes. It is my understanding that there are a lot of nutrients and fiber in the skin so I rarely peel mine. But she is in her nineties, so she may know a little more than me. ;)
Please post your favorite cheap meals. We could get a "recipe box" together.
Clara is awesome...especially at 90something...
ReplyDeleteI've been experimenting with using powdered beef and chicken stock (I found them in powder form instead of the cubes at my grocery store). Instead of Lipton soup mix for a base in dip and soup, I use the powdered in recipes that I would have used the Lipton soup mix, and it works out very well! Also instead of Rice A Roni I've been using the powder broth base and plain rice and/or orzo (pasta shaped like rice), and cheat a little by using dehydrated onions that are two for a dollar (about the size of your schilling jar spices -- approx 5 inches high by 1.5 inch diameter), and also add fresh onion, garlic, and a few cut up carrots, celery, and some frozen peas (or you can use the frozen vegetable mix if you want to do it quick).
Those beef and chicken powders are great! I made chicken breasts, sauteed in a cast iron skillet with Campbell's cream of mushroom soup, dried onions, and the chicken powder, and some fresh ground black pepper. It was delicious over plain cooked rice. Yum!
Gotta admit Clara helped me get started with these little cooking ideas :-)
I haven't ever used the chicken or beef powders, but I do bet they are really good (and store well).
ReplyDeleteI usually buy beef or chicken stock or make my own IF possible. I love dehydrated onion and my dollar store has them 2/$1 too. :)
First of all, you ladies make me feel really behind. No pressure. Actually, my husband is in control of the stocks and supplies. I think he enjoys it.
ReplyDeleteWe are all stocked up on beans and rice...pasta is our next stock item. Do either of you have pointers or websites you are visiting?
Forgot to check follow-up.
ReplyDeleteMa,
ReplyDeleteI simply LOVED this video! Bless her little heart that she can still get around with the best of the "youngsters" at 91 years of age.
Does this woman have a cookbook? I've never tried this recipe, but I do make pasta with garlic, cheese, and olive oil, and onion. I haven't added meat or tomato sauce with this dish. When we have potatoes, I usually just cut them flank style and fry them in a little oil and season them with salt and pepper. We eat this meal with canned fruit.
Anyway, thanks for sharing this one.
-Lady Rose
This is my kind of cooking! Love it. Did you notice how she didn't need a cutting board? I don't either. Thank you for sharing this!!
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI have a pantry that I keep trying to add to stock-wise so that I never run out of anything. I just buy lots of whatever when it is on sale. A few months ago, my Kroger had Creamette pasta for 49 cents a box if you bought 10 or more, they are usually at least a dollar. I look for sales like that and then forsake some non-essential in the budget that week to include these kind of deals:) My Mr. has put me in charge of all things food.
I found her cookbook here, Lady Rose.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/Claras-Kitchen-Memories-Recipes-Depression/dp/0312608276
I love pasta with garlic. I make a "dish" my kids call butter noodles. It is basically pasta tossed with a little butter and perhaps some cream and garlic with Parmesan cheese. I may occasionally throw some tuna or chicken or ham into it if I have some on hand as well. And you really can't go wrong with fried potatoes, yum!
My mom used to make potato pancakes. She would take the leftover mashed potatoes and make patties out of them and then fry in oil until both sides were browned and crispy. My kids love this too...especially the one who won't eat mashed potatoes, go figure.
Petra, I didn't notice the cutting board thing, I guess that didn't know you needed one during the Great Depression!:P
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI'm not really a "survivalist" (stocking up food and ammunition, etc), but I do try to budget and make things from scratch when possible. I've also noticed that making things from scratch don't take much more time than the "boxed products" and usually taste better and are better for you minus many of the preservatives, artificial colorings and flavorings, etc.
But when all is said and done, I find (and I think Ma will agree ;-) ) that the best preparation we need is to rest securely in God's promises of His providence through good times and bad. Even if we starve to death in the times ahead, we look forward to a much better life with Him in His eternal presence. :-D
Thanks for the cookbook link, Ma!
ReplyDeleteClara looks and sounds pretty sharp for a 91 year old :-)
ReplyDeleteIsn't this just so cool Ma? My daughter is into this lady's cooking too! She's been following this style of cooking for a year and half to help save for their Thailand adoption.
ReplyDeleteHave fun!! :)
Hi Diane, I'm so glad your daughter has been able to use them practically to save money. I find that my Mr. is the happiest with simple meals which is also a bonus. He would much rather have fried eggs and potatoes than a fancy meal.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to watch this! I try to stretch our dollars by using as much as the food we buy as possible. Like using chicken bones to make broth for example :)
ReplyDeleteHi Hollie,
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, before I really learned to cook, I used to throw out the beef drippings from the crock pot and heat up a can of gravy! Horrors!
I have really learned how to use everything, too. It sounds like you are ahead of where I was when I was your age;)