Merry Christmas!

 

Investment Cooking For The Win! – Chili!

 

This is definitely the time of year when I appreciated a hot steaming bowl of chili, however there are so many more things I do with chili than to just eat it in a bowl.  I will often use it to make a nice variety of other main dishes that are sure to please.  First we start with a good recipe that is easy and doesn’t cost a lot of money to make.

 

Chili Con Carne

 

1½ cups dry pinto or kidney beans

1 cup dry black beans

1 lb. lean ground beef, pork or turkey

1 small onion, diced

1 Tbs. olive oil

1 15 oz. can tomato sauce

1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes and green chiles

1 envelope chili seasoning

 

Sort, rinse and soak beans overnight in cool water.  Drain and place in large slow cooker.  Cover with warm water and cook on high for 4 hours.  Stir occasionally adding water if needed.  Once beans are tender, brown meat and onions in olive oil.  Drain off any fat and place in slow cooker.  Add remaining ingredients and stir to thoroughly combine.  Cook additional two hours stirring occasionally.  Serve. 

You might want some cornbread to serve with this chili.

 

Cornbread

 

1 cup cornmeal

1 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 Tbs. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 beaten eggs

1 cup milk

1/4 cup oil or melted butter

 

Mix your dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.  Add eggs, milk and oil stirring just to combine.  Pour batter into a lightly oiled 8" X 8" baking pan.  Bake 20 minutes in a preheated 425° oven or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Now that you have a delicious pot of chili you can enjoy it as is or try some of these other tasty ideas.  We are taking the premise of Rice & Beans to a whole new level!

 

Loaded Nachos – spread a bag of tortilla chips onto a large baking sheet pan.  Top with a handful of grated cheese and then dollop with spoonfuls of chili.  Sprinkle another handful of grated cheese over the chili along with some diced onion, sliced black olives and diced Roma tomato or your drizzle with your favorite salsa.  Slide the pan into a preheated 400°F oven and allow to bake until cheese melts and chips just begin to brown.  Remove from oven and serve along with sour cream and guacamole or avocado slices. 

Rice Bowl – place a half cup of cooked rice in a bowl and top with a cup of hot chili.  Sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese and top with a dollop of sour cream.  Garnish with sliced green onion.

 

Tamale Pie – Fill a lightly oiled nine inch deep dish pie pan or an eight inch square pan with chili leaving one inch of space from the top edge.  You can stir in a cup of frozen corn into the chili first if you like.  Sprinkle half a cup of grated cheddar over the chili.  Mix up a batch of cornbread and spread batter over top of chili and cheese.  Bake in a preheated 400°F oven until chili is bubbly and cornbread is thoroughly cooked (test the center with a toothpick).  Remove from oven, sprinkle with another half cup of grated cheddar and allow to cool at least fifteen minutes before serving.  Top with a dollop of sour cream if desired. 

Chili Dogs – Toast four hotdog buns.  Slice four beef franks in half, not quite all the way through, and pan fry.  Place a frank on each bun and top with a couple spoonfuls of hot chili, a sprinkle of cheese and diced onion. 

Chili Stuffed Baked Potato – Bake four medium potatoes until tender, split and fluff the insides with a fork.  Add a bit of butter to the potato, salt and pepper.  Top with a few spoonfuls of hot chili, sprinkle with some cheese and add a dollop of sour cream.  Garnish with some sliced green onions. 

Taco Salad – place two cups of salad greens onto a plate.  Top with a cup of hot chili.  Sprinkle with cheese and drizzle with salsa.  Add sliced olives, diced tomato, sliced green onions, and then drizzle with ranch salad dressing.

 

This is rice & beans I can live with!

Leftover chili also makes an excellent filling for a cheese omelet.  Use up leftover chili by adding it to a batch of beef and bean burrito filling or stir it into a pot of taco soup.  Enjoy!

 

 

Don’t Let Meal Planning Overwhelm You!

 

I have talked multiple times about how important it is to have a meal plan as a way to save tons of money on your overall food expenses.  Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to sit down and come up with that plan week after week or you simply run out of time.  In that case try simplifying the process.  This idea isn’t entirely mine as I was inspired by a Youtuber at Simple Food Simple Life and I think it is brilliant!

 

A blueberry muffin with 1/2 a large apple sliced

Breakfast – keep it super simple with toast or and English muffin and peanut butter or a toasted bagel with cream cheese plus a piece of fruit like a banana, pear, nectarine or an apple.  Some of us, and I include myself here, may not be ready to eat early in the day and if that is the case, then skip it.  Instead, opt for a mid morning snack, brunch or an early lunch when your stomach is ready for food.

 

A cup of split pea soup w/half a tuna salad sandwich & lettuce

Lunch – a cup of soup and half a sandwich.  Done!  With so many soup options and varieties of sandwiches it will take a good long while before you get tired, if you even do.  This combo allows you to hit all of the nutrition points too.  Also of note is that a serving of bread is one slice, but if you feel a half sandwich isn’t enough to keep you going, by all means make a whole sandwich.  Try it with the half sandwich first though because I found it surprisingly filling.

 

Beef stroganoff over rice w/broccoli

Dinner – a starch, a protein and a vegetable (fresh or cooked or a combination).  I try to avoid too many starches myself, but if you handle them well then select healthy options like rice or potatoes.  To make it easy try coming up with a simple meal plan for suppers that you can mix and match over a couple of weeks.

 

Small bananas & mandarins

Yogurt w/diced nectarine

Snacks – a piece of fruit, nuts, raw veggies with some salad dressing, a couple slices of cheese, half a apple sliced with a spoonful of peanut butter, a yogurt cup, etc.  Healthy snacks like these help fill in the nutritional gaps so you are sure to get all of your daily nutrients.  Stay away from ultra processed foods.

 

Chicken fried rice, egg drop soup & a green salad

Burger with lettuce & tomato plus potato salad for Diner Nite

Have themes – maybe Sunday is chicken, Monday is leftovers, Tuesday is Mexican food, Wednesday is soup and salad, Thursday is pasta, Friday is hamburgers or steaks, Saturday is pizza.  You get the idea.  Tailor it to fit your family’s particular tastes.

 

Tacos!

Meatloaf, small baked potato w/sour cream & vegetables

Your meal plans don’t need to be overly elaborate, but to save money and stay on budget you do need a plan of some sort.  Get your family involved in the meal planning so it isn’t always on you to make it happen and make sure they are helping with the cooking and clean up, especially the kids.  Life lessons they’ll need to learn for later on in life.  Keep it simple in order to keep it successful!

 

Holiday Hams & Turkeys Will Make You A Winner!

 

Hams and turkeys are at their best prices during the holidays so if you have the freezer space and the extra cash now is the time to pick up one or two extra to use keep hand and use during the year for some cheap proteins.  There are so many things you can do with either a ham or a turkey.  I have a couple old posts about how I make the most of both a ham and a turkey to get a lot of mileage out of them.

 

While I was raising my family I would always buy a whole turkey and a ham to use for making tons of low cost meals.  I would slice up turkey and ham for making sandwiches, cube it for adding to soups and casseroles, chunks that could be reheated and sliced up to serve alongside stuffing or potatoes and vegetables to make meals.  Thick slices of ham are great to fry in a pan for breakfast or supper.  Thick slices of turkey are reheated and served with gravy.  The bones were always saved and used to make broth.

 

Turkey

 

Hot Turkey Sandwiches

Turkey Pot Pie

Sliced Turkey w/Cranberry Sauce on a Croissant

Thick Sliced or Diced Turkey & Gravy over Mashed Potatoes

Turkey & Noodles

Turkey Soup

Turkey & Dumplings

 

Simple sheet pan meal

Ham

 

Ham Slices Glazed w/Cranberry Sauce

Dice Ham in Macaroni & Cheese

Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

Ham & Navy Bean Soup

Split Pea & Ham Soup

Sliced Ham Sandwiches

Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwiches

Homemade Egg McMuffins

Diced Ham in Scrambled Eggs

 

Split Pea Soup

Even if you can’t afford to buy an extra ham or turkey this year you can still benefit from those that are served at the holidays.  Leftovers are always a great way to get more mileage out of the main meal.  Don’t be afraid to ask the host of your holiday get-togethers for the ham bone or the turkey carcass as quite often they are tossed in the trash.  I’ve done that before and people are always happy to give it to you.

 

Turkey broth

Processing the ham and turkeys right away rather than freezing them whole allows you to put away the meat in the freezer a bit easier as they are less bulky.  Also, remember Easter is another time to watch for good deals on hams as well.  There are so many economical ways to feed yourself and your family especially when you take advantage of seasonal sales at the holidays.

 

Thanksgiving Dinner On A Dime!

 

This year many are struggling and the thought of shelling out a bunch of money on a holiday dinner might seem impossible but don’t despair.  You can still pull this off if you are of a mind to.  Instead of cooking a turkey with all the trimmings simply scale it back a bit and you’ll be able to put a beautiful holiday meal on the table with very little out of pocket.

 

I made up one can of pumpkin into pie filling and
divided it between two small 8 inch homemade pie crusts

Chicken & Gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Stuffing

Vegetables

Dinner Rolls & Butter

Dessert

Chicken or turkey leg quarters will work too!

 

These roasted up beautifully!

You will need:

 

One Whole Chicken (a Costco rotisserie chicken is perfect for this application if you can)

Two packages of Idahoan buttery mashed potatoes

One box store brand stuffing (stove top style)

Vegetables – two cans of green beans, corn or a bag of frozen broccoli

One package dinner rolls (check your stores discount bakery rack)

Dessert – pumpkin or apple pie, brownie mix, ice cream or sherbet

 

Most of this was already lurking in the cupboards

If you have some sliced bread, cube some and
add to this box of stuffing to stretch it further

Shop your cupboards first to determine what you already have on hand so you won’t need to buy extra items.  If you can use pantry staples to bake rolls or desserts then do that rather than buy one.  Use the drippings from the chicken to make gravy.  Keep it simple and you’ll be amazed at how nice your holiday dinner will be.

 

Last year I did 2 Costco rotisserie chickens and a couple sides
My guests brought more sides and dessert!

If this seems like a lot to do on your own consider combing forces with friends and relatives and do a potluck.  Simply buy two chickens and make gravy using the drippings and a little bit of flour mixed with water for a slurry to thicken it.  If you don’t have flour don’t worry.  You only need a few tablespoons and someone you know will happily give it to you.  Have your guests bring the sides and desserts.  You will all enjoy a fabulous meal and fun spending the day together.

 

Lasagna is a delicious alternative to turkey dinner

Another thing you can do is just go with an non-traditional holiday meal using items you already have on hand.  A spaghetti supper with a loaf of frenchbread and cupcakes or homemade pizzas can be fun if the whole family gets involved.  Use your creativity to make it a special occasion.

 

Homemade pizza ready for the oven!

Food banks, churches & food pantries are great resources

If things are dire, set aside your pride and contact your area food bank, church or food pantry to get on the list for a Holiday food box.  There is absolutely no shame in asking for help when you truly need it and no one needs to go hungry.  Food pantries love to help so reach out and get what you need.

 

Soups On! Part II!

 

One of the easiest and most efficient budget stretchers is to make soup.  I have made soup as one of our weekly meals for years and not only does it save me money but it also allows me to use up items in the fridge that otherwise might go to waste.  Soups are hearty, nutritious, hydrating and delicious.  They are also easy to make.

 

Cream of Broccoli Soup

 

2 medium potatoes, peeled & finely diced

1 16 oz. bag frozen chopped broccoli

½ cup onion, finely chopped

2 cups vegetable broth

1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

2 cups whole milk

Salt & pepper

 

Cook potatoes, broccoli and onion in vegetable broth until vegetables are fork tender.  Remove from heat and mash potato mixture.  Stir in cheese and milk.  Return to heat and bring to a slight boil.  At this time use an immersion blender to make soup smooth and creamy.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Makes 4 to 6 servings.

 

This soup is a family favorite, even for kids who might balk at eating their veggies.  I often had a hard time having enough leftovers for my lunch the next day.

 

Unstuffed Bell Pepper Soup

 

1 large bell pepper, chopped

½ medium onion, diced

½ pound lean ground beef, browned and drained

1 carrot, peeled and sliced

1 can cut green beans, undrained

1 jar marinara sauce

2 cups beef broth

1 -2 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. dried basil

Salt & pepper to taste

2 cups rice, cooked

½ cup grated mozzarella cheese

 

Place all ingredients, except rice and cheese into slow cooker.  Cook on high for four hours or low for eight hours.  When ready to serve place ¼ cup of rice in bottom of soup bowl and ladle hot soup over the top.  Top with grated cheese.  Serves 8.

 

I love that this soup only uses a half pound of ground beef, you could also use ground pork, making it very economical.  With all of these delicious ingredients it is also very flavorful.

 

Pork Basil Soup

 

2 pork loin chops, thinly sliced

1/2 small onion, thinly sliced

1 can water chestnuts, rinsed and drained

1 can coconut milk

2 cups chicken broth

2 cups shredded coleslaw mix

2 tsp. minced garlic

1 Tbs. dried basil

2 Tbs. soy sauce

1 Tbs. sciracha sauce (optional)

1 Tbs. olive oil

 

In a large pot over medium heat place oil.  Heat to coat pan, add pork and onions and cook until no longer pink and onions are soft.  Add remaining ingredients.  Fill coconut milk can with warm water and add to soup.  Stir well and simmer about 20 minutes.

 

This soup is wonderful on its own and you can also serve it with rice to make it an even heartier meal.  I will often serve eggrolls or spring rolls to complete this meal.

 

These are three really delicious soups that are definitely not boring and will fill you up.  Add a simple green salad and bread to make it a well rounded meal sure to satisfy.  I think it is important when you are trying to stretch your budget to do our best to keep meals interesting.  If you need additional soup ideas and recipes check out Soups On! for more inspiration.

 

Rethinking Christmas!

 

This year I want to challenge you to think outside the box a bit when it comes to celebrating Christmas so you don’t break the bank and end up with a giant credit card bill come January.  In my opinion, a huge bill is no way to start out a new year.  Instead, let’s get excited about the holidays with no buyer’s remorse.

 

Have The Talk! 

Have a discussion with your family (the Thanksgiving table may be the perfect venue) about scaling back on the gift giving, not just on how much one should be spending, but also on the quantity of gifts you are giving.  Explain your “why”.  Let everyone know that times are tough right now (no one will argue that point) and that you are paying off debt or you are saving for something important. 

Instead focus on experiences, traditions and of course, the food.  As we have looked back over the years at previous holidays we never seem to remember the gifts we were given, but we always remember wonderful food we ate and the fun things we did.  When it comes to the gifts we give our children set a modest budget and stick to it.  I also love this idea – Something you want, something you need, something to wear & something to read.  Simple, easy and more than plenty.

 

Make It A Challenge! 

Nothing fires people up and gets them excited more than a good ol’ challenge.  Whether the challenge is homemade gifts only, food gifts only, experience gifts only, $5 gifts, $10 gifts, white elephant gifts or whatever you decide a challenge can be a fun and exciting part of your holidays this year.  Instead of giving a gift to everybody outside of your immediate family consider drawing names instead or host a gift exchange where everyone brings a single gift.  Rules can vary and “stealing” may or may not be allowed.

 

Shop Your Home First! 

Before you go shopping for baking ingredients or food for holiday meals go through the freezer, fridge and pantry and pull out everything you already have.  Then make a list and fill in the blanks.  Pull out all of the crafts supplies you have squirreled away in drawers and closets and finally put them to good use.  Look at items around your house, even in the garage, and consider re-gifting them to someone you know would enjoy them.  Or, finally get some of those photos on your phone printed up and give them to your loved ones.

 

Decorate! 

Pull out all of that holiday décor and get busy decorating your home.  Most of us will agree that we have way too many holiday decorations and tangled strings of lights.  Challenge yourself to use only what you already have instead of buying new things this year.  Maybe now is a good time to downsize and consolidate what you have and share some of the overflow with others.  Trade your extra string of lights or box of ornaments for a “new” (to you) wreath for your front door.  Make trimming the tree a party event this year.  Consider playing holiday music or streaming a favorite Christmas movie while you decorate.  Kevin!!!!

 

Wrap It Up! 

Chances are pretty good you already have everything you need to wrap gifts, make your own cards or give away homemade cookie plates on a plain paper plate covered in Saran wrap with bow on top.  Every year my next door neighbor gives me a loaf of her delicious pumpkin bread wrapped in foil with a bow on top.  I love it!  One year we received an assortment of cookies on a tray that was made out of a shoe box lid.  Clever!  If you’ve been saving cookie or popcorn tins over the years now is the time to use them up and give them away. 

When it comes to gift wrapping you don’t necessarily need it to be Christmas specific either.  Plain paper will work just fine.  I personally love the look of brown paper with red ribbon so go ahead and cut up that paper grocery bag taking up residence in the bottom of your pantry and put it to work.  Use aluminum foil or colorful tissue paper to wrap small gifts and tie with a ribbon or length of yarn.  Make your own gift tags too.

 

Keep It Simple! 

Keeping it all very simple and basic not only reduces stress, but it also makes the holidays much more enjoyable.  One of our traditions is to drive around on Christmas Eve and look at the lights people have put up on their houses.  One year it was a full moon out so we just bundled up and walked our neighborhood.  It was so quiet and beautiful, downright enchanting.  When we got home I made hot cocoa for everyone and then we scuttled off to bed before Santa arrived.

 

Scaling back and keeping things simple won’t put a damper on the festivities in fact it may be quite the opposite.  You will mostly likely introduce new experiences, new traditions and make a lot of memories along the way.  Your bonus is that there won’t be a big bill waiting for you in January.