Thrifty Emergency Meals!

 

In my pantry and freezer I keep a stash of items to make quick meals in an emergency.  An emergency can be anything from a power outage to an overwhelmingly busy day.  Having these things on hand allows me to feed myself without the temptation of running through the fast food drive-thru or ordering delivery.  It saves my health, saves me a lot of money and surprisingly it saves me a fair bit of time.

 

Loads of possibilities

Rice & Pasta Pouches 

Rice-a-Roni, Knorr or the store brand equivalents often go on sale for about a dollar each.  I keep half a dozen of them on hand to make fast and easy meals.  I follow the package directions and add in frozen vegetables and cooked meat to make it a complete meal.  To stretch it further you can also add a half cup of cooked rice at the end and mix it in well.  I do this often to tone down the saltiness.

 

Pre Cooked & Canned Meats

In the freezer I store sandwich bags with pre-cooked ground beef or turkey, plain or seasoned, in half pound increments.  They are perfect to add to a rice or pasta packet.  Canned tuna and canned chicken are also staples I keep in the pantry.  Hotdogs or polish sausages make for a super quick protein for a meal as well and they freeze well.

 

Pre Cooked Pasta & Rice 

I will often cook a cup or two of rice and then freeze it in half cup increments to serve as a side dish or to use in a casserole or a quick stir fry or fried rice.  I do the same with a package of pasta.  They are great to have on hand to extend a recipe or any cooked meat.

 

Macaroni & Cheese 

I keep a half dozen boxes of mac & cheese on the shelf.  To make it more substantial I add a couple of sliced hotdogs to the boiling pasta that last minute of cooking.  Drain and continue making the mac & cheese as usual.  I will also stir in a can of drained tuna into a pan of mac & cheese as well.  Round it out with steamed vegetables or a can of green beans heated in the microwave served on the side.

 

Soup 

Nothing beats a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.  I make my own soups from scratch and can them, but they can also be frozen in meal size containers.  A sandwich or simple cheese quesadilla along with the soup makes for a delicious and filling meal.

 

Eggs & Toast 

For me, nothing screams comfort food quite like two poached eggs on a slice of buttered toast.  You can also scramble the eggs or make a sandwich with a fried egg and a slice of cheese.  Quick, easy and super thrifty.

 

Frozen Pizza 

There is no shame in a frozen pizza.  Pick up a couple when they are on sale and store in the freezer for whenever you need a quick meal.  Add a bag of salad mix and some salad dressing to complete the meal.  A fraction of the cost of ordering a pizza and most likely you can have dinner on the table faster than the pizza deliver guy can get to your house.

 

Frozen Lasagna & Casseroles 

Whenever I make lasagna or a casserole I also make one or two for the freezer.  Tater Tot casserole and pizza pasta freezes nicely.  I will place one in the oven and then turn it on to preheat while I get my evening chores done, make a salad or heat up a vegetable and before I know it dinner is ready.  These are perfect options for unplanned company or sharing with a family member or friend in need of a meal too.

 

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.

 

Rice & Beans?!!

 

“Oh no!  Don’t tell me that in order to save money and pay off debt I have to eat rice and beans!”  Ugh, right?  Well, I’m going to tell you to eat them, but not in the way you think.  I keep a variety of dried beans, split peas, and rice in my pantry to use in so many of my meals and I don’t feel deprived or bored.  I personally do not care for lentils, but if you do definitely ad lentils to your pantry as well.  Not only are these items budget friendly, but they are packed with good nutrients too.

 

I will often cook a batch of dried beans in my slow cooker to make chili, homemade refried beans, add to soups and extend ground beef when I make taco meat.  I brown a pound of ground beef with some diced onion, drain the fat and add a cup or two of the cooked beans along with some taco seasoning.  It is perfect for tacos and burrito filling.  I also like to add cooked black beans and frozen sweet corn to my homemade salsa.

 

Rice makes an excellent side for beef and gravy, sweet & sour pork, a family favorite crack chicken, etc.  I like to season my rice with spices or salsa for Spanish style rice or cook it in broth for extra flavor.  Another family favorite is to make rice pilaf to serve next to pork chops or roasted chicken.  We also love pork fried rice.

 

Of course rice & beans is a very delicious meal to enjoy and I to make it from time to time, but there are so many other great ways to use these in a multitude of other meals.  No boredom.  So go through your cupboards and pull out those bags of rice and dried legumes and get creative.  Your budget will appreciate it and I’m sure you family will too.

 

Do You Have A Stockpile? You Need One!

 

Years ago my first stockpile began with a copy paper box and lid I brought home from work and evolved from there.  I squeaked out every extra penny I could from my existing grocery shopping budget to fill that box with items I used on a regular basis.  It evolved from there until I was able to fill another box and then another.  I stacked the boxes in my hall closet where they were safe and out of the way.  It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen and that practice saved my bacon many times through any financial hardship I faced while raising my family as a single mom.

 

I still keep a stockpile of groceries and nonfood items in my home to this day.  It is a huge part of my financial success and why I am easily able to stay on budget with my expenses and spending.  I would buy one for now and one for later until I had an extra item for nearly everything I had listed on my basic pantry list.  Before long I had two of each item and then three.  Then I added additional numbers of the items I used more often like canned tomatoes, soup, green beans and peanut butter.

 

This is all you really need!

By creating a basic pantry list of items I keep in my home I know that as long as I have those items in the pantry, refrigerator or freezer I can pretty much make anything at any given time so I am not rushing out to the store to pick up an ingredient I don’t have to complete a meal.  If you are interested in receiving a workable Excel copy of this list you can tailor to your needs simply click here to email me.  I will happily send you one.

 

As time has gone on my boxes became tubs and eventually shelving I keep in a spare room for storing my long term food storage.  I added a freezer to our garage to stock with meats and vegetables I bought on sale or markdown.  I have a shelf to stock butter, flour and cornmeal in my freezer too.  Should I find myself facing a financial hardship I know I can now keep myself fed for a year or more.

 

The freezer we keep in our garage

Having a well stocked pantry, refrigerator and freezer gives great peace of mind that, if nothing else, we don’t have to worry about how we will be able to feed our family.  At the onset it may seem unachievable, but if you consistently chip away at it you will be surprised at how quickly you can make it happen.

 

 

Let’s Get Cheesy!

 

There is no doubt we have seen the price of cheese rise, along with everything else, but I feel it is still a very affordable option, especially if you follow these simple tips.

 

Always Buy It On Sale 

I wait until it goes on sale for no more than $2.99 a pound and then I stock up.  I find those sales tend to cycle around about every six to eight weeks and when they do I pounce purchasing as much as I need to keep me going at least six months, sometimes even a year.

 

Buy The Block 

Cheese that is already sliced or grated utilizes ingredients to keep the slices and shreds from sticking or clumping together.  Some brands of sliced cheese will place a paper in between the slices but they are often more expensive.  To keep it simple and healthier I choose the block.  Then I can slice, cube, make my own cheese sticks and grate it how I like.

Consider It A Garnish 

While I would love nothing more than to nosh on a bunch of cheese, I really shouldn’t.  Instead I use it like a flavor and texture enhancer rather than the main ingredient.  By purchasing stronger flavors of cheese such as medium or sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack in place of mozzarella, I find I can get by using far less than the milder options.

 

Wrap & Freeze 

I find that if I layer sliced cheeses with waxed or parchment paper and place them in a Ziploc bag or wrap with plastic wrap they freeze them just fine.  I also freeze my own grated cheeses by placing two cups of it in a Ziploc bag.  I don’t add anything like cornstarch to the bag and have had no issues with clumping.  To further prevent any chance of freezer burn I date the bags, place them inside a larger bag and make sure I use it up in date order (first in; first out).  Freezing the entire block works too, but it will make the texture more crumbly.

 

A little goes a long way!

Watch for those sales and when they pop up that is the time to buy your cheese.  With a little bit of prep you can have a nice stockpile tucked away in your fridge and freezer saving yourself some big $$!