Dollar Stretching Recipe Strategies

With all the talk about how bad the economy is and the very strong possibility of a complete economic collapse looming, it seems like a good time to talk about how you can stretch your budget and get more meals from the food you are buying. Michael and I do a lot of this as we live remotely and grow almost all the vegetables and a lot of the chicken and rabbit that we eat. Getting the most out of every edible is a lot better than wasting because we didn't plan how to use something.

So, strategize something like this. Take a chicken dinner as an example. Is it better to buy say, a package of thighs or drumsticks at the store for .99 cents a pound or is it better to buy a whole fryer at the same price per pound. Hmm? What difference does it make? Well, consider this. Say there are two of you in your family. Each of you would normally eat two thighs for dinner. There are 10 thighs in the package so you would get essentially 2 1/2 meals from the package. On the other hand, with the whole chicken you may be able to eat a leg quarter each for one meal, a breast each for the second meal and use the back portions and wings to make a pot of soup for the third meal plus use the left over broth from the soup to cook a pot of rice. Same dollar expenditure but 3 and 1/2 meals instead of 2 and 1/2 meals. Plus if you were to both share one breast for one meal you could use the second breast for stir fry and gain a fourth meal for two of you. Strategy!!!

What else could you strategize with? Vegetables. Most of us in our community believe in recycling and living in tune with mother nature. So, we don't just look at vegetables as an item for dinner. We also look at other uses such as zuchini bread, chicken feed, or if it is too ripe, composting it into food for the soil we grow in.

As you can see, there are many ways to use even a simple vegetable to get more value for your dollar. This post may not seem to offer a recipe in the traditional manner but in a sense it is a recipe for your recipes. Strategize your menu for as many things as you can and you will save on your food bill plus have fun coming up with new recipes and uses for your food.

ArleneKaye

Quickie Chicken Sandwich for Holiday Shoppers

Here's a quickie chicken sandwich for holiday shoppers who don't want to fix a big meal when they get home. If you're like me, the hustle and bustle of shopping takes the " cook a big meal" zing right out of me. This sandwich is filling, tasty and not to bad on the calorie counters in the family.

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast (1/2 to 3/4 lb./person) remove from bone and cube into 1/2" to
3/4" sizes
1/2 medium white onion sliced into rings
1/2 green or red bell pepper sliced into 1/8"wide slices
2 ounces sliced mushrooms
2 slices of fresh vine ripe tomatoes chopped
3 slices Swiss cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ginger root powder
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 loaf of fresh french bread
1 tablespoon olive oil

In a 10" or 12" skillet saute chicken cubes in the olive oil for 3 minutes on high heat. Reduce heat to medium and add the onion slices and bell peppers. Saute with the chicken cubes for another 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and spices and cover with a lid for 10 minutes still on medium heat. While this is cooking slice your french bread lengthwise and add your favorite condiment to it. I like yellow mustard, Mikey likes Best Foods Mayonnaise. When the chicken mixture is done simply spoon it onto the bread, top with the Swiss cheese and chopped fresh tomato and microwave for about 40 seconds to melt the cheese. Oh, and if you're like Mikey ad some crushed red hot peppers for a little extra kick. These ingredients are for one sandwich, double or triple for two or three sandwiches. Hope you enjoy.

Arlene Kaye

The Best Holiday Recipes Start With Quality Ingredients

The best holiday recipes start with quality ingredients. Peak of the season organically or naturally grown fruits and vegetables will always enhance the flavor and end result of your creations. Plus, if you have grown them yourself you know exactly what you are serving to your family and friends. What better feeling than to know you've given your best for those you love!

Of course, not everyone has the time or opportunity to grow their own food so just remember when you shop for the ingredients you need to always search for the best quality you can find.

Here are some recipes to get you started.

Mikey's Fiesta Salsa:

1/4 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped white onion
2 1/2 cups freshly chopped vine ripened tomatoes
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red peppers (optional)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
2 shakes of salt
1/4 bunch of fresh cilantro chopped

These ingredients can be mixed, chilled and served or cooked in a stockpot to a medium boil for four minutes and placed in a quart jar for canning (a water bath for 20 minutes works). Makes 1 quart. Without the hot peppers this is a refreshing salsa anyone can eat. If you like it HOT then add in the red crushed peppers and maybe a jalapeno or two.