I thought I'd do a post on low-fat dinners. Jessica at Pudget: Losing Weight on a Budget has some really great, low-fat recipes. I really enjoy reading her posts and trying out her recipes.
I've posted several recipes lately that are low in fat. My Chicken Tetrazzini is definitely low fat. I use light sour cream, 99% fat free chicken broth and 2% Mozzarella Cheese. You can even use light margarine in it. Not only that, but it's so easy to make. It's definitely a family favorite. In fact, I just made some for my Mom and Dad the other day.
Another really healthy, low fat recipe is Beef Stew. I just posted about it the other day and it was fabulous! I put it in the crockpot in the morning, let it cook all day, thickened it right before we ate, and it was ready! So simple and filling. I didn't put noodles in it, which saved some calories and it was filled with fresh and frozen veggies. I can't wait to have the leftovers for tonight's dinner.
If you have any lowfat recipes you'd like to share, please post them and link to my site. Also, please leave a message in the comments so I know to look at your recipe too!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Updates
Good Evening! I have some updates for you tonight. First, I went shopping with my Mom today. I purchased one item, a pair of Nike sneakers for my daughter. They were on clearance for $14.98, and they are one size up from what she's wearing now. Technically, I didn't even purchase them. I used some of her birthday money to buy the shoes. THANKS GRANDMA AND PAP-PAP!
Another update, I've been thinking about my meals. I see a lot of people posting how much their dinners cost, and I wondered how much mine cost. I don't know if I can break it down into a lot of detail, but here goes:
Chicken Tetrazinni
Chix - $1.50
Sour Cream - $.99
Chix Broth - $.43
Mozz Cheese - $1 (not bought on sale, although I did buy the store brand)
Butter - $.63
Margarine - $.22
Linguine - $.75
salt, pepper, bread crumbs, garlic and onion powder - $.40 (high estimate since I use very little of each except bread crumb -- 1 cup)
Grand Total: $5.92 -- then I split the entire casserole into 2 dishes (one for us and one for mom and dad)
$2.96 each, four servings in each dish, for a
Total per serving: $.74
Not bad.
Beef Stew - this one is more guessing since I used frozen veggies I'd bought, not on sale, awhile ago.
Beef Cubes - $4.19
2 Potatoes - $2.19
1/2 bag frozen onion - $1.00 (an estimate, probably a little high)
1/2 bag frozen pea - $1.00 (ditto)
2 fresh carrots - $.28
Celery - $.30 (I honestly have no idea how much this cost. I bought it at least 6 weeks ago and keep it in my Tupperware fridgesmart containers. It keeps almost forever!)
1/2 bag frozen corn - $1.00 (same as above veggies)
ginger, bouillon, salt, pepper, cornstarch - $.50 (a high estimate)
1/2 bag frozen green peppers -$1.00 (ditto with veggies)
Grand total $10.96 (I'd say this is a high estimate since I don't know the exact price I paid for the veggies)
2 meals, 4 servings each, gives us a grand total of
$1.37 per serving
Still, not too bad. I could have cut it down farther if I'd followed the recipe, but I put more veggies in it. This beef stew is really fabulous! I omit the raisins since I think it sounds gross. I also added, corn, peppers, potatoes, and maybe the peas too. But it's really tasty, as my 2-year old son would say.
Try it and let me know what you think.
I could have used a fresh onion, but my onions are so strong that the last time I chopped one my eyes burned for a hour afterwards. I was going out after making this stew so I didn't want to have to deal with burning, watery eyes.
Another update, I've been thinking about my meals. I see a lot of people posting how much their dinners cost, and I wondered how much mine cost. I don't know if I can break it down into a lot of detail, but here goes:
Chicken Tetrazinni
Chix - $1.50
Sour Cream - $.99
Chix Broth - $.43
Mozz Cheese - $1 (not bought on sale, although I did buy the store brand)
Butter - $.63
Margarine - $.22
Linguine - $.75
salt, pepper, bread crumbs, garlic and onion powder - $.40 (high estimate since I use very little of each except bread crumb -- 1 cup)
Grand Total: $5.92 -- then I split the entire casserole into 2 dishes (one for us and one for mom and dad)
$2.96 each, four servings in each dish, for a
Total per serving: $.74
Not bad.
Beef Stew - this one is more guessing since I used frozen veggies I'd bought, not on sale, awhile ago.
Beef Cubes - $4.19
2 Potatoes - $2.19
1/2 bag frozen onion - $1.00 (an estimate, probably a little high)
1/2 bag frozen pea - $1.00 (ditto)
2 fresh carrots - $.28
Celery - $.30 (I honestly have no idea how much this cost. I bought it at least 6 weeks ago and keep it in my Tupperware fridgesmart containers. It keeps almost forever!)
1/2 bag frozen corn - $1.00 (same as above veggies)
ginger, bouillon, salt, pepper, cornstarch - $.50 (a high estimate)
1/2 bag frozen green peppers -$1.00 (ditto with veggies)
Grand total $10.96 (I'd say this is a high estimate since I don't know the exact price I paid for the veggies)
2 meals, 4 servings each, gives us a grand total of
$1.37 per serving
Still, not too bad. I could have cut it down farther if I'd followed the recipe, but I put more veggies in it. This beef stew is really fabulous! I omit the raisins since I think it sounds gross. I also added, corn, peppers, potatoes, and maybe the peas too. But it's really tasty, as my 2-year old son would say.
Try it and let me know what you think.
I could have used a fresh onion, but my onions are so strong that the last time I chopped one my eyes burned for a hour afterwards. I was going out after making this stew so I didn't want to have to deal with burning, watery eyes.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Tomorrow Night's Dinner
Okay, so I don't remember what I said I'd make for dinner on Wednesday, but I've decided to make Beef Stew. I know this was on my list for the week, so I'm okay with supplies. This is a recipe from the September 2008 issue of Family Circle.
Beef Stew
1 large onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
1lb boneless beef cubes
1Tbsp ground ginger
1/4tsp salt
3 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch slices
2 large celery stalks, cut into 1-inch slices
1 large beef bouillon cube
2 cups water
2Tbsp red wine vinegar
1/4Cup raisins
1/4tsp black pepper
2Tbsp cornstarch
Cooked egg noodles (optional)
Step 1:
layer onions, beef, ginger, salt, carrots and celery in slow cooker bowl. Add bouillon cube, water, vinegar and raisins. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours or until beef is very tender.
Step 2:
Remove cover and stir in black pepper. Using a ladle, remove 3 Tbsp liquid from slow cooker and place in a small bowl. Whisk in cornstarch. Pour cornstart mixture into slow cooker; whisk to combine. Stir until liquid has thickened. Serve with noodles, if desired.
I omit the raisins, since I'm not crazy about them. I also add peas and potatoes and tomorrow I might add corn. With so many veggies, it's like a beef vegetable stew. It's a really healthy, easy meal to put together. Serve it with some brown and serve rolls, or the Pillsbury Crusty French dinner rolls that I got for $1.99 with my $1 coupon this week and it's a great, filling meal. Enjoy!
Beef Stew
1 large onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
1lb boneless beef cubes
1Tbsp ground ginger
1/4tsp salt
3 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch slices
2 large celery stalks, cut into 1-inch slices
1 large beef bouillon cube
2 cups water
2Tbsp red wine vinegar
1/4Cup raisins
1/4tsp black pepper
2Tbsp cornstarch
Cooked egg noodles (optional)
Step 1:
layer onions, beef, ginger, salt, carrots and celery in slow cooker bowl. Add bouillon cube, water, vinegar and raisins. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours or until beef is very tender.
Step 2:
Remove cover and stir in black pepper. Using a ladle, remove 3 Tbsp liquid from slow cooker and place in a small bowl. Whisk in cornstarch. Pour cornstart mixture into slow cooker; whisk to combine. Stir until liquid has thickened. Serve with noodles, if desired.
I omit the raisins, since I'm not crazy about them. I also add peas and potatoes and tomorrow I might add corn. With so many veggies, it's like a beef vegetable stew. It's a really healthy, easy meal to put together. Serve it with some brown and serve rolls, or the Pillsbury Crusty French dinner rolls that I got for $1.99 with my $1 coupon this week and it's a great, filling meal. Enjoy!
CVS
I'm starting to feel a little dumb when it comes to CVS shopping. How is it that everyone else can end up paying $.12 for $300 worth of products and I can't? I went to CVS this week, and I came out having spend $36 and saving $32. I was happy with that, until I read other posts and see that I could have done better. I know that I had two issues:
1. I only did one transaction, when I should have done 2. In my defense, I was in a huge hurry and just wanted to get in and get out. Lesson learned: don't go to CVS, or anywhere you want to save money, when you are in a hurry.
2. I didn't use all of my Extra Care Bucks. I was thinking that I would save them because it will all even out in the end. Lesson learned: using your ECB means less out of pocket spent during each trip.
Here's what I bought:
3 Softsoap hand soap $1 each ($1-coupon)
2 Palmolive (10 oz) $.97 each
8-pack Bounty Basic $5.99 ($1-coupon)
Vaseline lotion $2.99 ($1-coupon)
Electrosol Tabs $2.99 ($2.50-coupon)
2 Progressive soup $3.19 (bogo) (2 - $1.10-coupons)
2 Kleenex Antiviral $2.39 (bogo)
2 CVS dry sweep clothes $3.99 (bogo)
Excedrin 10ct $2.49 ($2.49 in ECB)
KY Jelly $19.99 ($5-coupon) ($10 in ECB)
Total: $48.96 before coupons
I had $13.70 in coupons so I spent a total of $36.27 including tax. I also got $12.49 back in ECB and I already had $5 in ECB that I didn't use.
I was thinking that it will all even out in the end, which is true, but if I'm trying to spend less out of pocket, I should be thinking differently.
I should have purchased the KY Jelly and Excedrin first, as a separate transaction, giving me $12.49 in ECB to use for another transaction. That total would have been $17.48 +tax. This would have given me a total of $17.49 in ECB. Then I should have paid for the rest of my purchases in another transaction since I was not getting anymore ECB. That total would have been $18.78 +tax which would have given me an out of pocket expense of $1.29. My total for the trip would have been $18.77 +tax instead of $36.27. I know that next time I go to CVS, I will use those ECB and it will all even out, I am still disgusted that I didn't think it through better.
If you see a better way to have done this, please let me know. I am trying to figure this all out and it seems I have a short in my brain when it comes to CVS and saving money :)
1. I only did one transaction, when I should have done 2. In my defense, I was in a huge hurry and just wanted to get in and get out. Lesson learned: don't go to CVS, or anywhere you want to save money, when you are in a hurry.
2. I didn't use all of my Extra Care Bucks. I was thinking that I would save them because it will all even out in the end. Lesson learned: using your ECB means less out of pocket spent during each trip.
Here's what I bought:
3 Softsoap hand soap $1 each ($1-coupon)
2 Palmolive (10 oz) $.97 each
8-pack Bounty Basic $5.99 ($1-coupon)
Vaseline lotion $2.99 ($1-coupon)
Electrosol Tabs $2.99 ($2.50-coupon)
2 Progressive soup $3.19 (bogo) (2 - $1.10-coupons)
2 Kleenex Antiviral $2.39 (bogo)
2 CVS dry sweep clothes $3.99 (bogo)
Excedrin 10ct $2.49 ($2.49 in ECB)
KY Jelly $19.99 ($5-coupon) ($10 in ECB)
Total: $48.96 before coupons
I had $13.70 in coupons so I spent a total of $36.27 including tax. I also got $12.49 back in ECB and I already had $5 in ECB that I didn't use.
I was thinking that it will all even out in the end, which is true, but if I'm trying to spend less out of pocket, I should be thinking differently.
I should have purchased the KY Jelly and Excedrin first, as a separate transaction, giving me $12.49 in ECB to use for another transaction. That total would have been $17.48 +tax. This would have given me a total of $17.49 in ECB. Then I should have paid for the rest of my purchases in another transaction since I was not getting anymore ECB. That total would have been $18.78 +tax which would have given me an out of pocket expense of $1.29. My total for the trip would have been $18.77 +tax instead of $36.27. I know that next time I go to CVS, I will use those ECB and it will all even out, I am still disgusted that I didn't think it through better.
If you see a better way to have done this, please let me know. I am trying to figure this all out and it seems I have a short in my brain when it comes to CVS and saving money :)
Monday, February 2, 2009
Cheddar Chicken Chowder
I was just reading about Lynn's version of Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup, at LifeasMom.com, and I want to post a soup recipe myself.
Cheddar Chicken Chowder
2 slices bacon
cooking spray
1lb boneless/skinless chicken (cut into bite size pieces)
1C chopped onion
1C diced red bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 1/2C chicken broth
1 3/4C diced potatoes
2 1/4C frozen corn
1/2C flour
2C milk
3/4C shredded cheddar cheese
1/2tsp salt
1/4tsp pepper
Cook bacon, in a dutch oven coated with cooking spray, until crisp. Remove bacon from pan. Crumble and set aside. Add chicken, onion, pepper and garlic to bacon fat in the pan. Saute 5 minutes. Add broth and potatoes and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Add corn, stir well. Place flour in a bowl. Gradually add milk, whisking until blended. Add to soup. Cook over medium heat 15 minutes or until thick, stirring frequently. Stir in cheese, salt and pepper. Top with crumbled bacon.
This soup is amazing! It's thick and creamy, perfect for a cold, rainy (or snowy) night. It didn't take that long to make, either. I would serve this with a small salad (I have a great recipe for a BLT chicken salad that would make perfect use of the rest of the pack of bacon) but it is also a great, light lunch on it's own. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Cheddar Chicken Chowder
2 slices bacon
cooking spray
1lb boneless/skinless chicken (cut into bite size pieces)
1C chopped onion
1C diced red bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 1/2C chicken broth
1 3/4C diced potatoes
2 1/4C frozen corn
1/2C flour
2C milk
3/4C shredded cheddar cheese
1/2tsp salt
1/4tsp pepper
Cook bacon, in a dutch oven coated with cooking spray, until crisp. Remove bacon from pan. Crumble and set aside. Add chicken, onion, pepper and garlic to bacon fat in the pan. Saute 5 minutes. Add broth and potatoes and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Add corn, stir well. Place flour in a bowl. Gradually add milk, whisking until blended. Add to soup. Cook over medium heat 15 minutes or until thick, stirring frequently. Stir in cheese, salt and pepper. Top with crumbled bacon.
This soup is amazing! It's thick and creamy, perfect for a cold, rainy (or snowy) night. It didn't take that long to make, either. I would serve this with a small salad (I have a great recipe for a BLT chicken salad that would make perfect use of the rest of the pack of bacon) but it is also a great, light lunch on it's own. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Dinner Menu Week of 2/2
Monday
I am not sure what this is called, but it's Korean (my husband is Korean). I did not need to purchase a single ingredient for this meal.
Mondu Filling
Korean Rice
Fried eggs
Tuesday
Italian Chicken -- No ingredients purchased towards this meal
chicken thighs
2 potatoes
butter
EVOO
Italian Seasoning
Salt/pepper
Wednesday
Beef Stew -- Can be made with any veggies you have on hand, although I usually use the ones I'd put in with a roast.
beef cubes (1lb)
carrots (sliced)
celery
onion
potatoes (2)
beef stock
beef boullion cubes
corn starch or flour (as a thickener)
noodles (optional)
peas
Thursday
Chicken Tetrazzini (See last week's post) I'm using leftover chicken from last week that I took off the bone and froze. I will also add some purdeu short cuts grilled chicken that I got for around $1.50 using a coupon
Friday
Honey Glazed Chicken Stir Fry
The Weekend....we'll see what we have for leftovers and maybe I'll adjust the menu and cook one of these meals on the weekend.
If you'd like the recipe for one of these meals, just send me a message and I'll be glad to post it.
I am not sure what this is called, but it's Korean (my husband is Korean). I did not need to purchase a single ingredient for this meal.
Mondu Filling
Korean Rice
Fried eggs
Tuesday
Italian Chicken -- No ingredients purchased towards this meal
chicken thighs
2 potatoes
butter
EVOO
Italian Seasoning
Salt/pepper
Wednesday
Beef Stew -- Can be made with any veggies you have on hand, although I usually use the ones I'd put in with a roast.
beef cubes (1lb)
carrots (sliced)
celery
onion
potatoes (2)
beef stock
beef boullion cubes
corn starch or flour (as a thickener)
noodles (optional)
peas
Thursday
Chicken Tetrazzini (See last week's post) I'm using leftover chicken from last week that I took off the bone and froze. I will also add some purdeu short cuts grilled chicken that I got for around $1.50 using a coupon
Friday
Honey Glazed Chicken Stir Fry
The Weekend....we'll see what we have for leftovers and maybe I'll adjust the menu and cook one of these meals on the weekend.
If you'd like the recipe for one of these meals, just send me a message and I'll be glad to post it.
Giant Foods trip 2/2
Can I make a confession?
I LOVE TO SPEND MONEY
This is difficult for me to admit, because it makes me sound like I need to be going to shoppers anonymous meetings. But it's true. I love to spend money.
But this year, we're trying to save more money....afterall, we have 2 toddlers who will want (hopefully) to go to college. So, we put ourselves on a budget. This is difficult, seeing as how I like to spend money. However, I realized today that it really doesn't matter what I'm spending the money on, just as long as I'm making a purchase. I'm starting to see the advantages to shopping on a budget. I get to go to 3 or 4 stores, depending on sales, and I don't go all on one day. So, I'm getting to spend a little money here and there, buying stuff I need, satisfying my money spending habit, all throughout the course of the week.
So, of course, I'm making light of this topic. I'm just really enjoying my money-saving journey.
Sunday I went to CVS, but I'll list those savings in another post. Today I did my main grocery shopping for the week at Giant since they had better buys than Weis Markets. I mentioned in anther post that my weekly grocery budget is $100. Well, we had initially made it $140 and I'm going back to that. I want to stay at (hopefully below) $140 right now, since I'm new to using coupons. Once I'm more familiar with it, I'll lower my budget until I get it to $100. So, here's my spending/savings for this morning.
2-liter Pepsi -5/$5 (the sale is 10/$10 but you don't have to buy 10 to get that price)
San Giorgio Pasta 3/$3 (again, 10/$10)
Giant brand Potato bread 2/$3.38 (I splurged since I was hungry for potato bread)
Swanson Chix broth $.69 (2.69 minus $1 coupon, plus extra $1 off since Giant will double 4 $1
coupons this week)
Swanson Beef Broth $.69 (same a chix broth)
Banquet chix nuggets $2.00
Ham Steaks 5/$10
Purdue Chix nuggets $2 (regular price $3.99, sale price $3 and $1 coupon)
Pam Cooking spray 2/$3.70 regular price $2.85 each, $1 coupon when you buy 2 plus extra
$1 off)
4 Split Chix Breast $4.78 (BOGO)
2 Eye Round Roast $20.32 (BOGO -- I cut each one in half at home, packaged separately, so I
have 4 roasts)
Birds Eye Veggies $.89 (Reg. price $1.79, sale price $1.59 plus $.35 coupon doubled to $.70)
Giant brand frozen veggies 4/$4 (10/$10)
Yoplait kids cups (6-pack) 2/$2.78 (reg. price $2.67 each, sale price $2.39 each, plus $1 coupon,
doubled)
Eggland's best Eggs $1.49 (reg. price $2.39, sale $2.19 plus $.35 coupon doubled)
Pillsburg frozen dinner rolls $1.99 ($2.99 plus $.50 coupon doubled)
Giant brand Sour Cream $.99 (reg. price 1.53)
Giant brand margarine $.89 (reg. price $.99)
I did buy a few things not on sale, like a gallon of whole milk, a pack of juice boxes (1.99), Gerber cereal bars (2.73), 6-pack applesauce (1.79) and a cake mix (1.25), icing (1.25), beef stew meat (4.19) chix breast (4.69), potatoes (2.15), carrots (.99) and instant pudding (.75) but overall I was pleased with my purchases.
Grand Total:
Before discounts $148.15
Discounts $56.56
Total Paid $91.89
This will last me more than one week, since I'm not even planning on using the split chix breasts or the eye round roasts this week. Now, if we can just use up all the leftovers.
I almost forgot to mention my savings for 2009 so far at Giant. $129.37
I LOVE TO SPEND MONEY
This is difficult for me to admit, because it makes me sound like I need to be going to shoppers anonymous meetings. But it's true. I love to spend money.
But this year, we're trying to save more money....afterall, we have 2 toddlers who will want (hopefully) to go to college. So, we put ourselves on a budget. This is difficult, seeing as how I like to spend money. However, I realized today that it really doesn't matter what I'm spending the money on, just as long as I'm making a purchase. I'm starting to see the advantages to shopping on a budget. I get to go to 3 or 4 stores, depending on sales, and I don't go all on one day. So, I'm getting to spend a little money here and there, buying stuff I need, satisfying my money spending habit, all throughout the course of the week.
So, of course, I'm making light of this topic. I'm just really enjoying my money-saving journey.
Sunday I went to CVS, but I'll list those savings in another post. Today I did my main grocery shopping for the week at Giant since they had better buys than Weis Markets. I mentioned in anther post that my weekly grocery budget is $100. Well, we had initially made it $140 and I'm going back to that. I want to stay at (hopefully below) $140 right now, since I'm new to using coupons. Once I'm more familiar with it, I'll lower my budget until I get it to $100. So, here's my spending/savings for this morning.
2-liter Pepsi -5/$5 (the sale is 10/$10 but you don't have to buy 10 to get that price)
San Giorgio Pasta 3/$3 (again, 10/$10)
Giant brand Potato bread 2/$3.38 (I splurged since I was hungry for potato bread)
Swanson Chix broth $.69 (2.69 minus $1 coupon, plus extra $1 off since Giant will double 4 $1
coupons this week)
Swanson Beef Broth $.69 (same a chix broth)
Banquet chix nuggets $2.00
Ham Steaks 5/$10
Purdue Chix nuggets $2 (regular price $3.99, sale price $3 and $1 coupon)
Pam Cooking spray 2/$3.70 regular price $2.85 each, $1 coupon when you buy 2 plus extra
$1 off)
4 Split Chix Breast $4.78 (BOGO)
2 Eye Round Roast $20.32 (BOGO -- I cut each one in half at home, packaged separately, so I
have 4 roasts)
Birds Eye Veggies $.89 (Reg. price $1.79, sale price $1.59 plus $.35 coupon doubled to $.70)
Giant brand frozen veggies 4/$4 (10/$10)
Yoplait kids cups (6-pack) 2/$2.78 (reg. price $2.67 each, sale price $2.39 each, plus $1 coupon,
doubled)
Eggland's best Eggs $1.49 (reg. price $2.39, sale $2.19 plus $.35 coupon doubled)
Pillsburg frozen dinner rolls $1.99 ($2.99 plus $.50 coupon doubled)
Giant brand Sour Cream $.99 (reg. price 1.53)
Giant brand margarine $.89 (reg. price $.99)
I did buy a few things not on sale, like a gallon of whole milk, a pack of juice boxes (1.99), Gerber cereal bars (2.73), 6-pack applesauce (1.79) and a cake mix (1.25), icing (1.25), beef stew meat (4.19) chix breast (4.69), potatoes (2.15), carrots (.99) and instant pudding (.75) but overall I was pleased with my purchases.
Grand Total:
Before discounts $148.15
Discounts $56.56
Total Paid $91.89
This will last me more than one week, since I'm not even planning on using the split chix breasts or the eye round roasts this week. Now, if we can just use up all the leftovers.
I almost forgot to mention my savings for 2009 so far at Giant. $129.37
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