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Monday, November 11, 2024

Menu Plan Monday ~ Saving Money in my Frugal Kitchen

 My Frugal Week

On Thursday I woke up early and started working in the kitchen. I made twelve gelatin fruit cups, six with orange and mandarins, and six with lime and pears. Then I boiled eggs to make both deviled eggs and to have boiled eggs on hand. 

On Saturday I went to Walmart to grocery shop to fill in some items we needed. They have cold rotisserie chickens in the meat department now, not on markdown, but priced at $3.97, so I bought two of those. 

They had their spice containers of chili powder marked down to $1.00 each, so I picked up four of those. We use a lot of that in our cooking. I also picked up a bottle of Great Value light mayonnaise and Great Value sweet pickle relish as I had emptied both containers of ours making deviled eggs this week. 

Recipe of the Week

Bailey got an impromptu invite for Sunday on Saturday evening. She wanted to bring something to snack on as several of her friends were invited. I thought about several items she could bring and and remembered I had added evaporated milk to our pantry this week and there was a recipe for fudge on there. 

I had everything in my pantry, so that is what we decided to make. It would only take a few minutes to make, so I whipped up a quick batch and refrigerated it overnight. We cut it into slices the next day and added it to a thrifted Christmas tin for her friends to enjoy.

Here is the recipe from the back of the can:

Chocolate Fudge


Ingredients:


1 & 1/2 cups sugar

2/3 cup evaporated milk

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 cups miniature marshmallows

1 & 1/2 cups chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla


Directions


Line an 8 x 8 pan with aluminum foil.

Combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt in heavy saucepan.

Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.

Continue to boil, stirring constantly for 4 to 5 minutes.

Remove from heat. Stir in marshmallows, chocolate chips, and vanilla.

Stir for one minute or until marshmallows are melted.

Pour into prepared pan and refrigerator for 2 hours.

Lift fudge from pan and remove foil.

Cut into pieces to serve.


Photo of the Week


 

What’s for Dinner

Meatless Monday ~ Broccoli Cheese Soup

Taco Tuesday ~ I spent the day out of the house and didn’t get home until late. Soup to the rescue! Bailey finished off the Broccoli Cheese Soup while I pulled a container of Chicken Enchilada Soup out of the freezer for my dinner. Perfect!

Wednesday ~ Grilled Bratwurst, Pinto Beans, Carrots & Peas. 

Thursday ~ Mexican Chicken Skillet, Deviled Eggs. This was a fly by the seat of my pants meal using up food items on hand. I used one package of chicken, tofu, cottage cheese, peppers, corn, beans and onions. I added lots of Mexican spices such as chili powder and cumin. 

The tofu I crumbled, added taco seasonings and baked in the oven for 30 minutes before I added it to the skillet. It really helped to stretch the meal into another day on Friday. 

Until I made it to the grocery store, I was using up what we had here until I went grocery shopping. 

Friday ~ I used the rest of the Mexican Chicken Skillet from Thursday. I wrapped the filling in four tortillas, and topped with a small amount of chili and cheese. A different meal while not really different. I also made more deviled eggs from my boiled eggs as we ate all of yesterdays. 

Saturday ~ Rotisserie Chicken turned into Mexican Chicken, Deviled Eggs, and Yellow Squash Casserole. 

Sunday ~ Chicken Drumsticks from the Rotisserie Chicken, Green Peas, and the last of this batch of Deviled Eggs. 

What’s been on the menu in your home this past week?


Belinda
Homemaker at Heart
Mortgage & Debt Free
~ Living within our Means ~
My Linktree

~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~
Proverbs 31:27


Saturday, November 9, 2024

Dollar Tree Dinners ~ Turkey Dinner In A Bag

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This is an idea created by Dollar Tree Dinners. 

Thanksgiving Dinner In a Bag: Cost $7.25

This lady made Thanksgiving Dinner for under $10.00, and bought all the ingredients at the Dollar Tree.

This is what the meal includes:
Two cans of canned turkey
One can of green beans
1 package of Turkey Gravy
1 package of Stuffing Mix
1 package of Instant Potatoes
Total cost $7.25 plus tax, if that is applicable in your state.

Some people are putting all the items in a gallon size Ziplock bag and donating them to their local food banks or Little Free Pantries.

Now, I realize this is not a perfect meal and is high in sodium. But, this is one small way we can help our fellow neighbors when many of them are struggling. 

Belinda



Friday, November 8, 2024

Second Frugal Friday of November 2024

 Welcome to Frugal Friday! 

Quote of the Week

The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes a home happy and life lovely. ~ Louisa May Alcott

My Frugal Week


I used a package from toilet paper to line a garbage can saving me the cost of one garbage bag. 

Last Friday I went to the Dollar Tree and Bealls Outlet. At Dollar Tree I found purple shampoo, which I have been wanting to try, along with body wash, and some Christmas bags I will be needing. I found Jordan’s Skinny Syrups at Bealls and bought some toasted marshmallow, which we enjoy, and was only $4.99, which is cheaper than buying it online. 

On Monday I had a follow up doctors appointment and was told I had lost forty pounds since my last visit, which was six months ago. Afterwards, I stopped in at the Samaritan Thrift Center and found several items. One of them was a heavyweight blanket for $1.00, which I'm going to use to cover & insulate my bedroom windows for winter. 

Other items I picked up were several items to decorate packages for Christmas and a couple of baskets to put gifts into along with some fabric to line them.

On Tuesday we went out to vote and both got Covid boosters and Bailey got her flu shot. 

Photo of the Week

A beautiful photo of the sun setting on the Ocoee River where we live.




Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here. 

We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.


Belinda
Homemaker at Heart
Mortgage & Debt Free
~ Living within our Means ~
My Linktree

~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~
Proverbs 31:27


Monday, November 4, 2024

Menu Plan Monday ~ Saving Money in my Frugal Kitchen ~ First Monday November 2024


My Frugal Week

We had multiple four ounce peach cups in our freezer that we were not eating, so I decided to put them in my ice water to flavor it and keep it cold. 

What we did not eat of the Chicken Enchilada Soup was put into individual bowls and put in the freezer for future meals. 

I emptied two jars of bought on markdown bread and butter pickles into my Tupperware Pick-a-Deli container and washed the jars to save for later. 

I straightened up my freezer one day this week putting all the frozen fruit together. I have so many strawberries on hand that I might make some strawberry jelly for Christmas. 


We washed & folded our kitchen laundry over the weekend. This saves us a great deal of money each month.

What’s for Dinner

Monday ~ Chicken Enchilada Soup & Cornbread. 

Tuesday ~ Homemade Pepperoni & Black Olive Pizza.

Wednesday ~ I had no meat thawed for today, so decided on Salmon Patties with roasted potatoes and green beans and onions. 

Thursday ~ BBQ Pork Chops, Hot Potato Salad, and Green Beans with Onions. I used up the last of a bottle of BBQ sauce and then rinsed the bottle out and put the dregs of it in the crockpot with the porkchops. 

Friday ~ Sausage & Vegetable Stir Fry, Hot Potato Salad, and Corn. 

Saturday ~ Homemade Chicken Nuggets, Butter Beans, Peas & Carrots.

Souper Sunday ~ Broccoli & Cheese Soup, Cornbread.

What’s been on the menu in your home this past week?


Belinda
Homemaker at Heart
Mortgage & Debt Free
~ Living within our Means ~
My Linktree

~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~
Proverbs 31:27


Friday, November 1, 2024

First Frugal Friday of November 2024

 Welcome to Frugal Friday! 

My Frugal Week

We went to Joann Fabrics last week to pick up a few things and to use our 60% off coupon. I was surprised at some of the prices on things like Batting and Mod Podge. Seems like crafting has become a rather expensive hobby like many other things in this economy. 

I’ll be making some large casserole hot pads for Christmas presents and I want to make sure I have enough supplies on hand. The last time I gave them out for Christmas they were a huge hit.

This will be a short Frugal Friday post as I have a doctor appointment this morning. I’ve stayed home all week working on projects here and keeping the house running smoothly. 

I perused the grocery store sale ads online not finding anything to write home about. 

How was your week?



Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here. 

We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.


Belinda
Homemaker at Heart
Mortgage & Debt Free
~ Living within our Means ~
My Linktree

~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~
Proverbs 31:27