Welcome to Frugal Workshop where every Monday I share the simple strategies used to save money in my kitchen over the past week, along with the meals that made it to our dinner table. You'll find practical tips on how we saved money on food hopefully to inspire your own meal planning using the foods you have in your own pantry.
My Frugal Week
One of the easier ways to save money in your frugal kitchen is to use your freezer as an extension of your pantry. Buying discounted meat on markdown or on sale, bread, milk, cheese, and yogurt can all be frozen for later use. Buying a marked down rotisserie chicken and then freezing it is very economical when it comes to saving money on future meals.
This week I made sure to use up my leftovers as usual, but did end up with three servings of green beans, so those went right into the freezer for future meals.
On Wednesday I cut up melons and tossed the seeds and rinds into my compost pile in the woods. By Sunday we had eaten those smaller melons, so on Sunday I cut up a watermelon and composted that rind as well.
Savings of the Week
Save-A-Lot had a two day sale Friday & Saturday where eggs were 49 cents a dozen with no limit. And they had colored bell peppers for 50 cents each. We stopped in while yard sales were going on, but unfortunately they were all sold out already.
Recipe of the Week
This week I made up a brine for the fresh cucumbers we have on hand. We used to make these regularly when I was growing up. It was just a simple brine of vinegar, garlic, dill, water, and onions.
Photo of the Week
This is my haul from People Helping People and the Mennonites on Saturday night. I didn't get any of those 50 cents Save-A-Lot peppers, but the Lord does provide. This is going to be a bell pepper week here for sure. I'll have to make Stuffed Peppers for dinner one night. There are also two white cucumbers in the picture above if you can see them.
What’s for Dinner
Monday ~ Egg Roll in a Bowl, Macaroni & Cheese, Steamed Broccoli.
The egg roll in a bowl was left over from Sunday nights dinner and the macaroni an cheese was a box from Trader Joe's.
Tuesday ~ Taco Salad
Wednesday & Thursday ~ Lentil Loaf Meatballs, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli, and Pickled Cucumbers.
To start off I cooked the lentils in my three quart instant pot and sautéed the onions for additional flavor before adding all the other ingredients. Rather than make a lentil loaf I made these into meatballs and served them with brown gravy. I served this with roasted sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli.
There was enough left over for lunch on Friday.
Fish on Friday ~ Salmon Patties, Mixed Vegetables, Pickled Beets, Pickled Cucumbers.
Saturday ~ Grilled Citrus Chicken, Steamed Broccoli, and Pickled Beets.
Sunday ~ Pollo Asado Chicken Thighs, Bean Salad, and Brussel Sprouts.
This meal was a markdown from Kroger we picked up at the first of this month. Bailey likes chicken thighs better than white meat, so I knew she would enjoy this. I also made a bean salad and steamed Brussel sprouts as our side dishes. We also had fresh cucumbers and peppers to enjoy along with watermelon if anyone wanted some.
What’s been on the menu in your home this past week?
Belinda
Homemaker at Heart
That is a great pepper price abd am sure people scooped them up. The farm stand near me is really expensive, like $10 for a rather mediumish watermelon but it was delicious. I'd happily take surplus produce.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was a great price for the peppers at Save-A-Lot, which is why I stopped in there, Sam. Watermelons at farm stands here are running $10 too, unfortunately, but I'm willing to pay it sometimes because they are so, so delicious, like you said.
DeleteMy focus these last 2 months has been emptying the freezer as much as possible before the garden comes on. Veggies are becoming breakfast quiche (all garden fodder from 2025 that was cooked down with onions/garlic). Unstuffed peppers nearly every week for a bowl, a burrito, dip with chips. Blackberries go into muffins or a pan of compote for pancakes or mixing into yogurt for midday snacks.
ReplyDeleteI didn't win on the blackberries. The patch in the backyard is gifting us about 3/4 gallon every 3rd day and I still have 3 vac sealed bags in the freezer from 2025. We're trying!!!
Not finding a lot of bargains here but then again, see above ;-) I'm not hunting either, just running through the store to get the few items needed each week.
Have a great week!
That's a great plan to eat down your freezer as much as possible in front of your expected garden surplus this year, Elle. Breakfast quiche sounds delicious. How neat to have the fresh blackberries in your yard. Yes, grocery shopping here has turned into just picking up what we need and not stocking up unless I find a fantastic price, but mostly just getting what we need these days, sadly.
DeleteI love using my freezer to stash my leftovers. My freezer is currently full, so I need to work on eating a few things. Once it cools down it will be better, as there won't be as much ice cream treats stored.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great haul on the peppers. Have a great week!
Oh yes, Bailey has her ice cream treats stored in our freezer for her Ninja Creami. She uses it every night. Thanks on the peppers, I was tickled with those.
DeleteI hope you have a great week too!
That all sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI miss Sav-A-Lot, they left here several years ago. Sure could find some deals there.
You sure could, Cheryl. I noticed ours has went up in prices though, some of the canned beans were upwards of $2 a can, which really surprised me.
DeleteDear Belinda, what a fantastic price on the peppers. Indeed the Lord provides. Your menu sounds delicious 😋 dear friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing, and I hope you have a lovely week.
Thank you, Linda. Yes, HE does provide. I hope you have a lovely week too!
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