I drive by at least three grocery stores on my way home from school every day, so I am trying a different approach. I'm actually planning menus and only shopping for one or two meals at a time. It's easy enough to stop and buy the ingredients after school and eat leftovers or sandwiches on the days I don't want to cook.
We've been trying out different recipes from the books and magazines I've collected but rarely used. I made Turkey Minestrone from Taste of Home's Pasta Cookbook. I thought it was pretty good and my daughter ate it without complaining. I like making big pots of soup like this and freezing the leftovers.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Turkey-Minestrone
We had a half pound of ground turkey and three-fourths pound of turkey sausage left over and I told my daughter we need to find something to do with them before they spoil. I don't want to keep throwing food away. She decided she wanted to make turkey burgers with the leftover ground turkey. I stopped by the grocery store on the way home and found buns on sale for a dollar. Cheese slices were 3 packages for a dollar. Dinner only cost me $2.70 and I didn't even have to cook!
I found a recipe for chili to utilize the leftover turkey sausage. All I had to do was cook the sausage then open three cans and a bottle of salsa. It doesn't get much easier. It won't win any chili cook-off's, but it's not bad. My daughter said it was awesome. I froze a bag of these leftovers as well.
Now I've got leftover hamburger buns I need to use. I found a recipe for pulled pork sandwiches in my Rival Crock Pot cookbook. I stopped again on my way home to buy the shoulder roast and the other ingredients that I didn't already have. I can smell it cooking now and it's making me very hungry.
11 comments:
Your title says you're learning to cook, but I think you already know how! Sounds like it's just a matter of doing it.
Cooking has always been a challenge for me - choosing, planning, trying to satisfy everybody's tastebuds, etc. I actually have some old Taste of Home magazine cookbooks - I think I'll dig them up! I need constant motivation.
Keep it up!
Welcome to my world, Jen!
The soup looks good.
That was beautiful! You are getting it, and lookin' good while you do!
@Anita: I know how it's supposed to be done but I'm not very good at it.
@Rebecca S.: Is it a good place to visit? I may stay awhile.
@sage: It was good...and mine looked just like the picture...even though that is not my actual food...
@buffalodick: I'm improving. You would laugh for days if I told you some of the mistakes I made learning.
Don't buy on special offer that which you would not buy anyway, and that day. While the freezer works if you are feeding a family of six, with two all you will do is store stuff you have sickened yourself with.
And, dear Lord, how can you face Turkey, I may be ready next Christmas but only if I've forgotten.
Sounds like it is a great plan, so far. Wont you get tired of going to the store everyday? I don't think I could do it, the temptation would be too great to grab something not on the list.
Good luck and eat hearty!
@Vince: No more sick than I already am of the limited menu they serve at the school or the frozen dinners I can buy at the store. It's working pretty well so far.
@Heather: I don't go every day. It's more like three times a week. It's on my way and doesn't take more than five minutes. Special trips to buy tons of groceries and spending an hour annoys me more.
This is how I shop too. Mainly because I never know what I will feel like eating. That dish looks so good. I am going to have to try it!
Ah, the budding grocery store gourmet. Before long you will be eating well on the cheap.
The way I like to do it is, check the grocery store weekly specials flyer, buy the cheapest meat and vegetables off the front page (the loss-leaders) and plan my menu from there. With practice, you can have a full-course meal for a dollar or two a plate.
@Christiejolu: It's much better the second day.
@Tallshag: I do that sometimes. I saw a lady take competitor's sale circulars to Wal-Mart and they honored every price. That's something else to keep in mind.
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