quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

Chicken a la DarkSteven:

Get chicken breast fillets (I'm spoiled.  Chicken thighs or leg quarters, cut up, would be a much cheaper alternative).

Spray a pan with nonstick spray.  Add a fifty-fifty mix of salsa and ranch dressing.  Put in chicken and grill in ranch-salsa sauce.  Flip it over and stir from time to time as your work ethic demands.

Takes mebbe five to eight minutes.  Looks awful, tastes great.

quote:

ORIGINAL: scarlethiney

OMG Calla that sounds heavenly.  I cannot wait to make it! Thanks for sharing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: KneelforAnne

I've been on a quest today for the cheapest (or should I say least expensive? LOL), and best food in my area. 

quote:

ORIGINAL: Level

Local farms/ranchers can be a great option, for sure. And, if you have a large freezer, buy in bulk, and you'll save even more.


http://texasgrassfedbeef.com/

http://www.americangrassfedbeef.com/grass-fed-steak-varpks.asp

Also, if you haven't read Good Calories, Bad Calories, check it out. There's a wealth of info there.

quote:

However, their milk is raw. I'm not so sure I think that's a good idea.

quote:

ORIGINAL: sirsholly

quote:

ORIGINAL: Level

Local farms/ranchers can be a great option, for sure. And, if you have a large freezer, buy in bulk, and you'll save even more.

cheaper yes...especially if you are in a farming community...but please do not think just because it is locally grown that it is safe. Farmers fertilize with animal manure which can be a source of e-coli. This is a problem with some who think because produce is "organic" it is safe

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

btw, Anne....cheap and quick....

Wheat bread. Add anything imaginable:

1) apples and cinnamon
--or--
2) broccoli, onion, peppers and basil or oregano
--or--
3) whatever you like

Add cheese (I like sharp cheddar).

Toast in oven.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesFIP

What you ought to look for, for next summer, is a CSA. Community supported agriculture. You take a share in the produce guaranteeing you a box of whatever is fresh that week and you do some work there. By trading labor instead of them needing to hire migrants, their cost is lower as is yours.

But you could get a  lot of green peppers one week and not be fond of them.

Usually I do add some liquid when reheating rice, or put it in a small colander above boiling water for 15 minutes to reheat. Or stir fry some left overs and add to the rice. My mother used to make kedgeree with leftover rice but my kids don't eat it so I don't have a recipe.

quote:

ORIGINAL: CallaFirestormBW

Sweet Golden Curry
You can make this recipe as spicy as you want by the kind of curry powder you use -- Madras is -very- hot, golden is milder. I make my own golden curry powder with tumeric, garlic, ancho chili powder, garam masala, and hand-toasted cumin, coriander, and cardamom seed because I can't have a lot of capsaicin due to allergy, and a green variation with mild green chili powder in place of the ancho powder. You can make it hotter using either hot red chili powder or hot green chili powder.

1/2 - 1 lb of frozen fish or organic chicken thigh meat
3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut in thick cubes
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 large yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves fresh garlic, crushed
2 chopped, seeded tomatoes
2 tbsp oil of your choice (I prefer either ghee, coconut, or olive)
1-3 tbsp curry powder
sea salt to taste (I get mine in bulk)
1 large can coconut milk
1 cup fresh green peas (in season) or frozen green peas

Saute onion, garlic, and celery in a heavy pan with oil. When onion is translucent, add sweet potatoes, meat or fish, and tomatoes. Pour in coconut milk and bring to simmer. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Add green peas.

This can be served with Madras Cauliflower, 'riced' cauliflower, or basmati rice. Makes 4-6 servings.

____________________

Polynesian Pork

1-2 lbs lean stew pork, frozen, ground, and formed into meatballs
(you can use the stew meat as-is, but I like the baby meatballs better)
2-3 tbsp ghee or coconut oil
2 cups fresh pineapple
1 cup fresh mango
3 fresh hearts of palm if you can find them for a decent price (optional)
OR
Chunk coconut meat from 1 coconut (optional)
1 large yellow or red chopped onion
2 bell peppers, seeded and chopped
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped OR 1 can of diced tomatoes
2 stalks celery
3 cups pre-cooked red beans
1-2 teaspoons green chili powder
salt to taste
3-4 cups chicken stock (I make my own and store it in the freezer in 1 cup containers)

Pre-heat a heavy-bottom pan, and add 1/2 the oil. Add the meat and allow to completely caramelize on the searing side before turning. the meat should be a nice brown color. Add the onions and saute until translucent. Transfer meat and onion to a crock pot and add remaining ingredients. Simmer for 6-10 hours on low heat (4 hrs on high). May be served with Mofongo, steamed and mashed yucca, steamed and 'riced' cauliflower, rice, or as-is. Makes 8-10 servings. Recipe can be halved or doubled.

______________

Madras Cauliflower

1 head cauliflower
1 tsp madras curry powder
3 cloves garlic
3 tomatoes, chopped and seeded
2 tbsp ghee

Combine all ingredients in a heavy pot. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.


Dame Calla

quote:

ORIGINAL: CallaFirestormBW

quote:

ORIGINAL: sirsholly

cheaper yes...especially if you are in a farming community...but please do not think just because it is locally grown that it is safe. Farmers fertilize with animal manure which can be a source of e-coli. This is a problem with some who think because produce is "organic" it is safe

This is -rarely- a problem with farmers who eat their own farm products. It becomes more of an issue with corporate farming. Animal manure is a -safe- and efficient fertilizer, and has been used safely for CENTURIES. The source of e-coli in food is not from fertilizer, which has been fermented at high enough temperatures to kill the e-coli, but from farms which get their ground-water from areas adjacent to feedlots, where waste runoff from the feedlots washes into the aquaducts from which the fields are watered.

DC

quote:

ORIGINAL: Termyn8or

FR

Not a recipe, but it may help. If you have one of those open air type markets in your area, hit them at closing time. Of course get familiar with the place first so you know where to go. A buddy of mine shows up withe trhee porterhouses for twenty bucks. The were supposed to be about $11 a pound but each is 1.3 pounds and the guy made him a package deal, and thea threw in a bunch of big soup bones for the dog. Of course you use them in soup first. The point is that it is something they don't have to load back into the truck and refrgerate when they get home or wherever they keep the stuff. Same applies for veggies.

Of course this does not work at a supermarket, they have no reason because the food stays there. However, you see those specials ? If the special is X amount off the package you want as many small packages as you can get. If it is X off a pound you want the biggest packages. Also a local indepenent butcher will usually work with you on a bulk purchase. All you need is the freezer space to take advantage of it.

Not a recipe, but these things can save you some money while you can still buy quality goods.

T

quote:


I know that you were talking about ON the bread... but I'm thinking IN the bread. 

quote:

ORIGINAL: scarlethiney

quote:

ORIGINAL: KneelforAnne

quote:

ORIGINAL: scarlethiney

Anne we make our own granola for breakfast. Large amounts that we vac seal and have for months. Oats are cheap, we add nuts, dried fruit i.e raisens, cranberries, apples etc.cinnamon, honey or splenda (sometimes I prefer splenda to the honey).
 
This sounds so yummy!  What kind of oats do you use?  Is it the kind that are "quick" or the other kind?  I've never really SEEN the other kind, the slow cooking kind... so I'm interested in which you use.
 
Do you have it with milk, or is it something you cook?

Anne you can use the quick oats or regular.  Yes, we have it as cereal and I  put it in yogurt and have that for breakfast and also in some of the bread I make.

When I am off I make bread and freeze the extra loaves. The recipe on the bag of King Arthurs 100% white whole wheat is a great recipe. Some of the loaves I will add cinnamon and raisens for cinnamon bread, some I add cottage cheese and honey for a high protein bread.
 
I have never heard of this, but it sounds great!   To tell the truth, I've only ever made bread once and the birds didn't even eat it.  I am, however, willing to try again. 
 
I actually think baking bread is a little sexy... LOL... I'm strange, I know.

Making bread is  not as difficult as  you think. If you can find the King Arthur Flour, the recipe on the bag is easy and very good. When you warm your milk, honey and cottage cheese, just make sure it is not too hot before you add it to your flour mixture and yeast. Proof (sprinkle it on the water , half a cup and when it starts foaming it is ready to add  to the flour mixture)the yeast in a small amount of warm water.
 
Ground turkey is usually fairly inexpensive and makes great burgers, meatloaf and chili. It is very low in fat and to me tastes just like beef without all the calories.

I've used it before!  Never for burgers though.  Do you have trouble keeping the burger together?  I have a great recipie for Chicken Chili... I bet turkey would do well in it! (I'll see if I can find and post it.)  
No, add an egg and or some bread crumbs and it will help bind the burgers. Add chopped onion, Mrs.Dash, Worchestershire sauce or soy sauce and whatever spices you like.

I also make my own pizzas out of tortilla dough. A big bag of the inexpensive tortilla dough is about 3$ and will last a long time making pizzas or tortillas. If your watching calories make small individual pizzas with pasta sauce, ground turkey, alpine lace or laughing cow cheese. We also make small individual pizzas with no sauce, just olive oil.,garlic, fresh spinach, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese or parmesean. 
 
That's my kind of pizza....  yumm!  I've tried it on a tortilla before, but never a whole wheat one... we shall see!  Do you think freezing a tortilla would work?   I don't see actually USING a whole pack of them before they go bad... maybe with a paper towel between them?  In a ziplock freezer bag?
 
Add a cup of soup and this is a really filling meal.
 
I love soup.  I find it to be the ultimate comfort food.  I tend to buy the frozen soups (not any longer!) because I don't like the taste of canned.  Does anyone have a *simple* Minestrone Soup recipe?  Something that maybe I could take the pasta out of?  I'm tired of regular vegetable soup, it's boring me. 
 
I often make 5 or more 6in pizzas and then freeze them for evenings when we don't feel like cooking. These are not low carb, but you can buy low carb tortillas and do the same thing.
 
I am so in love with the freezer idea.  Most of the time the last thing I want to do on a weeknight is cook! 

I love to stuff a large tomato or an avocado with chicken salad or tuna  or brown rice and veggies, especially home grown tomatoes.
 
Yumm!


Lettuce wraps are inexpensive and really good. You can put almost anything in a lettuce wrap. If you have time to grill up several chicken breasts and then chop them up with onions, peppers and pineapple and freeze them, this is a pretty tasty filling for the lettuce wraps.  Again, very low calorie and healthy.

I never would have thought to put the pineapple in.  Interesting... sounds good! 

We try to do a small garden every year with tomatoes, herbs, squash, carrots, brocolli.

Squash casserole
Thinly slice squash, and layer in a dish with onions, green peppers, garlic, sea salt and spinach. Beat 3 eggs and add 3/4 cup milk or chicken broth or half of both. Pour over layered veggies. Top with cheese and bread crumbs. Bake at 375 for 30mins or until bubbly.

Now, when you say squash... do you mean the yellow squash/ zucchini?  Or are we talking like, the gourd type of squash?  Just to clarify.  I'm thinking you mean the yellow/ zucchini kind, but I just want to be sure.

Any kind of squash is good. I use yellow squash and zucchini and sometimes both.
 
Sounds good!

Good luck!
 
THANKS!!

You are very welcome!