Betty Crocker, CM style…

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KneelforAnne -> Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/14/2009 8:55:56 PM)
Betty Crocker, CM style… No, you pervs, it isn’t about the 1950’s housewife stuff! ~ This post is a little bit all over the place, so I apologize in advance. However, with the economy how it is… I was thinking this could be good for everyone, not just me. ~ I’m taking a pay cut this year. It won’t be a whole lot, but it’s more than I feel I can comfortably spare. I’m also increasing my outgoing expenses because I’ve finally set up monthly payments for my student loans. Responsible? Yes… Fun? No…. Easy? sigh Not even close! 　 I’ve noted that a good place for me to slash my budget is my grocery bill. I don’t eat out much, I don’t buy pop and candy and snacks. I eat healthy, but it costs me. 　 I’ll be basically eating on about a hundred dollars--maybe just a bit more-- a month, if I continue to put any money in my savings account. ~ Here’s where I need your help. I need cheap, healthy recipes that I can cook. Hopefully not too complicated. I can cook, and I can grill, and I have a crock-pot. (I think that covers most things, right?) ~ I’ve noticed that (MOST) of the cheap recipes are bad for you. They seem full of things like pasta, potatoes and such. I need cheap, and HEALTHY. Any starch I eat is whole wheat, as basically I’m low carb-ing it too. No sugar, so something that a sugar substitute can be used in. Can it get any more complicated?? …Yep. I’ve recently gone organic, so that means the $.99 cent sour cream is now $2.49. I’m not a vegan or a vegetarian, but I am not opposed to vegetarian dishes, as I know they will lower the overall cost. What concerns me is that the dish is filling, and I don’t want to go back for more again and again….because that won’t really save me any money or calories. I’m shopping around, finding who has the best deals, but it’s still pricey! I have been clued into the local Farmer's Market, which I will be attending this weekend, so keep your fingers crossed for good deals! ~ I know what some of you are thinking… “Go back to regular food, it doesn’t make a difference“. However, I feel it does. I feel STRONGLY that it does. This isn’t something I feel I can change, because I can already see the benefits that have resulted from my eating food sans chemicals. I need to keep to a budget, but I can’t go back to the way I was eating before. I look better now, I feel better now, I am sleeping better now… I would honestly rather NOT pay my student loans and eat food that isn’t going to poison me. I don’t want to have to do that, though. ~ So, in the spirit of saving ALL OF US $$$ MONEY $$$ … can we share healthy, cheap recipes? ~ P.S. Can we post the actual recipe, rather than the link? ~ In the spirit of sharing, here is one I love that I copied from someone I saw off of Food Network. I don’t remember what show it was on, but it’s really good! White Bean Tomato Soup: 2 or 3 cans of white beans, drained and rinsed 1 onion, sliced or diced. 1 or 2 packages of frozen spinach 1 or 2 jars of your favorite marinara sauce -- I like chunky kinds, so there’s tomatoes in the soup. (DO NOT pick the cheap marinara sauce, because this is what the whole soup is based on. Trust me, it does NOT work well.) 1 or 2 cans of chicken broth Garlic, salt and pepper to taste. Mix it all together, let it boil for awhile, but don’t forget to stir it! It’s done when it’s hot.

Musicmystery -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/14/2009 9:04:35 PM)
Anne, Keep in mind that it's easy to grow spinach, lettuce, peas, beans and tomatoes in pots. Cheap pots. And a couple $2.49 40 lb. bags of potting soil (not the expensive miracle stuff). Just add water and sun. Enjoy.

KneelforAnne -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/14/2009 9:14:15 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Musicmystery Anne, Keep in mind that it's easy to grow spinach, lettuce, peas, beans and tomatoes in pots. Cheap pots. And a couple $2.49 40 lb. bags of potting soil (not the expensive miracle stuff). Just add water and sun. Enjoy. MM, What a thought! I do have a little deck that I could try this out on... And, I like the idea of controling what goes into the pots as well... Very interesting! Thank you!

scarlethiney -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/14/2009 9:55:23 PM)
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). 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. 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 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. Add a cup of soup and this is a really filling meal. 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 love to stuff a large tomato or an avocado with chicken salad or tuna or brown rice and veggies, especially home grown tomatoes. 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. 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. Good luck!

DarkSteven -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/14/2009 10:12:10 PM)
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.

KneelforAnne -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/14/2009 10:51:47 PM)
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? 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. 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.) 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. Sounds good! Good luck! THANKS!!

KneelforAnne -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/14/2009 11:00:10 PM)
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. Why thank you DarkSteven! I think some whole grain rice sounds like it would go well? Maybe some refried beans... are those healthy? LOL Some questions, if you will? How much salsa and ranch? To cover the chicken? Just to cover the bottom of the pan? You're cooking the chicken IN the ranch/salsa mix? Thanks and this is one I will try soon!

DarkSteven -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/14/2009 11:16:28 PM)
I just put on a splotch of the sauce. Enough to coat the underside of the chicken, and the topside after turning. I don't cover the whole pan.

KneelforAnne -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/14/2009 11:30:05 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DarkSteven I just put on a splotch of the sauce. Enough to coat the underside of the chicken, and the topside after turning. I don't cover the whole pan. Perfecto!

sirsholly -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/15/2009 1:37:15 AM)
quote: I’ve noticed that (MOST) of the cheap recipes are bad for you. They seem full of things like pasta, potatoes and such. I need cheap, and HEALTHY. Anne...whole wheat pasta is wonderful and healthier than the regular stuff. And a baked potato is cheap, filling and causes a natural serotonin release. Whole grain or brown rice mixed with salsa and a bit of shredded cheese is a very healthy meal (unless you do what i do and scoop it up with tortilla chips [8\|])

DesFIP -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/15/2009 2:23:17 AM)
Ratatouille. Sauteed tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, peppers, onions, garlic. Serve hot or cold over brown rice. Salad Nicoise. Potatoes, green beans, eggs, tuna, lettuce. Served with whole wheat bread.

Level -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/15/2009 4:39:33 AM)
Anne, after I got over my initial disappointment in this not being about you modeling high heels, an apron, and not much else, I dug up this link to a great low carb recipe site: http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/recipes.html You're wise to avoid the sugar and starch, it's unnatural, and not very healthy. I have a lot to do today, but I'll try to come up with some more things that might help you.

barelynangel -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/15/2009 5:04:55 AM)
Level that is THE BEST LOW CARB RECIPE SITE!! I have used it for years and have heard good things about it from others as well.

sirsholly -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/15/2009 5:28:36 AM)
That does look like a good site [:)]

KMsAngel -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/15/2009 5:41:41 AM)
Brown Rice Patties 3 cups leftover brown rice 1 cup grated carrot grated in food processor 1 medium onion, grated in food processor 2 cloves minced garlic, minced in food processor 1 t salt ½ t pepper 2 eggs ½ cup whole wheat pastry flour Vegetable oil of your liking for frying If you do not have a food processor you can use a box grater instead. Just make sure any onion juice makes it into the bowl, lots of flavor there! Combine all ingredients except the oil. If you have the time to make this in advance and let it sit for a bit the garlic and onion flavors will blend even more, but it's not necessary, just nice. If the patties don’t hold together because they are too dry then add another egg. If they are too wet add a little flour. Heat a frying pan or griddle on med - med/high heat until hot and add oil. Use a ¼ cup measuring cup to scoop out the rice mixture and gently lay them on the frying pan. Use the back side of the measuring cup to flatten out each patty. Cook until golden brown on each side, you might want to keep the oven on 250 with a baking sheet in there to put the finished ones on as you cook the rest. Enjoy! not my recipe, and i forgot where i got it from, but it sounds good

Level -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/15/2009 6:28:41 AM)
angel, it's the best one I've seen; Linda does a great job with it, but she's leaning heavily towards zero carb nowadays, so I don't know how much newer stuff she'll add to it. Anne, another thing; pick your battles wisely. Organic may be the best choice, but as you said, it's pricey, so maybe just get the main food item you use in organic form, and "make do" with some others? Maybe buy grass fed beef, but "regular" sour cream, etc.

KneelforAnne -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/15/2009 6:36:36 AM)
Thanks so much everyone! Keep them coming! I'm dashing out for a bit, but I will be back and comment on each posting later today. Some questions off the top of my head: Is it ok to freeze fresh zucchini and yellow squash? If I cube it up first and stick it in a ziplock bag? I wouldn't want to cook it, but I'd like to keep some from the summer as it's pretty cheap now. What ISN'T ok to freeze? I've never bought whole grain rice before. Is isn't the kind you just add water to and 10 minutes later it's done, is it? Should I buy it in bulk? ~ Thanks for whatever help you can give me! (Level... maybe they'll be pictures in it for you... wink)

sirsholly -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/15/2009 6:42:40 AM)
quote: Is it ok to freeze fresh zucchini and yellow squash? If I cube it up first and stick it in a ziplock bag? I wouldn't want to cook it, but I'd like to keep some from the summer as it's pretty cheap now. What ISN'T ok to freeze? I've never bought whole grain rice before. Is isn't the kind you just add water to and 10 minutes later it's done, is it? Anne...i have cleaned and cut zucchini as if preparing it for a recipe, then put it into individual freezer bags with good results. As to the brown/whole grain rice...i buy the Uncle Bens brand that has the bags you just toss into boiling water. So easy!

lronitulstahp -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/15/2009 7:01:55 AM)
quote: 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.) Anne, the chili i made that night for everyone at Cali's b-day was made with turkey, if that helps to give you an idea of how the flavor might differ from chicken. One simple thing i do to cut costs, is, i don't let the price per lb. of things influence my choices too much. If zucchini costs $1.89/lb, but i only need one zucchini, i buy ONE. Otherwise you're stuck trying to find a use for the extra, and often go on unplanned shopping trips in an attempt to make complete recipes. Buy what you need. There can be too much of a good thing. With meats, it is a bit different, as you can freeze it to use later. When i buy a pack of buy one get one free meat, i portion them out in Ziplock bags and freeze them. That way, i can thaw out only what i need for a meal at a time. But on the other hand, if i need only a half pound of smoked turkey for flavoring, i ask someone in the meat dept. that they cut and package just what i need. To keep salad greens fresh longer, i store them in a bowl of cold water in the fridge. Just remove the stalk cut into small pieces, and store. You'll have crisp green lettuce longer than when you leave it wrapped in plastic in the crisper.

KneelforAnne -> RE: Betty Crocker, CM style… (8/15/2009 7:53:05 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sirsholly Anne...whole wheat pasta is wonderful and healthier than the regular stuff. And a baked potato is cheap, filling and causes a natural serotonin release. Whole grain or brown rice mixed with salsa and a bit of shredded cheese is a very healthy meal (unless you do what i do and scoop it up with tortilla chips [8\|]) Hey Holly! I love whole wheat pasta! It's very filling and I don't get hungry afterwards like I do with regular pasta. Baked potatoes are a no-go for me, simply because it causes a spike in my blood sugar that causes cravings for more things. I am a fan of sweet potatoes, though! I just bought some really small ones at the grocery and they're perfect for one person! The salsa/rice/ cheese mix sounds good... It actually reminds me of a recipe that my mom has...just add some sliced/diced green peppers and ground beef. Very yummy. Also, did you know they have multigrain tortilla chips now? They're really good! Thanks for your help!

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