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Friday, May 29, 2009

Vegetarians, you might not want to look...

Just fair warning...this is a meaty post. Ha ha, I'm hilarious :D


Friday night, home from my new job and taking the night off cooking. Good thing we enjoy having a BBQ once in a while. I had steak on the menu plan for last night. I was happy when the man followed the menu plan to the letter while I was away working. Even made the fish dish, which I was sure they would subtitute for, say, pop and chips, in my absence. This is really working well and saves a lot of money at the grocery store, since I only have to buy the items I need to make meals. Apparently, my family also eats healthier food because of the plan as well.


The last time I went grocery shopping, I brought a certain amount of cash and vowed not to go over. I tried valiantly but there was a sale on meat that I couldn't walk away from as we had next to nothing in the freezer. Meat is always a budget buster for us. I could take it or leave it, and have done both the taking and the leaving of it, but I went and married a staunch carnivore and now I must simply live with him :) I went twenty dollars over at the till and had to use debit. I was somewhat expecting that and I used the cash to pay another bill so it all worked out. I'm working on it!
We are also still tracking our purchases.
It kind of hit home for all of us when we had to write down the $2 for a plastic pokemon from the gumball machine...


One thing I do when there is a sale on meat is to buy the warehouse packs and then re-package it myself. I am sure that most budget friendly Moms do this, mine did, and I have always done it for myself, even before having a child. It makes things way easier when it is time to defrost something for a meal to already have it in the correct portion size for your cooking needs. Also, it makes your meat stretch further because you aren't having a ton of lefovers which may or may not end up on the garbage. Here is a pic of what I did with mine. You can't see it well here, but, for example, I bought two pounds of bacon which I cut each pack in half and now I have four packs. Same with the ground beef. I was in a hurry, next time I might freeze some things in marinades, which can save another step in the thawing, seasoning and cooking process. Now, Vegetarians, I warned you, if you are still looking, it's your own darn fault.

3 comments:

hustler said...

That's a good idea. My parents used to get butcher paper for their meats to prevent freezer burn. I never thought about freezing meat already in the marinade. Thanks!

Lena! said...

You're awesome. I try my best to buy meat on sale as well, and definitely freeze them in smaller portions. BUT, sometimes I still can't prevent hubby from coming home with a couple of filet mignons he bought from the very overpriced neighbourhood deli. Those times I just smile and enjoy my dinner :)

Bean said...

Lena, filet mignon est manifique. What is life if you can't enjoy the good things once in a while??
Hustler, butcher paper, yes, good idea...