Cookaholics Bulletin Board

Cat Coro was just on Oprah (I know, I know!) and has posted a week's worth of recipes for a family of four for under $10 a meal along with the shopping list and ways to save on grocery shopping. Its on www.oprah.com. Sorry I haven't figured out how to post a link for you. When you go to the website you may have to click on Wednesday.
ilene

Great tips. I know I saved a bunch of money by just planning menus and buying only what I need each week.

Darcie, If the GS Cookies are purchased from a friend, relative, or co-worker; they actually fall under the category of "social obligation" not "groceries". The glazed carrots sound awesome, btw.

Folks,

Quick Calzone:

Red Chard: $2.79
Home-made whole-milk ricotta: $5
2 packets TJ's pizza dough: $4
Home-made dried tomatoes: $0.75
Salt-cured olives: $0.60
Toasted Pine Nuts: $1.90
Home-made garlic oil: $0.25
Spices: $0.20
$5 worth of salad
-------------------------
$20.49
Dinner & Lunch, 2 people = $5.12 ppm. Not so great this time. Would have been much more economical had I not used expensive organic milk for the Ricotta.

Well, this will be short. We're going to visit my parents in Otsego (about 15 minutes north of Kalamazoo) for a few days. The only thing that I know will be on the menu there is the beef I've been corning.


sooo...

Wed. -- Italian Wedding Soup - $2.24/serving - We had to skip this yesterday because we were at (of all things) a wedding. I'd forgotten about that when I set the menu. We skipped the Arroz con Pollo because I had forgotten to get some bell peppers and I just didn't feel like cooking by that point. We had the second Make-Ahead Pizza, instead, so I expect Arroz con Pollo will make an appearance next week.

Thu. -- Slow-Cooker Cassoulet; Bibb, Green Apple, and Cheddar Salad - $4.03/serving - I just had to have it one more time before the weather warms up.

Fri. -- Pasta with Salmon and Tomatoes, Caesar Salad - $2.39/serving

Sat. -- Roasted Turkey Leg Quarter, Cornbread Stuffing, Creamy Peas with Ham and Onions - $1.92/serving - Only possible because the turkey was a gift. If I'd paid for him, it would be $5.48/serving.

Okay, day late, but here goes...

Sun. -- Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup - $2.66/serving - Geekboy at the Genuismoot again so I went for simple and easy.

Mon. -- Tilapia with Coconut Red Curry Sauce and Asparagus/Carrot Salad with Thai Flavors - $3.49/serving - I suspect "with Thai Flavors" means "with peppers and fish sauce."

Tue. -- Arroz con Pollo and Avocadoes - $2.71/serving - It sounded soft enough for dentist day.

Wed. -- Asparagus, Ham, and Gruyere (actually aged Fontina, because that's what I have sitting around the cheese basket) Fritatta - $1.56/serving - The idea is to eat my pound of asparagus a little at a time.

Thu. -- Galumpki Casserole - $0 - Geekboy's mom is bringing this over. Wish me luck.

Fri. -- Fried Catfish and Quick-Cooked Greens with Bacon and Black-eyed Peas - $3.66/serving - That's probably a little high since I can re-use the frying fat. I'm going to try out the tallow I rendered.

Sat. -- Slow-Cooker Cassoulet and, Asparagus and Mesclun (well, some kind of mixed greens) Salad with Capers, Cornichons, and Hard-Cooked Eggs - $4.03 - Poor Cassoulet, it got pre-empted for Corned Beef Hash last week.

Mmm more fish, more eggs, very nice. I'm considering a CSA next month. I can get a half share at a pretty reasonable rate. Anyone have any experience? Got any tips?

JesBelle,

I'm not sure that Beef Tallow is a good idea for fried fish.

I'm not 100% sure myself, but it was, if not exactly free, an unexpected extra, and oil adds alot to the cost. Besides, McD's used to do it so it's not unheard of. And nothing ventured, nothing gained, or, faint heart never won fair fishy, and all that. ; ) Plus, saturated fats are easier to re-use for frying, but I'm not willing to throw $12 worth of coconut oil into something I only do rarely.

On the beef tallow, I also heard a while back that McD's used it in their frying medium for french fries. That's supposedly what made them so yummy. But I think they have changed it because of no meat societies that McD's is now in, as well as vegetarian customers in meat loving places. eb

I'll be sure to post on Friday (Saturday, at the latest) and let y'all kow how it turned out. I'm really trying to eliminate refined oils from our diet, so I hope this works out. I'm hoping to find some lard next month.

Saw this linked over at epicurious today:
way less than 10 dollars a day
haven't followed all of the links yet, but it does make you think.
BeckyH