Food: Saving Money On Food

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Saving Money On Food
Tuesday, January 31, 2006

There are many ways that you can be frugal when it comes to cooking. Many moms and dads find that although they want to buy better food and be healthier, their grocery bills already make up a good portion of their budgets. There are plenty of ways you can work to save pennies here and there in your kitchen, and you will find that they add up quickly.

The first thing you can do is to save all zippered bags. That applies not only Ziploc bags that you used for items that did not make a mess but to the bags that tortillas shells and other items came in. You can put these bags in the freezer and save them. Then when you cook something (such as pancakes) and want to save some of it, you will be able to do so by putting them in the bags you already have.

Do not toss out bananas if your family did not eat them before they went bad. First know that the flesh of bananas are good long after the peel turns brown, especially if you put them in the refrigerator when you get them. If you find that the peel has turned brown, you can make banana bread, banana pudding, or other dishes out of them. You also can put the entire banana (with the peel) into the freezer. Then you will have it available when you want to make a fruit smoothie, and the banana will still be good.

Make your own breadcrumbs! You can make breadcrumbs fairly easily from bread that is going stale or from the ends of bread that people do not want to eat for whatever reason. Put the ends into the freezer in a sealed bag. Then when you have enough to make a good serving of breadcrumbs, you can put them in the food processor. Grind them up and then re-freeze them. You will be able to use them for various recipes for months. You can put out as much as you need and use it, leaving the rest frozen.

Are you tired of spending money for those "cream of" soups that you need? Well, make your own. These recipes are not as simple to duplicate as others, but you can make yours at home. If you use these recipes often, you can save a significant amount of money. Here is a simple recipe for making a cream of soup. Mix two cups of nonfat powdered milk with 3/4 cup of cornstarch, 1/4 cup of chicken bouillon, two tablespoons of onion flakes, and one teaspoon each of thyme, black pepper, and basil.

This dry mix can be stored in a sealed container until you would like to use it. Heat 1/3 cup of the mix with 1 1/4 cups of water in a saucepan and then add them to your dish when you want to use it. You can add in whatever the cream of is supposed to be. You can add in 1/2 cup of chopped mushrooms or celery, 3/4 cup of cooked mixed vegetables, or 1 cup of potatoes, broccoli, or asparagus as needed to make the soup. This tip alone can save you a good bit of money if you use a lot of these soups. It also is healthier for you, so there are a number of benefits.

Try out a number of spices. They can save you from purchasing expensive packets. Plus you can add your own flavor. If you are a huge fan of basil, you will be able to make your own spaghetti sauce based on your preferences if you use your own spices. Adding spices also can help you to eat more foods that you may not think you like.

These few tips should get you started on saving money on your grocery budget. As you start your quest for a more frugal and a healthier kitchen, you will find that you will discover more ways to save money. There are items that you may buy, such as pre-made or add meat only dinners, which you think are inexpensive. You will find, however, that you can make them yourself for less money. They will be healthier, cheaper, and tastier, and that makes these dishes winners for any family.

By Julia Mercer

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