Frugal Finds Friday: Bone Broth

 Bone broth is something I discovered last year, and have been making ever since.  It is a great way to use up something that would normally get thrown away, and is very nutrient dense.  I also LOVE how SIMPLE it is to make; simple is definitely my style!  The way I do it is:

1. Cook a whole chicken in the crock-pot during the day.

2. Pick chicken after dinner, placing meat into freezer bags, and skin and bones back into the crock-pot.

3. Add any vegetable scraps you have (I save mine in a bag in the freezer), and 6-8 cups of water (depending on the size of your crock-pot).

4. Let your broth cook on low overnight about 12-16 hours.

5. Allow broth to cool some, and drain through a colander into a large bowl or pot.  Skim any fat off the top, and measure your broth into containers or bags for the freezer (I usually do 1 or 2 cups each).

6. Repeat.  I usually do just 2 batches, but some do 3 or 4.  Each subsequent batch will be weaker than the first.

Finished broth.

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What are your frugal finds for this week?

ALDI Deals, Starting 02/20/2013

Here are some of the great deals at ALDI this week...

• Weds. 02/20 ONLY: Tyson Fresh Beef Pot Roast Kit 2.75 lb $7.99 ea
• Kitchen Living Stainless Steel Fry and Serve Pan $19.99 ea
• Kitchen Living Stainless Steel 5 Qt Colander $3.99 ea
• Simply Nature Kids Hidden Vegetable Mini Penne or Twisted Macaroni 12 oz $1.39 ea
• Priano Italian Diced Tomatoes 14.5 oz $0.59 ea
• Priano Roasted Garlic Alfredo Sauce 15 oz $1.69 ea
• Priano Filled Italian Pasta Assorted Varieties 8.8 oz Dry $1.79 ea
• Priano Lasagna Sheets 9 oz $0.99 ea
• Tuscan Garden Croutons Assorted Varieties 6 oz $0.99 ea
• Tuscan Garden Italian Dressings Original or Zesty 16 oz $1.39 ea
• Savoritz Mini Cheese or PB Crackers 7.5 oz $1.99 ea
• Organic Russets Potatoes $2.29/3 lb bag
• Multi-colored Peppers $1.99/3 pk
• Mushrooms $0.89/8 oz
• Organic Grape Tomatoes $2.29/8 oz
• Green Bell Peppers $0.99/2 pk
• Carrots $0.79/2 lbs

For more information about ALDI, visit their homepage!

Tempt my Tummy Tuesday: Chili's-style Salsa

Chili's is one of my favorite places to eat, and the best part, chips and salsa of course!  So I finally decided, after some persuasive begging from my husband, to find a knock-off recipe that I could make at home.  I had several lined up to try, but I only got through the first recipe, because it was almost identical!  This recipe is simple, easy, and delicious!

Ingredients:

1 - 29 oz Can Whole Tomatoes, Drained

1/2 small Can Whole/Sliced Jalapenos, Drained (not pickled)

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Sugar

1 tsp Lime Juice

I put everything into a mixing bowl, and use an immersion blender to puree/mix it all up, but you could probably use a blender or a food processor too.  Refrigerate at least one hour to allow the flavors to blend, and store leftovers in the refrigerator as well.  I'm not sure how long this will last, about the longest we've kept it is two weeks, because that's about as long as it lasts; it's very yummy!

For more AWESOME recipes, visit Tempt my Tummy Tuesday!
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Menu Plan Monday: 02/18/2013

This week Joe and I have a LOT of projects around the house that I want to get knocked out.  I know we can do it once we get ourselves started, that is always the hardest part, just getting started.  I'm going to try and not buy much at the stores this week either, so we'll see how that goes.  Here's what's on the menu this week...

Breakfasts: Waffles, Cold Cereal

Lunches: Leftovers, PB and J/Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Dinners:

Sunday - Chili's with Joe's Grandfather

Monday - Fried Leftover Potatoes and Onions, Bacon, Eggs, and Toast

Tuesday - Shrimp Poppers with Baked French Fries

Wednesday - Zuppa Tuscana with Foccacia Bread

Thursday - Spaghetti with Meatballs, Green Beans, and Garlic Bread

Friday - Homemade Pizza, Carrot and Celery Sticks with Dip

Saturday - TBA, probably out again with Joe's Grandfather, since we'll be working in his basement all day.

Extras: Pudding, Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 02/10-16/2013

This week I continued restocking the freezers and pantry, and stocking up on good deals.  Here's what I ended up with...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $1.33 oop, Earned $2 ECB's
• Sunday's Walgreen's Trip: $1.99 oop, Earned $3 RR and 2000 Balance Points (= $2)
• Sunday's Rite-Aid Trip: $7.13 oop, Earned $9 UP+Rewards
• Sunday's Target Trip: $22.17 oop, Earned $5 Gift card 

 + 2 large bags cat chow, not pictured

• Monday's CVS Trip (just Doritos Joe picked up with a prescription): $4.29 oop 
• Tuesday's Thrift Store Trip (Jeans and Shirt for me): $9.98 oop

• Tuesday's Wal-mart Trip: $57.05 oop

• Tuesday's Staples Trip (Ink and Tissues 2/$0.99): $11.11 oop
• Earned $107.76 in a Rebate Check from a Dr, so we decided to add it to the grocery money
• Thursday's Giant Trip: $31.62 oop

• Thursday's Micheal's Trip (just 1 bag of candy for a gift): $3.17 oop
• Thursday's ALDI Trip: $23.99 oop

Total OOP: $173.83 - $128.76 Earned Rewards/Cash = Net oop: $45.07 -- Without the check, that's a LOT, but the freezers are finally starting to look stocked again.  I am going to try r-e-a-l-l-y hard next week to stay out of the stores, and away from the good deals, and hopefully save some money in the process!

Frugal Finds Friday: Stretching Taco Meat

When I first got married, I made taco meat the same way my mother always had, 1 lb ground beef + 1 seasoning pkt and water = taco meat.  But as I got older, and money got scarcer, I began experimenting with ways that I could make everything stretch further, including our meat.  Meat is expensive, so I really want to get the most bang for my buck.  I started out just adding a can of tomatoes to my taco meat.  That was received well; the tomatoes stayed on the tacos better because they were already in the meat, and it was one less thing to balance on top.  The latest thing I've added is cooked pinto beans.  I put these in our chili, so it seemed like a natural pairing for the taco meat.  It is super YUMMY!  My husband isn't that into beans, and he even liked it - score!  I also learned to stretch the meat even further by not serving tacos, but making nachos or taco salads instead.  This makes it easy for Joe and I to fill up with using little meat.  A pound of beef now makes at least 6 meals + leftovers for us, just by using the above tips!

For my taco meat recipe, go here!

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ALDI Deals, Starting 02/13/2013

Here are some of the deals at ALDI this week...

• Wednesday 02/13 ONLY: Fresh USDA Choice Boneless Ribeye Steak $7.99/lb
• Fusia Soy, Light Soy, or Teriyaki Sauce 15 oz $1.19 ea
• Fusia Wok Sauces Assorted Varieties 12 oz $1.69 ea
• Fusia Rice Crackers 3.53 oz $1.49 ea
• Fusia Asian Trail Mix 8 oz $1.99 ea
• Fusia Pork or Chicken Egg Rolls 12.26 ea $2.49 ea
• Fusia Mini Egg Rolls 7 oz $1.99 ea
• Bolthouse Farms Amazing Mango Juice Smoothie 15.2 oz $1.99 ea
• Sea Queen Fish Fillets Crunchy or Battered 19-19.2 oz $2.99 ea
• Sea Queen Tilapia 16 oz $3.49
• Sea Queen Tilapia Fillets Value pk 32 oz $5.49
• Strawberries $1.99/lb
• Pineapple $1.89 ea 
• Cantaloupe $1.39 ea
• Lemons $1.69/2 lb bag
• Blueberries $1.79/6 oz 
• Navel Oranges $1.79/4 lb bag

For more information about ALDI, visit their homepage!

Sunday's Rite-Aid Trip

Rite-Aid was a very fruitful stop this week.  I was able to get some deals for our stockpile (body wash and a light bulb), as well as some things that I can sell at the Sept. flea market we do (toothpaste and Sucrets).  Here's how it went down...

1 GE Light Bulb $6.99 - $3 Sale - $3/1 in ad Coupon - $1/1 MC = FREE!
2 Colgate Toothpastes $3.99 ea - $0.49 ea Sale - $1/2 MC - $3 UP+Rewards x 2 = 2 FREE!
2 tins Sucrets $4.99 ea - $3.49 ea Sale - $1/1 MC x 2 - $1 UP+Rewards wyb 2 = 2/FREE!
2 Gillette Body Washes $4.99 ea - $0.99 ea Sale - $1/2 MC - $2 UP+Rewards wyb 2 = 2/$5
+ $1.14 Tax
- $8 UP+Rewards from last week used to Pay
Total OOP: $7.13, Earned $9 UP+Rewards for next week!

Sunday's Walgreen's Trip

Lastly, we stopped into Walgreen's, and they had everything I wanted except the razors, so I just stocked up on some PB instead.  It wasn't as good of a deal, but at least it was something that we use on a regular basis.  The cashier was having a horrible time with the coupons, finally a manager came up to over-ride things, I'm not sure why he didn't just do that in the first place?!  Anyway, I still got my deals, and that's all that mattered...

1-10 ct Advil Congestion Relief $7.29 - $2.29 Sale - $3/1 MC = $2 +
1-10 ct Advil Congestion and Allergy Relief $7.99 - $2.99 Sale - $3/1 MC = $2 - 2000 Balance Points wyb 2 (= $2) = 2/$2!
2 JIF PB $3.99 ea - $1.49 ea Sale = 2/$5
1 Chloraseptic Spray $6.79 - $2.80 Sale - $1/1 MC - $3 RR = FREE!
- $10 RR used to Pay
Total OOP: $1.99, Earned $3 RR and 2000 Balance Points (= $2)

Sunday's CVS Trip

There wasn't a whole lot for me at CVS this week, but I stopped in and rolled my ECB's anyway.  Here's what I ended up with...

1 Colgate Max Fresh Toothpaste $3.99 - $0.99 Sale - $2.50/1 CVS Coupon = $0.50

2 Halls Defense drops $2.67 ea - $1.19 ea Sale - $1/2 MC - $1 ECB/2 = 2/$1

1-24 pk Just the Basics H2O $3.99 - $1.49 Sale = $2.50

- $4 ECB's used to Pay

Total OOP: $1.33, Earned $2 ECB's ($1 from Green Bag Tag) for next week!

Linking to Simply CVS!