50% off your Groceries Week 4/12/12

This past Wednesday I was blessed to be asked by my friend Kim to speak with her at the St. Marys’ Mom’s Group about “Saving Money on a Small Budget” and even though I was really nervous–it was a lot of fun. So for those of you who couldn’t make it to this meeting maybe you can make it to the “Saving on Sunday” meeting 1:00 on 4/22 at SMA.

In the meeting we talked about the planning that is involved before we even set foot in the grocery store–but for this week you won’t need any coupons to save 50% on your order! Here’s how you can do it.

1. Make sure you have a Dominicks card. You do not need to register it online to get the deals but you will save additionally if you do . . . but for this week–just have a active card.

Meatloaf, in a Crockpot?

One of the best things about living here is that we are walking distance to the library--the main library not a branch.  As always I have to compare everything new here to my old in Michigan and  my old library that I could walk to did not have the best selection of books . . . but that has nothing to do with meatloaf.  This library has a incredible selection of "New" books--knitting, design, kids books, and cookbooks!  So I stock up almost every week. 

In my pursuit of crockpot recipes I went to the cooking section and found scads of books just for the crockpot.  I took as many as I could carry.  (I try not to carry a bag or stroller into the library because I find I check out way too many books--I find an armload is my natural limit).  I came home and looked through all of them and I found a meatloaf recipe.  Our family loves meatloaf so I was excited to try a new recipe.  I followed the recipe to the letter which required buying special ingredients and it was a FAIL.  So annoying.  Since it was just 1 lb of meat by the time everyone decided that they didn't like it the meatloaf had vanished. 

My second try I decided to make my own meatloaf recipe:

• 2lbs of Tallgrass beef or other beef that isn't pumped full of chemicals
• 1/2 cup caramelized onion
• 1/4 cup minced carrot
• 1/4 cup minced celery
• 1/2 cup oatmeal, or 1/2 cup stove top stuffing with seasonings or 1/4 cup bread crumbs (this is the binder and you can use just about anything)
• 1 egg or maybe 2
• dry seasonings--whatever suits the mood
• maybe a tablespoon of sauce of some kind to fit the mood

Mix that all up.  If it is too crumbly in your hands it won't stay together during cooking and if it is too wet then it won't stay together when you cut it. 

Make a cradle of foil for your crockpot.  I added the end bits of some celery and a slice of onion as a bed for the meatloaf to add some moisture.  Place the meatloaf in the crockpot.

I cooked on low for 6 hours and it stayed on warm for an hour longer and it tasted great.

Meatloaf #1

Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese

I've been trying to find more and more crockpot recipes this year. My intention was to try a new recipe each week but . . . that isn't exactly happening. So my plan is to continue to research and try new crock pot recipes and to post when I do.   This recipe can easily be meatless and organic.

 

 

Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese (serves 6)

 

 

2 cups of dry elbow macaroni

4 cups of liquid (I used evaporated milk, chicken broth and Campbells cream of celery)

2 cups of cheese (I used colby and monteray blend)

Combine ingredients in a bowl and stir

 

 

Spray crockpot

Pour ingredients into crockpot

Cook on low for 4 hours.

 

 

My crockpot has 4, 6, 8, 10 hour options. I cooked the mac and cheese on the 8 hour setting for 4 hours and then unplugged the crockpot.   I used the round crockpot but if I doubled the recipe I would use the bigger oval crockpot.

 

 

I sprinkled some bacon bits on top and it was really good.

 

 

Next time I might add some celery, carrots, carmelized onions, ham, bacon, red pepper or some combination.  The liquid can be any combination of evaporated milk, broth, 1 egg, cream soup, or sour cream.

 

 

Enjoy.

Homemade Apple Sauce



organic gala apples

One of my ideas for 1012 is to share one crock pot recipe a week.  I found a great deal on organic apples and thought that I would buy 15 pounds.  My first batch of applesauce is 5 lbs of apples cut into chunks with just enough water to cover the bottom of the crock pot.

All of those apples cooked down to this amount.  I added cinnamon once they were finished cooking.  During the cooking process I stirred the apples and they broke into chunky pieces and I sort of like that.  The kids love it.

I plan to freeze the rest of this recipe and the other 10 pounds of apples bound for sauce.

Thank you God for Aunt Clara Broda who made applesauce for me as a kid.  It amazes me how you intertwine people, ideas, and outcomes.