Crabcakes have left the Building FINALLY!!!

We FINALLY had the CRAB CAKES for dinner....yay!!!

Not the frugalest of meals(2 cakes each x 5)but I'd bet you making them at home was ALOT cheaper than ordering them at a restaurant.

Let me get my receipt out and see what the cost per serving was.....

1lb. lump crabmeat on sale $6.99
1lb. claw crabmeat on sale $8.99
1/2 lg. onion $.30

1/2 c. mayo $.31

4 eggs $.33

2 cup soda crackers $.50

assorted spices & worcestershire $.25

1/2 cup vegetable oil $.50

$18.17 made a double batch-16 crabcakes, so $1.14 per portion.

After I made the 10 needed for last night's meal, I had enough of the crab mixture left to make 6 more crabcakes, so I formed them and froze in foil for another meal. I'll use them for a dinner when one of the kids won't be here(since 6 won't be enough to feed the whole tribe)or fix some fish along with them so we have enough protein for everyone. I could also use them for a special lunch treat for company instead.

I also made Harvard Beets from scratch for this meal. Beets are very good for you and if you fix them harvard style(with sugar & vinegar), even your kids will like them! Beets from scratch are not hard. Just peel them, slice them, boil them in water until softened. Use the water you boiled the beets in to make your 'sauce'(water, vinegar, sugar & cornstarch boiled for 5 minutes) and pour over the beets.

The carb tonight was steak fries from scratch. My peeler sure got a work out tonight, huh?lol

Crabcakes...$1.14 each.

Beets.....$.50 serving approx.

French Fries...$.25 serving approx.

About $1.89-$3.03(for 2 cakes) per person.

What does a crabcake dinner run you at a seafood restaurant.....$16?....$18? You get a couple of maybe fresh-made/maybe frozen crab cakes, a salad & a potato.

$18 restaurant vs. $3 homemade....they sure have a nice profit margin, don't they?lol

Add in another $2-3 for a drink and a $3-4 tip and it's $21-$25 per Person to eat this meal out!

Would you rather spend $3 eating it at home or $25 eating it out?

The point is, you can have those expensive food items people order out at restaurants for a reasonable cost if you make them yourself at home. By being frugal, buying on sale & couponing, you should be able to 'eek' out a bit of money in your food budget to splurge every now and again on pricier ingredients. You can't be expected to eat rice & beans and beans & rice every night for life, can you?

Treating yourself to crabcakes or filet mignon is ok if you make it at home. It will still be more than you usually spend but alot cheaper than blowing up your entire month's budget on 1 expensive meal at a fancy-pants eatery.

I can find better things to do with that leftover money......like save it!

Sluggy

Meal Plan Monday March 30th Edition

Last week's menu went as planned except for the CrabCakes. Those poor crabcakes....seems like they will NEVER get made! We ended up last week having leftovers 2 nights but #1 son worked alot and daughter had play rehearsal until 9 every night, so we still have some leftovers. I'll do my best to eat for lunch what I can, but the doggies will have to help me out this week so we can avoid the dreaded FOOD WASTE! Somehow I don't think the dogs will mind having to eat leftovers.lolol
Sunday is Hubby's birthday so I don't have to cook that day.
I've linked to the Crab Cake recipe I use. Being from Virginia Beach originally, I loves me some seafood. I like a light hand when making crab cake batter/filler. You don't want to spend all that money on crab and then not be able to taste it. This recipe is one of the best.

Again this week's menu is mostly Eating from the Pantry/Freezer. Last week, I only needed to buy 3 items to make that menu. This week I only need 4 items for the menu(salad greens, fresh mushrooms, cubed stuffing/breading & eggs).

Here's what is on the Menu at Sluggy's house this week.

MONDAY-Meatloaf, Potato Salad(leftover), Green & Wax Bean Melange
TUESDAY-Quiche & Garden Greens Salad
WEDNESDAY-Roasted Chicken w/Veggies, Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce
THURSDAY-Rigatoni w/Meat Sauce, Spinach Soufle
FRIDAY-Crab Cakes, Fries, Harvard Beets
SATURDAY-Quesadillas(using leftover roasted chicken), Rice, Corn
SUNDAY-Birthday Dinner Out
Desserts for the Week-Apple Pie, Brownies,

My Bargain Meal this week is the Rigatoni w/Sauce & Spinach Souffle.

Rigatoni.... .50¢ box
Sauce....leftover from last week's Lasagna meal $1.50
Meat in Sauce....used 1/3lb. from ground beef chunk for Monday's Meatloaf .56¢
Salad Greens.....$1.99
Dressing.....$1.00
Croutons.... .25¢
Spinach Souffle.... $4.00
$9.80 OR $1.64 a serving(6 Generous Servings)

The largest expenses are the Salad Greens and the Spinach Souffles(2 boxes of Stouffer's side dish). I can't wait until I can plant my own salad greens and not have to pay through the nose for those until next winter! I also have a dilemna on the Spinah Souffles. I was down to ONE STORE locally that carries this particular Stouffer's item. We like this item and it's sooo convenient to buy already made up....but now that 1 store has stopped carrying it. I have made spinach souffle before from scratch(it isn't that difficult) so I'll have to start making it again. I hate not having the option to buy it instead but at the price it had risen too, every frugal bone in my body has been screaming at me to MAKE IT and NOT SPEND THAT MONEY ON CONVENIENCE! Now I have to listen to my frugal bones....lol

Organizing Junkie is the home to Menu Plan Monday. Go see what's on her and many other Home Cooks' Menus for the week at Organizing Junkie's website.

Sluggy