Wednesday, August 3, 2011

My Meat!.....DIY Breakfst Sausage

I have my mouth all set for a biscuit with sausage patty this morning.
You know, like what Mickey D's sells on their $1 Menu.....for a dollar. lol

But I didn't want to have to go there to buy it.
So I went hunting for rolled sausage at the grocery store while I was there this morning.
The first store didn't have any rolls of sausage meat!  Just a cut up already roll on a styrofoam tray of Bob Evans brand sausage.  Seems like they were hiding an expiration date or lopped off an end of the roll that went bad or something by selling it in this manner.  And they wanted $3.99 for not even 12 oz.
No way.

So store #2 had 1 brand of rolled sausage, Johnsville.
And they wanted $4.99 for a roll!
Not even a lb. of sausage....12 oz.  That comes out to .60¢ an ounce.
Nope, not buying it.

So I spied some containers of ground pork further down in the meat case.
Ground pork for $1.99 lb.
Hmmmm.....
Since it was already ground up(I don't have a grinder attachment for a stand mixer or a manual table mounted grinder)and I didn't want to make links(no casings to buy or deal with), I bought that pork.

I came home and printed out a breakfast sausage recipe(Alton Brown's HERE).  I gathered the spices....

And measured them out.....


I sifted the spices and dumped in the pork....


After a few minutes using my "mobile, manual mixing attachments"(aka my hands)my sausage meat looked like this....


Then I slapped some patties together and set em to cooking in the cast iron skillet....


Here is the finished product.....


And here they are in the "delivery system of choice"(aka biscuits).....


And the Verdict?
O.M.G.
Mickey D's just lost the battle for my sausage biscuit dollars!


* I love that after the cost of the whack biscuits on sale here this week for $1.25 a roll for Grands!, the cost of the ground pork and $1.00 to cover the cost of the spices used I can make 8 sausage biscuits for $4.92.(8 large patties came to $3.67+roll of biscuits at $1.25)  That's 61.5¢ per biscuit sandwich.  If you make your own biscuits your cost goes down significantly from there.
Me?  I'm lazy....

* I love that I found already ground fresh pork.  This makes it super easy since you don't have to grind the meat yourself.  My $1.99 lb. price wasn't the best but I could wait for a deal on that to purchase it for next time.

* I love that you can play with the spices to your own taste.  With the recipe I used I left out the red pepper flakes since it called for ground cayenne pepper too.  I also substituted 1/3 of the black pepper called for with some ground multicolored peppercorns for a depth of flavor and a little less heat.
You could also add more brown sugar and/or add real maple syrup if you like your sausage sweeter.
You can also add other spices to make some Italian sausage patties.   Just google a recipe for Italian sausage to find which spices you need.

 I will definitely be doing this again!  Next time I hit the warehouse type stores to find a nice big deal on ground pork.  Then I can fill the freezer with semi-homemade sausage patties.
Yumm!

Have you ever made sausage yourself?
Did you go the whole Charcuterie route and cut and grind your own meat cuts?
Or did you work from preground meat?

Sluggy

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Stuff Shopping Frenzy, Meal Plan Tuesday & ArmaCUKEgedon!

If you recall, here is what I planned on the fly to eat last week....

SUNDAY--Ravioli, Garden Salad
MONDAY--leftover Pork Loin slices, Fried Yellow Squash, Mashed Potatoes
*Then things got rejiggered with the additional of the Nephew at meals.*
TUESAY--Rueben Sandwiches
WEDNESDAY--Chicken Fajitas
THURSDAY--Chicken Cheese Broccoli Rice Casserole
FRIDAY--Boston Baked Beans, Cornbread, Pickles
SATURDAY--Leftovers


This plan happened until Friday.
I didn't get the beans soaking in time so I substituted some good old "Breakfast for Dinner".....Buckwheat Pancakes and Bacon.  No one was interested in a fruit side dish, so I saved it for Saturday.

The Nephew got packed up and returned on Saturday.  Not before a big long talk about Senior year and what he needs to do to get on the ball about college.  Hopefully he'll get his head out of Jersey Shore and his social life drama.

Since then we've been spending actual money all willy-nilly around here!  This is so strange since we never spend money on stuff anymore, just food and experiences.

My knees has been acting up so Hubs went out Sat. without me and bought socks and shoes for work.
Yes, I let him pick them out alone. 
I was cautiously optimistic we wouldn't A-overspend and B-he'd come home with lime green Converse sneakers and rainbow striped toe shoes.  This would be a bad thing since he is NOT a professional Rodeo Clown....

He done good and toted home a pair of black loafers, 4 pairs of black sox and 4 pairs of muted dark
heather-toned sox in earth shades.
And he only spent $50.99 and he got $10 in Kohl's cash that I can use to get Daughter or #2 Son something this weekend for school duds.

Then Monday was the convergence of 3 deals aligning for me that made me part with some moola.
My favorite bras at Just My Size go on sale 2 x a year for half-price
On Monday they offered a one day deal to take an additional 25% off your total order, even sale items.
And if you spent $70 the shipping was free.

I hadn't bought myself a bra in over a year.
Hubs needed new boxers and undershirts.
I got to $70 easily even with all my purchases being on sale(the Hubs stuff was BOGO50% too + 25% off of that price).
Jackpot!
Hubs and I will be good for unmentionables for another year or so.

Then I had to order #1 Son's books for his upcoming semester.
The college bookstore changed the website/process a bit from last winter so I only ordered the books they had in stock that were used.  If we can't get them used, I'll just let #1 Son pick them up new in person at the bookstore once he gets back to college.
I was only able to order half of his books used.  Getting used textbooks, it came to $271.25.  But we still run the risk of the bookstore sending us new books because of the stupid way they set up the ordering process online....so we could be on the hook for $397.45 + shipping instead!  Even though I stated I ONLY want USED books.
Ugh.

If you end up having to get new on the other 6 books, that's $165 + more(1 book isn't in stock yet and has no price indicated).
If we end up with all new books, it comes to $562.45 + the one book we can't price out yet.
I will refrain from going off on a "textbook rip-off" rant at this time. 8-(

I wish Hubs and #1 Son would let me rent textbooks again but after our CHEGG fiasco 1st semester of his freshman year, renting is NOT an option no matter what I say.
His school's bookstore is looking into offering book rentals through them either next semester or next fall.  I might have a chance convincing them to do that deal. ;-)

I am just beginning to check on options for Daughter.  I was hoping her school would go digital books before the upcoming semester so we could entertain the possibility of a Kindle purchase and renting ebooks for it...IF that was the least expensive option.  I don't like the idea of pushing using another electronic device unless it's cost effective.

I also bought some items on Target.com recently and they arrived last week.
They offered Free Shipping on purchases of $50+.
I found a tabletop ironing board(for Daughter's dorm room), 2 purses(for me who hasn't had a new purse in 5 years) and 4 pair of designer rainboots.  Everything was on clearance....the boots were $7.48 a pr!  I'll give Daughter one pair and tuck another back for Xmas.  I can also take any of this and return it to the local Target for a refund.  Since I didn't pay shipping to begin with, that's a great deal.

If the bookstore ships us the used textbooks, I'll be $398.68 poorer after all this shopping.

As for this week's Meal Plan.....

I got the smoker out again on Sunday and smoked up one of those London Broils I got at Weis Markets 2 weeks ago on a BOGO sale.
I served Creamed Spinach with it(and my homemade pickles).
Here's a photo to make you drool....

And here's a close-up.
See that awesome smoke ring?


 Some of us ate it straight and some made sandwiches on Steak Rolls.

Monday's dinner was Chicken Breast Patties pan sauted crispy with spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese melted on top....a stove top Chicken Parmesan.
No heating up the house with running the oven.
Hubs and I put it on Kaiser rolls for yummy chicken parm sammiches.

The rest of this week.....in no particular order, depending on what I 'feel' like making each night.
* Leftovers, Pasta Salad
* Quiche Lorraine, Green Salad
* Tuna Noodle Casserole
* Leftovers Again

And on Saturday Hubs is off for a Chess Tournament so I'll get Chinese for lunch for #2 Son and I and we'll just raid the fridge/freezer for something for dinner.

I'll need more milk for #2 Son.  I also need a bit of swiss cheese and maybe I'll buy a cheat crust for the quiche since pie crust is on sale this week.  I need to pick up some fruit and veggies.  I'll hit the local farm tomorrow I think.

And here is what the garden is giving up lately......


Yes, it's ArmaCUKEgedon!!!
After the rain on Saturday, these bad boys went from baby dill sized to GIGANTOR "you could hollow these out and paddle about the lake in them" size!
This is what is left this morning after BIL took one and Hubs took 4 to work.
I am scared to even go look outside.
The cukes will be crawling up on the deck and knocking on the door soon.
Seriously.
I need to find some cheap lamb(cheap-hahaha) and make some Gyros.
*Hey!  Inspiration just hit....I'll get some pitas and make the smoked London Broil leftovers into some ersatz Beef Gyros.
Genius!....well maybe for a lazy woman......

In other garden news--I am not-so-patiently waiting and eying the 4 tomatoes that are turning red.
One is bound to hit "critical mass red" any day now.
I'm off to defrost a lb. of bacon in anticipation.....

What's happening in your garden and in your wallet lately?

Sluggy


Rite-Aid.....The Catching Up Post

I have 4 transactions to post today.....2 from last week's sales ad and 2 from this week that I did on Sunday.

The 1st transaction(sorry, no photo)I popped into Rite-Aid to buy a gallon of milk since I was fresh out and had $2 in +Ups to use up before last Saturday.
Well, silly me, the register wouldn't let me use +Ups to pay for milk here in PA.
bleh.
So I used a $1 Wellness AdPerks/VV Q and had to put the $2.73 left on my free Rite-Aid gift card.
That sure hurt using that HUGE amount of cash on my gift card!

Since I still had the +Ups to use up I let #2 son buy something.....
1 x spiral bound index cards w/20% wellness discount=$1.99
1 x cella cherry w/20% wellness discount=$.26
SubTotal....$2.25 + .02¢ tax=$2.27

I used the $2 in +Up Rewards and put the .27¢ on my gift card.

Then on Sunday I bought this.....
2 x Gillette ProGlide Razor on sale but 20% wellness discount less($9.03)=$18.06
SubTotal...$18.06

Coupons Used
1 x $1 Wellness AdPerks/VV Q=$1.00
2 x $4/1 Gillette Razor ManuQ(P&G insert)=$8.00
Coupon Total...$9.00

$18.06-$9.00=$9.06
I used $9 in +Ups to pay and put the .06¢ on my gift card.
I received $10 in +Up Rewards back(2 x $5 Gillette).

Then I bought this.....

4 x Crest Rinse on sale $5=$20.00
1 x Oral-B Pulsar Toothbrush on sale=$5.99
1 x Newspaper-$1.00 *not pictured*
SubTotal....$26.99

Coupons Used
1 x $3/$15 Pharmacy SurveyQ=$3.00
4 x $2/1 Crest Rinse ManuQ(P&G insert)=$8.00
1 x $3/1 Oral-B Pulsar Toothbrush ManuQ(P&G insert)=$3.00
Coupon Total....$14.00

$26.99-$14.00=$12.99

I used $11.50 in +Ups and put the $1.49 on my Rite-Aid gift card.(I now have $32.69 left on the gift card.)
I received $5 in +Up Rewards($5 wyb $25 any dental care items)AND I submitted for $12.99 in SCRs for the 4 Crest Rinses($10)and the Oral-B Toothbrush($2.99).

*Analysis*
*  The spiral bound index card booklet was a necessity for #2 son.  He is using this for his 'dot book' for marching band camp.  It is also a Mead product and might qualify for a SCR on Mead products, but I still have to submit the receipt information to see on that.
*  On the Gillette Razors--if you can find the ones with the sample sized shaving gel, etc. in them in your store, these also are on sale and qualify for the $5 +Up Reward this week.  Also note, there is a LIMIT of 2 of this Deal per Wellness Card.
*  The Crest Rinse and Oral-B Toothbrush are a Double Dip Deal this week!  Not only are they part of the $5 +Ups Deal WYB $25 in Dental Care Items(this deal runs through August), but they have their own separate Single Check Rebates if purchased THIS WEEK ONLY.  So spend $25.99 and get $5 in +Ups AND $12.99 in Cash rebates as well.  As you can see by my transaction, by using Qs, you can bring the actual initial cash outlay down(to between $14.99 and $10.99 depending on your Qs).  I 'spent' $11.99 after Qs and sale on these 5 items and I got/will get back $17.99($5 in +Ups and $12.99 in cash).
*  I wanted to get jars of Nutella for #2 son this week.  But bright and early on Sunday, Rite-Aid here had NO jars on the shelf!  I did however get a raincheck and I'm hoping they get some in before the end of August when my $1 off AdPerks/VV Q for it expires.
*  I spent all my +Ups on Sunday and now I only have the ones I received on Sunday, amounting to $15.  I may actually use up ALL my +Ups in the next week or so. This will be the first time I'll be +Ups-less since they started this program, over 1.5 years.  It will be nice NOT to feel compelled to go to Rite-Aid for awhile seeing as I have plenty of toiletries/HBA/paper goods right now. ;-)  I think I need to take a Rite-Aid sabbatical.lol

  THESE TRIPS
Number of Transactions.....4
Total Spent....$4.55 put on free gift card
Value of Items....$68.03
SCR qualified for...$12.99
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$0.00
+Up Rewards earned...$15.00
+Up Rewards spent.....$22.50
+Up Rewards left to spend.....$15.00
And I have $32.69 left on my gift card.

Rite-Aid GRAND TOTALS--AUGUST Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......4
Total Spent....$4.55 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP

Number of Items purchased.....11
Value of Items purchased....$68.03
SCR qualified for....$12.99
Other Cash....$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00


+UPS Totals for August SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 7/26.....$22.50

+Up Rewards spent....$22.50
+Up Rewards earned....$
15.00
+Up Rewards left....$15.00  includes ALL +Ups not just ones from this SCR period


Sluggy

Monday, August 1, 2011

July Food Spending Week 4.....4 Shopping Trips but Frugal

I am going to update each week in July on my food spending. After the last 2 months of going over, maybe this will help me stay on track more if all of y'all are watching me.....watching me in a good way, not the bad, creepy way. ;-)

Between July 24th and 31st I made 4 trips to the grocery store! 
I spent a total of $54.40.  
The 1st 2 trips were to Weis Markets and the Bread Outlet.  I talked about those on this post HERE.
Hubs picked me up a gallon of white vinegar for $2.99, which was the 3rd trip.  For trip #4, on Saturday he bought some fresh ground beef and 1 tomato for burgers on the grill.  He also picked up a gallon of milk for the 15 yr. old milk guzzling machine that resides with us.lol
With the $54.40 spent last week, I have a grand total spent in July of $200.24 for food, or $175.27 after I deduct the cash rebates received in July.
 
I think by staying focused on the weekly totals, it helped me keep to my budget better than last month.
If you recall, June's food spending was $348.05.  I have halved that total in July.

I have already checked out this week's sales ads, so now I am off to peer into the freezer and pantry and come up with a Meal Plan for the week.


How about you?  Are you eating from your pantry/stockpile this week?   Or are the sales ads tempting you to spend at the stores?

Sluggy

What Food I Bought in July...A Big Boring List Only for Other Nerd's Eyes

My good blogging buddy, Annie Jones, over at Real Life Living posts what she buys every month. The way she tells it, it shows people that she really does get a lot of food for the little amount she spends each month. You can eat well and still be frugal.

I think it's helpful to see it all written down in one place so you can gauge how you are doing with the food money each month.

So I thought this was a real good idea and decided to steal borrow her idea and post all the food I buy in a month to feed my family of 4-5.
Besides, I am a big fat NERD who likes doing this!

For July, we had 3 people at home--2 adults and a 15 yr. old teen boy. 
 I stockpile items when they are rock bottom price, so besides the obvious fresh produce & dairy, this list is not necessarily ALL we ate in July.  We may have items on the list we didn't buy to consume this month and we may have eaten many items already canned or in the freezer from past stocking-up.  But it shows you how far you can make your money go by buying on discount, bulk, sale and paring coupons and/or rebates with the deals.

Here's the food items, including pet foods, I bought in July for an out of pocket of $175.27 after rebates.
This list doesn't include the few toiletries I bought where I actually had to pay money for them(not bought at Rite-Aid).

MEAT, POULTRY AND PORK
Chicken    13 lbs.
Hot Dogs   3 packages
Turkey Lunchmeat   2 packages
Steak   10.5 lbs.
Ground Beef   5.75 lbs.
Pork Ribs  7.5 lbs.
Kielbasa   5 lbs.
Ham Steak   1
Scrapple   1

SEAFOOD
Fish 2 lbs.

VEGETABLES AND FRUITS
Salad   2 bags
Watermelon  3
Cucumber    2
Cantaloupe   1
Yellow Squash   4.50 lbs.
Broccoli   1 lb.
Lettuce   1 head
Corn   4 ears
Red Bell Pepper   2
Onions   2 lbs.
Tomatoes   1
Raisins box   1

DAIRY
Milk gallon  3/quart   1
Eggs dozen  2.5
Cheese  8
Sour Cream   2
Cream Cheese   2

PASTA, GRAINS, BEANS
0

BREADS
Bread loaves   13
Hot Dog Rolls   2
Donuts, Danish, Cake  12 boxes
Bagels 6-pack  1
Croissants   4

BAKING/COOKING STAPLES
Nutella   1

CONDIMENTS/SPICES/HERBS
Vinegar   1

SNACKS
Peanuts   2
Cookies  3
Doritos   2
Potato Chips   4

CANDY
Candy Bars   2
Gum   2
Sample Chocolate Boxes   8
Choc. covered Cherries   2

BEVERAGES
Soda-12 packs  11
Ginger-Ale 2 ltr.   1
Kool-Aid packets  50
Amp energy drinks  4
100% Juice   1
Green Tea single bottle   1
Iced Coffee single cans   2

PREPARED
Ice Cream   2  1.75 quarts
Frozen Fruit Bars   2 boxes
Croutons    4
Whack Biscuit Rolls   3
Sauerkraut   1
Flavor-Ice   2
Breakfast Cereal   2

DOG FOOD
0
I didn't realize until I saw this list that I had bought so much meat in July!  We could stand to up the fresh produce consumption though.  I know #2 son was home this month as the milk, bakery products and soda purchases were much higher.lol   I used a lot of +Up Rewards to buy junk food at Rite-Aid this month....chips, peanuts, gum, chocolate, soda drinks....
Bleh.

So what foods did you buy in July?

Sluggy