Posted on 09/15/2022 9:54:04 AM PDT by ConservativeInPA
Share the things you do to combat food inflation.
“How do you wrap your bread for freezing?”
When I buy a loaf of bread I devide it up and put 4 slices to a baggie. I freeze the baggies and just take one out when needed. I keep several varieties of bread in the freezer.
I have some cattle...so that is something.
We have a light breakfast, a midday snack, and a big supper no later than 5pm. Then relax maybe a half hour, then do something low impact, like walk a half mile, or an easy mile on the bicycles. We are both very close to our weights on wedding day over 44 yrs ago. She’s about 125 (5’6”), and I’m 180 (6’1”).
Smart! You could also bake a full loaf, cut it in half and throw the other half in the freezer. Since we try to limit carbs, we never go through bread fast enough, so that’s what I do.
If I have stale bread (crusty or French bread is best) I make croutons for topping salads and soups and casseroles. Cut your bread into bite-sized pieces. If it’s still kind of soft, let it sit out in a bowl on the counter for a day or two, tossing when you think of it.
Put croutons on a parchment-lined baking sheet, one layer thick. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with garlic salt or Italian Seasonings. Bake for 20 mins, then check for browning. Stir and put in for another 10 minutes if needed. Time varies based upon the dryness of the croutons when they go in.
I do that one too. Keeps food costs down and saves a lot of cooking time.
Cannibalism. It reduces the population so it’s good for the planet, too. Best of all, it’s sustainable!
On You Tube I would recommend watching, ‘Under The Median’ and ‘Prepper Princess.’
Princess is not for everyone; she gives it to ya straight, LOL! But, she was a Millionaire by age 30, so she’s doing something right!
‘Under the Median’ (Larry & Hope) are in IL, super down-to-earth, a little bit hippy-dippy, Vegan, but are serious number crunchers when in comes to eating cheaply and saving money. They have 4 boys, (2 adults, 2 still at home) and if you’ve raised boys you KNOW how they can eat!
We have been getting some really good steaks at good prices at Publix recently.
We do their deli meats 1-2x a month.
**Intermittent fasting.**
Everybody needs a break including the digestive tract. I have used castor oil before to really get the fast started in high gear, lol.
I buy bread and rolls, and keep them in the refrigerator so they don’t get stale or grow mold. I usually only use it for toast, so it doesn’t matter if it eventually gets a little dry. I rarely have to throw bread out.
I make a weekly soup all except the warmest of months. More of a pottage/stew. A gallon which is my go to meal and which I share with others. I send go.e pints and quarts. Cheap to make. Cheap to add to.
Perhaps in the short run. The leftist war on heterosexuals and Catholicism has birth rates at an all time low. We need to pick our meals wisely. For instance, no eating females while in their breeding prime.
I sometimes make two small loaves and freeze one. When you thaw it out its still fresh.
“Soup is good food.”
Not so old. I put a sailor on Bread and Water in 1989. Really got his attention.
I drop in at friend’s houses just around dinner time.
Pork loin and beef chuck roasts cooked slow in the oven with lots of veggies in the pot. Squeeze in three lemons. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Dry brine the meat with kosher salt a day ahead. Sear meat on stovetop before adding it to the pot. Cook in oven with lid on. So simple and so good.
We joined Sam’s Club in April, and immediately received a credit for the membership fee on the first shopping trip. We have been going approximately every 6 weeks.
We buy all of our toilet paper, paper towel, paper napkins, and Kleenex there now. Also Folger’s coffee, butter, some supplements, canned tuna, cat litter, canned black olives, and a few other odds and ends. We don’t have tons of storage space, or might be inclined to get additional products there.
For our regular grocery trips, HyVee has 5% discount for seniors on Wednesdays. I also carefully check prices on products we often use, stock up a bit for sales. Chicken pieces are still sometimes $1.49/lb or less. Eggs, potatoes, some pork cuts and products still seem to be decent value.
If you get there early-ish, they have bulk packages of hamburger or whatever ground beef was left in the meat case at the end of the prior day. These are usually 2-3 pounds, and priced at $3.99/lb, then I make hamburger patties or package for sloppy joes or meatloaf, etc.
We have gotten to asking for gift cards to restaurants for birthdays, mother’s/father’s day, Christmas, etc. gifts from our grown kids, and rarely eat out if not with a gift card. Can have a pretty nice meal for 2 at Cracker Barrel with a $25 gift card. Texas Roadhouse is a good spot for early lunch on weekends.
We haven’t really gotten TOO drastic yet, but I have always been pretty frugal in my shopping habits. We don’t seem to have access to many coupons, so not sure where FReepers are getting these.
One quart Ball/Mason jar with a plastic screw on cap
Add:
1/8 cup (or to taste) lemon or lime juice. I use lime.[Optional]
1/2 tsp salt (like pink himalayan or Redmond, nothing with iodine - ‘old’ salt beds don’t have micro-plastics)
1/2 tsp Nu-Salt (potassium chloride)
1/2 tsp baking soda*
Add water to fill jar. If you use baking soda, there’s a bit of fizz reacting to the lemon/lime juice. You can also use a sparkling water like Deer Park - lemon or lime is good or just plain.
* A recipe I found online had baking soda in it - it ‘smooths’ out the acidity of the lime juice somewhat & I like that.
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Dr. Ken Berry has a “ketorade” recipe ... I initially started with that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EftSmV4UMU&t=9s
The maker of LMNT (pronounced ‘element’) has a recipe you can make without buying their product.
https://drinklmnt.com/blogs/health/the-best-homemade-electrolyte-drink-for-dehydration
Other people have recipes if you go online and search like ‘homemade electrolyte drink’. Pick one you think you’d like to try.
You’ll get better cuts of meats from Restaurant Suppliers.
And they run sales too. Buy a whole Ribeye Bone-in or Boneless or Tenderloin and cut your own steaks any thickness desired.
Make your own ground beef: VERY IMPORTANT TO START WITH VERY COLD MAYBE EVEN JUST SHY OF FROZEN!!! Collect all the trimmings from cutting steaks including the fat and save up a pound or more then pulse cut it in a Food Processor using the BLADE and PULSE CUT starting with the meat at a COARSE CHOP then add little cubes of the fat to finish with a finer texture (but be careful not to make Pâté) the fat helps in binding and flavor and make the best Burgers/ Meatloafs/Beef Enchiladas/Tacos/Pasta Red Sauce/meatballs ever. You can even add spices if desired while processing.
With cutting your own steaks the cost comes out to $3-$6 each vs $15-$30 at the meat counter or restaurant. It’s a big investment but pays off in the long run.
If you do go with Bone in they can be trimmed out and roasted in the oven to make your own demiglas or stock.
Check the prices on other items also: fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses, heavy cream (fat content* 50-70% vs grocery store is 40-50%) and other dairy and such. Again the size/cost may be a big investment but cost things out to see the savings. You will get better quality fruit/veg as well.
*I know it’s fat/calories but that’s the difference between most home cooking and restaurants.
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