Meal Planning Part 3: Pick Meals

The most important part of meal planning is deciding what food you're going to eat.

Since you've already taken inventory of your available supplies and figured out what's on sale, it'd be silly not to use this knowledge when planning your meals.

For example, if boneless skinless chicken is on sale for $1.87/lb, consider making several chicken dishes and/or buying extra chicken for the freezer. Lets also say you have cream of celery soup, and frozen mixed vegetables in your inventory, you might want to make chicken pot pie, so either add pie crust to your list or make sure you have the ingredients to make your own.

If sales are slim, consider making as many meals as possible from your inventory and shop at a store that has everyday low prices for the missing pieces.

Here's a sample menu I might use this time of year when outdoor cooking is popular and those items are on sale:

"Nuts About Oatmeal Muffins"

Breakfasts: (These options are made primarily from basic pantry items I don't like to be without.)

• pancakes
• oatmeal
• cereal
• muffins
• egg in a nest
• parfaits 

Lunches: (Again, these options are made primarily from basic pantry items. I primarily use lunch to eat leftovers, so I need ideas that will not spoil if I need to eat leftovers instead.)

• sandwiches -PB&J or tuna salad w/ pretzels and fruit
• leftovers

"Healthier Stuffed Peppers"

Dinners: (This is where our menu really depends on sales and time of year.)

• burgers, corn on the cob, watermelon
• brats, cole slaw
• taco salad
• grilled chicken salad
• kabobs
• fajitas
• stuffed peppers

 Snacks/Desserts

• sale produce
• veggies w/ dip
• pretzels
• s'mores
• popsicles

This meal plan would be on a week like last week that had peppers in addition to the burgers and brats. They'd likely have buns and either chicken or a ground beef/turkey on sale too.

After finalizing the menu, it's time to make the list.

Click the following links for the other parts in this series:
part 1: inventory
part 2: check for sales
part 4: make a list
part 5: meal inspiration
part 6: shopping day

How do you pick your meals?

I originally published this post on 10/25/11 @ oneincomefamilyliving.blogspot.com. I revised it and republished it here.

The Chopped Cookbook: a review

I don't know about you, but I could watch the Food Network for hours upon hours. During college, the network regularly accompanied me while I worked up a sweat on the treadmill. That's normal, right?
One of my favorite shows to watch has always been Chopped. I love learning about new ingredients and seeing the different ways the contestants use them. So imagine my delight when I discovered The Chopped Cookbook by Food Network Kitchen was available for review.*

To simply read through the book without trying the recipes, you'll find lots of great information like:

• pantry items grouped by purpose they serve in a recipe (this is great for knowing what ingredients can be substituted for each other)
• general cooking tips
• new but not completely unusual ingredients and what you can substitute them for if you can't find them at your local grocery
• what to look for and how to store fresh vegetables

The book explains how to take the random items from your pantry, fridge, and freezer and turn them into a quality meal you're sure to love. It even says multiple times, not to worry about it if you don't have all the ingredients for a recipe, swap it out for something comparable.

As I drooled over these pages trying to decide what to make, I became aware that a good half of the recipes would not fly with the current palates of my young family, but I find that to be true with just about every cookbook I've picked up in the last few years. I found several options in each section of the book that I was sure would please the family and at least one in each section that I had all of the ingredients to make (at least if you factor in swaps).

Later, I handed the cookbook to the kids to see if they had any interest in the delicious looking pictures and they did. They picked Black Forest Dessert Pizza, Skillet Spaghetti Casserole, and Thin Lemon Pancakes with Sweetened Sour Cream and Blueberries.

For my tester recipe, I chose a basic, kid friendly, lunch appropriate dish that reminded me of an old Alfredo recipe of mine. The Tortellini with Cream Cheese Alfredo and Peas was easy and delicious. The books instructions minimized my overall cook time and had everything finishing at the same time. After one of his bites, Wyatt said, "mmmm" to which Zeke responded, "I like it too." David thought it was a little pea heavy, but Wyatt couldn't get enough of them. I'll definitely be making this one again.

I can't wait to try out more recipes and suggestions from this wonderful cookbook.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

To buy the book from Random House click this link.

If you prefer amazon and want to use my affiliate link use the following link:

This post was originally published on 5/30/14 @ oneincomefamilyliving.blogspot.com. I wrote it and transferred it here.

Meal Planning Part 2: Checking for Sales

The second step in meal planning is checking the store ads for sales.

Even if you buy the same things every week, it's a good idea to check the ads, you may find the sale prices at the local grocery to beat the prices at the big box store. You may save enough there to afford extras of your regularly purchased items and continuing the process each week will save you money.

If you are pressed for time, there are websites that will make lists for you, match sales with coupons, or allow you to browse the ad and pick recipes based on the sales. These are often sites that require you to pay for the service, so I've never tried one and therefore cannot recommend one. A quick google search should give you the information you need.

If you have a little time, I suggest looking through the ads yourself. Doing so helps me pick out the best sales and things I actually need and use.

If you are looking to match sales with coupons, I do suggest www.coupondealsandsteals.com as a good place to start. I actually know the lady that runs that blog, and she knows her stuff. I'm not really into couponing anymore, but she constantly makes me rethink myself.

My process pretty much looks like this:

• Go through each ad circling any good sales and marking if I think I have a coupon*.
• Decide which store or two will be my go to stores for the week.
• If I am going to Kroger or another store with e-coupons, I get online and add any new e-coupons.

It actually only takes me a few minutes per ad,because  I don't bother looking at things I don't use or have plenty of.

*While I no longer consider myself a couponer, I do still use the occasional coupon. I use coupons that are given to me in the mail or at the checkout. I also use e-coupons through things like rewards cards, mperks, and cartwheel.

Click the following links for the other parts in this series:
part 1: inventory
part 3: pick meals
part 4: make a list
part 5: meal inspiration
part 6: shopping day

When do you prefer to check the ads? as soon as they come? as you walk through the store?

I originally published this post on 10/25/11 @ oneincomefamilyliving.blogspot.com. I revised it and republished it here.

Marshmallow Fondant Tutorial Using a Stand Mixer

This post contains affiliate links
I am often asked what type of fondant I use and when I reply that I usually make my own, the next question is usually to find out which recipe I use. Well, today I'm going to let you in on that secret. I use this recipe (slightly modified) for my Marshmallow Fondant. I make it in my Kitchen Aid, but you can do it by hand. Do not use a hand mixer.

You'll need: 15 oz. mini marshmallows, 2 T water, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tsp lemon juice, 2 tsp light corn syrup, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp lemon extract, 7 1/2 C (a little over 2lbs) confectioner's sugar, sifted, and Crisco or vegetable shortening (not pictured)

Thoroughly grease a large plastic bowl, wooden spoon, mixing bowl, and kneading tool of stand mixer with Crisco.

Put 15 oz marshmallows and 2 T water into the greased plastic bowl and microwave 2 minutes, stir with the greased wooden spoon at 40 second intervals.

The marshmallows should be completely melted and soupy when it is ready.

Transfer melted marshmallows to Kitchen Aid mixing bowl and immediately add the lemon juice, both extracts, salt, and corn syrup.

If you want a full batch of one color, now is the time to do it. Use gel colors and keep adding until you achieve your desired shade.

Start adding the 7 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar and knead on 2 (low).

I find it helpful to add some shortening in with the last 1/2 C sugar (this differs from original recipe).

Once it is thoroughly mixed, prep a piece of plastic wrap by greasing it with shortening, grease your hands, and remove fondant from bowl. It will probably be stuck to the sides a bit, so you'll have to really dig at it. Form it into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Wrap it in a second piece of plastic wrap and seal in a plastic bag with the air squeezed out.

Allow it to at least sit overnight before using. Easy right?

What will you make with your first batch?

This post was previously published on 6/17/13 @ oneincomefamilyliving.blogspot.com. I wrote it and transferred it here.

Meal Planning Part 1: Inventory

To plan your meals for the week (or longer) while stretching your grocery dollar as far as possible, you first need to take inventory of your pantry, fridge, and freezer.
If you have no idea what's in there take some time to really go through everything and organize it.

Depending on how much you have, this may take you awhile so start in one area and work your way around.
Try starting with the refrigerator and freezer(s) first. Toss anything that has spoiled. My rule of thumb is: when in doubt, throw it out. Then, move on to the dry goods.
As you're going through everything do 3 things:

1. write the expiration date in a visable spot with a permanent marker
2. organize- put like items together, so they are easier to find
3. make a list* of what you have -while you're at it, make a second list for anything you notice missing or running low that you use regularly

Doing these things will allow you to know what you have and when it expires. To avoid doing this all the time, just date, organize, and add to your list each time you bring things home from the store. It takes an extra minute, but saves you time in the future.

*A list isn't for everyone. If your items are all easily visible and a quick glance will remind you of everything you have, feel free to omit this.

After you've taken inventory, you can move on to checking the sales.

Check back for the following links to the other parts in this series:
part 2: check for sales
part 3: pick meals
part 4: make list
part 5: meal inspiration
part 6: shopping day

How do you keep track of your inventory?

I originally published this post on 10/24/11 @ oneincomefamilyliving.blogspot.com. I updated it and republished it here.