Cheap Living with Chicken Cassoulet Recipe & Beef Pie Recipe
Now is the time to practice cheap living; more so than any other time in most of our lives. Many people have lost their jobs and need to cut back on their spending. A large percentage of our monthly budget is spent on grocery shopping. In this bad economy we continually see rising food prices. With these high food prices most of us are looking for ways to save money on food. There are many ways to How to Survive Inflation with the Rising Cost of Food, but it does take some serious thought and planning.
We have just gone through a time of major extravagance in spending, certainly not cheap living. In recent decades most of us have lived a lifestyle which was at one time thought to be impossible. We have accumulated material items like never before in my lifetime; most were not even available for purchase. I often remark about the ingredients that I now cook with; my mother would be amazed at the variety of recipes and the massive selection of ingredients. When Mom and Dad were cooking, the ingredients basically came from what we raised and canned and meat we raised everyone learned to cook.
At Christmas time, we spend more on gifts and decorations than ever before. Americans spend many millions of dollars to have their teeth whitened. It seems that almost every man, woman and child carries at least one cell phone. We spend millions on diet products and yet more people than ever are obese and the count is going up. None of this reflects an attitude for cheap living. We all need to get serious about getting our priorities in order. The positive note is that it can be done! I hope to help with some of the following suggestions.
First if you have accumulated a lot of materialism, sell off anything that you are not using. If you have not used something in the past two years, you probably do not need it. Have a yard sale and get rid of it. Getting rid of the clutter will also clear your mind. Take the money from this and purchase food for emergency food storage, maybe for your favorite pasta recipes. Buy long term storage items that you normally use this is a step in cheap living. The prices are increasing everyday so you will be happy to have extras in your pantry.
For material things, try to make do with what you have. If you really have to have something and it doesn’t fit into your cheap living budget, try to get it on sale or discounted. Many items can be found at yard sales; I have found kitchen utensils, pots, pans, molds, dishes, dish towels and many more items like new at yard sales at very cheap prices. Also many stores are now clearing everything out so there are some very good buys available.
Cheap living means prioritizing your miscellaneous spending. Stay away from stores as much as possible. Never buy on impulse. Always think about a purchase overnight, even the smallest items. Most wasted money is spent on small junk items. Plan (how to grocery shop); this includes a complete grocery list. Do not shop when you are hungry; it puts you at risk for purchasing items that you normally would not buy.
Most of the grocery budget is spent on meat; by serving meatless meals throughout the month, a lot of money can be saved. Learning how to cook hamburger or ground beef, with the cheaper quality you can make some very good cheap recipes like homemade salami. If you like buy a little better quality with less fat and make other hamburger recipes.
TACO PIE RECIPE This taco pie recipe (or beef pie recipe) is a way of applying cheap living by using hamburger in the recipe. With all the flavoring in this dish your family will surely love it.
Brown beef and onions in Dutch oven; drain any fat. Stir in 2 tablespoons taco seasoning, beans, brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, vinegar and dry mustard. Cook and stir until just starts to boil; remove mixture from Dutch oven and set aside. Melt butter in pan; add milk and remaining taco seasoning. Remove mixture from heat and stir in mashed potato flakes until blended. Press potato mixture in bottom of pan and rounded on sides. Place beef taco mixture on top of the potatoes; bake for 30 minutes at 350F degrees. Top with shredded cheese and place back in oven until cheese melts. Serve with sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes and olives.
Chicken is another economical source of protein. Dollars can also be saved if you learn how to cook a whole chicken rather than buying cut up pieces. If you want pieces learn how to cut the chicken yourself. Although it is a more expensive cut of beef, some of us do not want to give up our steak. Learn how to cook steak using the cheaper cuts like round steak. It is delicious when cooked properly.
CHICKEN CASSOULET RECIPE For cheap living, purchase chickens whole and learn to cut into pieces; they are cheaper whole and are more often on sale.
Soak beans in 4 ½ cups water for 2 to 4 hours; add broth, chopped onions, 1 quartered carrot, spiked onion, thyme, marjoram and celery leaves; bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 1 hour. Brown bacon and drain and cut into small pieces; slightly brown chicken in bacon fat. Add bacon, chicken pieces, remaining carrots and Polish sausage to bean mixture. Bake in casserole baking dish for 1 ½ hours at 350F degrees.
Many of us waste extra money purchasing mixed products like a pancake mix recipe, biscuit mix recipe and many other mixes. Learn how to make your own mixes; you will save money and find them so easy and convenient to make.
We have a huge population of people who are looking for a cheap retirement living lifestyle; including me. Many people that I know have moved to Ecuador because they cannot afford to buy food and pay expenses here in the United States. Living here, there are ways of cutting expenses; the rising cost of food seems to be the biggest problem facing our seniors. The previous suggestions also apply here but learn to cook for one or two as you need. Cooking extra often goes to waste with senior citizens.
We certainly do not want to forget our pets when we think about cheap living. Many of us have pets and they are like family. They offer companionship and friendship, especially for us senior citizens. We can spend a lot of money on their food and treats. My mastiffs both love dog cookies. They don’t get them all the time but when they do they want a lot; with their size they can eat a lot. How can I resist giving them! Save money on these pet treats by making them at home.
Cut recreational spending. There are many things that you can do for fun that are free. We are seeing the visitors at our beaches picking up because it is great free entertainment. People are bringing their families and a picnic lunch; this is a great way to spend a day. In Tennessee and other states, there are beautiful state parks to enjoy free. Often there are grills provided for cooking.
Cheap living means cutting the times that you eat out in restaurants; these amounts to a huge expenditure for most Americans. Cheap recipes can be a better quality healthier meal for much less by cooking at home. Cooking the equivalent recipe at home is often many times cheaper than eating it out especially when you learn how to grocery shop. CORN DOG RECIPE Practice cheap living and be a hit with your family at the same time with this corn dog recipe. These are so much cheaper to make than to buy frozen; and better tasting. Children love these! Use any remaining batter to dip vegetables in and fry them.
Combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, mustard, baking powder and salt. Add egg, milk and melted shortening; mix until smooth. Pour batter into a tall glass; place hot dogs on sticks. Dip hot dogs into batter one at a time and fry in hot oil until golden brown; drain on paper towels.
Spend some time learning budget cooking or cheap cooking. Don’t let your taste buds rule you; learn to cook with cheaper ingredients and cheaper cuts of meat. Don’t be afraid to try something different. Many of the cheap recipes are often the best tasting. Never throw any leftovers away; find ways to reuse them. Many of these like meat and vegetables can be frozen and later added to soups. Cheap living can be a more enoyable lifestyle.
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