[AngelBee]

My dh's work hours have been cut huge lately. Then on Sat night he took a spill down a double flight of stairs.

He is ok (Praise God!) but unable to work for at least a couple of days.

I have literally $20.00 to get groceries. We have VERY little already.

HELP! I do not know how to stretch this. Dh does not like a lot of meatless dishes but he may not have a choice right now.

We do have:
Some milk (about 1/2 gallon plus some powdered)
TONS of oatmeal (breakfast every day plus might make some oatmeal cookies)
2 bags of turkey wild rice in freezer
bag of gulosh in freezer
bag of spaghetti in freezer
bread making supplies
tortillas
hot dog buns
some hot dogs
some apple sauce
left over ham and turkey (not alot)
white rice (good amount)
butter
orange juice

I think that is pretty much it.

I know I need eggs (at least 2 doz)

I guess I could do some egg dishes or egg scrambles.

Only other thing is that the stove is unhooked right now. But I do have an electric skillet and stove should be back in 24-48 hours.

Sigh.

I am so frustrated!

I know it will work out. God is always faithful.

Any ideas?

Xposted in frugality

 

[WuWei]

I would get a large chicken or small turkey and cook that. The turkey are probably on sale at the moment. Then use the bones for broth. Make gravy.

Cook refried rice with eggs. Or quiche with the eggs.

Make chicken and rice. Chicken and bean soup. Chicken tacos/burritos. Chicken salad. We get three meals for three of us with one small chicken. Beef chili is another staple here. Maybe add the ham to bean soup?

Plus, I make a pasta, salad, soup, or bean dish for the other days of the week.

Dilute the OJ.

If you soak the oatmeal it is more nutritious. Soak the flour for more nutritious bread. If you have a blender, you can make whole grain breads which are cheap and maximum nutrition. See the Sue Gregg blender batter method: http://www.suegregg.com/recipes/brea...erwafflesA.htm

HTH, Pat

 

[deditus]

Hi neighbor! Do you know about Fare for All?

http://www.emergencyfoodshelf.org/Ou...lishments.aspx

 

[cristeen]

How long does this $20 need to last? You should be able to get through 2 weeks on it... it'll be a bit boring, but it can be done.

Like a pp mentioned, check the sales on turkeys, if you can get a cheap one, do. Cook it, shred it, boil the carcass and make that meat stretch. And if all you can get is chicken, get chicken.

Also pick up a couple pounds of beans and/or lentils.

And then a bag or two of frozen veg, whatever is cheapest... peas, corn, broccoli, spinach, etc. I'd probably also pick up a couple onions and potatoes too, for soups.

I would limit eggs to any meal that stretches them, rather than doing a scramble.

Fried rice with leftover meat (maybe a chopped hot dog), and an egg scrambled in. Enchiladas stuffed with rice, beans and a little bit of leftover meat. A big pot of bean soup with whatever bones you can get ahold of, some onion and whatever veg. Toss some leftover meat into a pan with a little butter/oil, whatever veggies you can get ahold of and then dump it over pasta.

Do you have any friends or family you can ask for $5, or to "borrow an onion"? Every little bit helps at this point.

 

[azmomtoone]

.....I've seen people ask for food on freecycle here. (and answered a couple times). Seems like usually when people ask, it inspires everyone else on the list to clean out their cupboards 'cause there are often several offers of boxed/canned goods over the next few days after. Can't hurt to ask right?

 

[AngelBee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by emgremore Hi neighbor! Do you know about Fare for All? http://www.emergencyfoodshelf.org/Ou...lishments.aspx

Thank you for the link.

There next drop off for FARE is Dec 19 and 20.

I am going to call and get us registered.

 

[studentmama]

Some great ideas here. I have been there and I too have a dh who is not very fond of meatless dishes, so here's some of the things I have done.

Depending on what meat you like to use, you can stretch the meal farther with fillers like potates, rice, elbow macaroni.

Ramen with ground beef.

I'll buy a whole chicken and use it for roast chicken, chicken for sandwhiches, and soup(I always save all my leftover bones for broths.

We do breakfast for supper a lot. Omlettes, scrambled eggs, french toast, pancakes.

Ground turkey is pretty cheap.

You'll get through this.

 

[AngelBee]

I "think" we have some venison too that we just got .

I forgot about that.

Though I do not know how to cook it

:

I should see what cuts there are.

 

[studentmama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelBee I "think" we have some venison too that we just got . I forgot about that. Though I do not know how to cook it : I should see what cuts there are.

That's what we lived off last winter.

You basically cook it like you would a beef cuts, I try to cook it longer just to tenderize it(you can also add a couple dashes of worchestire sauce if you have it on hand). If you have any ground, you can mix it half and half with ground beef if you don't like the gamey tase much.

We use venison in chili, stews(with tomatoes, potatoes over rice). You could make fajitas with it.

 

[WuWei]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelBee I "think" we have some venison too that we just got . I forgot about that. Though I do not know how to cook it : I should see what cuts there are.

Can you marinate it?

Pat

 

[studentmama]

Also, you can call 211 to find out what other services are in your area(211 is United Ways information line).

 

[Babes in arms]

Addiing OJ to venison keeps the game taste away.

Is there a food bank near you?

Do you recive food stamps? Under some circumstances, you can be approved in 4 days or less.

What about a soup kitchen?

I agree with the pp who suggested 211. You are bound to have some local resources. With the holidays here, people everywhere are having food drives. If you call around, you should be able to cash in on some of that.

Years ago a great friend gave me this recipe:

Poor Man's Soup

onion
potato
garlic
carrot
beans
barley

Along with the recipe came a heartwarming story about her immigrant parents who used to sneak onto the property of thier landlord after a full day of working his fields. They generally came away with a couple handfuls of beans, barley, one carrot, one onion, and a potato. For years and years, it fed their family of 5. The lady who shared the story with me has spent years struggling financially, but she is matron of one of the richest families I know. I have spent many nights feeling honored to partake of their poor man's soup. When we'd knock on the door, she'd add a little water to the pot. The food goes far. The heartwarming soul holding the ladle goes farther. Add a little ham or bone if you like. Put together a loaf with your bread supplies. Serve with a smile. Be blessed.

 

[KristyDi]

In my area, you can get a 10lb bag of chicken leg quarters for cheaper per pound, than a whole chicken. Today I got one for $5.90, but that does take a pretty big portion of the $20. Of course I think it's also more meat than the whole chicken.

I would say see about getting some stuff from the food bank before you spend the $20. That way you can see what you get then use the money to fill in holes and round out meals.

ETA: One of the things I do with the meat from the leg quarters (I either cook them in the crockpot or throw them in the oven to roast while I'm cooking something else) is make burritos (since you already have the tortillas). I shred the meat and add tomato sauce and taco type seasoning (chili powder, cumin, salt pepper oregano) and a little salsa, if you have it (some sauted onion and green pepper and a can of drained diced tomatoes works if you don't have salsa)
Then I make burritos with the chicken mix, refried beans, and shredded cheese.

 

[studentmama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristyDi In my area, you can get a 10lb bag of chicken leg quarters for cheaper per pound, than a whole chicken. Today I got one for $5.90, but that does take a pretty big portion of the $20. Of course I think it's also more meat than the whole chicken. I would say see about getting some stuff from the food bank before you spend the $20. That way you can see what you get then use the money to fill in holes and round out meals.

This is very true. Sometimes I have seen leg quarters for 69cents a lb.

 

[kriket]

also check a real butcher shop for "day olds"

I second a food pantry and your DH getting over meatless dishes. My DH "doesn't eat" all kinds of things (rice, vegis, meat with bones, soup

I think I'm going to start letting him starve.

 

[AngelBee]

My dad gave my dh 20.00. We do not know why

And I borrowed 5.00 out of my son's bday card, so we are up to 45.00

: