Frugal Tip of the week
Chili for dinner. This was my quick dinner. Due to it being
Monday and everything is in disray. I knew I needed something that
did not take a long time to make.
I had ground pork in the freezer. That was taken out
early in the day. This way it could defrost with out
any help. Sometimes in the past I used the microwave
to help defrost frozen items. Due to my vow of
not using the microwave.
This perty much freed my day up. Technically, I did not
start dinner until 430.
I took the cast iron pan and heated it up.
While, the pan was heating up, I began chopping one small onion
and two garlic cloves. When, the pan was heated I added olive oil
to the pan and then toss any the onion and garlic. Let that saute
for a couple of minutes. I took my cooked pinto beans out of the
refrigerator and drianed them from their juice. The amount was
3 cups of dried beans, which I cooked a couple of days in advance.
Add all of the beans except 2 cups and reserve them.
While the beans are sauteing I open a can
of whole stewed tomatoes and tossed 3/4 of them into
the magic bullet. The vegatables have now sauted, now I added a
little corn meal and some extra olive oil. Let this simmer for a couple
of minutes, then add your broth. Oh no, you don't have any.
I solved that problem, the night before we had pasta and I saved
the water. Which by the way acts as a thickner along with the
cornmeal. Now, add your tomato mixture, along with oregano, cumin,
salt ( I use Kosher salt due to it being larger so you don't use so
much.)Let this simmer on low. Then add your beans
While this is simmering I mixed up corn bread.
Turn your oven on now so the oven will be heated by the time
your finished mixing.
This is my all time favorite corn bread recipe.
From Marsha Adams book of Heirloom recipes.
1 1/2 cups of cornmeal
1 cup of flour
1 1/2 tsp of baking soda
1 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp of salt
1 1/2 cups of buttermilk
1 egg
5 Tablespoons of oil( Canola or corn)
3 Tablespoons of honey
While my oven is heating I take my square cast iron pan out
and put it in the oven to heat. When its hot I put a tablespoon
of bacon greese in the pan. Now, where did I get that from.
The last time you made bacon for your family for breakfast what
did you do with the greese in the pan. I don't throw it away, I get a
jar out and pour in the greese. Put it in the refrigerator for safe
keepings. Now, I put the bacon greese in the pan and it melts
since the pan is already hot. Smear it around so the whole pan
is well greased. Now, your pan is ready as soon as your done
mixing the batter. Just remember when your mix together the
dry and wet ingredients don't over mix. This is where you could
end up with a dry cornbread. The cornbread is baking in the oven.
Mash the reserved beans and add them to the pot which also adds as
a thickner. Just continue to simmer while the cornbread is cooking
and your done.
When the men walk into the house, what a great smell they get as
theycome home from the office.
It is now time to eat.
Now for the cost of dinner.
My organic pinto beans cost me 1.19 a lb when I bought in bulk.
I bought organic ground porkfrom a local farm. That cost me 9.00
and the tomatoes cost me 2.29 due to having already run out of my
own canned tomatoes. But, I did not use the whole can. Cornmeal
which was used as a thickner is a staple item I keep in the house.
Olive oil is also a staple food. Since, I don't buy stock and used
the pasta water that didn't cost me anything. I would say
this is a frugal quick dinner.
Corn bread is also a frugal item to make. It will also fill
everyone up and it makes everything smell nice.
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