Frugal tip of the week

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.