Frugal Friday - In the Kitchen
Hosted by Biblical Womanhood
Savings in the kitchen can add up to a lot. As I have been looking at the sales catalogues, what has struck me most is they are full of… Yes, the catalogues are full of “specials”. But what are they specials of? Let’s see, things like: packets of lamb stew mix - just add it to your meat, veggies and stock and you have a wonderful casserole. It’s packaged nicely with a beautiful picture…. but all it is are some flavorings in a bag. Frozen lasagne - don’t make it yourself, it’s too much work. Just pop it in the oven and dinner will be ready in no time. Pieces of chicken, covered in breadcrumbs, oven ready. Garlic bread, oven ready….
Most of the specials in the catalogues are convenience foods. The staples like flour and sugar are hardly ever on special. I am not saying we shouldn’t buy any convenience foods. I will sometimes buy a pre-made lasagne (I can count the number I have bought on one hand….) - it is cheaper than take away. I will sometimes buy frozen breaded chicken… But, it is so much cheaper to make these things yourself. Yes, it takes time. But it saves money and is usually healthier.
Why do you think the catalogues are full of processed specials? Because that is where they make their money. I can buy a packet of white sauce mix for a dollar on special, and sometimes I have. That’s not bad, is it? But I can make it myself for less than 10c. If the shops make money on the end product, then I can save money on making things myself.
Yesterday I practiced what I am preaching and Elizabeth and I had a day of baking and making mixes. Elizabeth made her favorite sugar cookies and three batches of hot chocolate mix!
Just for fun, I used my new coffee stencils that a friend and I bought on a shopping trip a while back:
Hot chocolate in a cup with two hearts on top! 
I made four batches of white sauce mix. I then measured and bagged the amount I would need for one serving. I don’t like using all those plastic bags, so I tried to see if I could freeze the mix as ice cubes. I’m not sure it will work since the mixture is crumbly, not liquid. I’ll have to see how it goes. Any suggestions? In any case, now I have a freezer drawer full of white sauce mix.
I am doing some of these things now while I have a large kitchen and in preparation for when we move house. I can make a quick Tuna Casserole with the white sauce mix from the freezer. Once we move it will be nice to just sit down in the evening with a hot chocolate, the mix already made and in the pantry.
It saves time to make a double or triple batch of these things while you have all the ingredients out. All the dishes can be done at the one time, you can have a long break from having to do it again, and when you are all done, you feel like you really achieved a lot - not to mention having saved some money in the process!