Okay, so today is going to be a smorgasbord of tricks I have
learned the last couple of months. First and maybe the easiest (but something I
would have NEVER tried before) is roasting a whole chicken and making your own
chicken stock. I have tried it a couple of ways and believe me when I say, you
really can’t mess it up!
For the chicken, I just cut slits in the chicken and use
whatever seasoning or herbs I have around the house. This last time I used
garlic and herb seasoning and it really turned out well. I drizzle it with
olive oil and cook it at 350 for 20 minutes per pound (180 degrees when
completely cooked). After it cools, I tear it apart (literally) and put the
meat in ziplock baggies and freeze. Such an easy and relatively inexpensive way
to add chicken to most anything (enchiladas, quesadillas, chicken casserole,
potatoes, anything). This is a great trick for busy Moms as you can roast a
chicken on the weekend and have already cooked chicken to pull out of the
freezer during the week.
Now for the stock! I know it sounds hard and like a pain but
it really isn’t. It is so easy, economical and HEALTHY! I have tried making the stock a couple of ways
and found the crock pot to be the easiest way for me. I dump EVERYTHING in
(bones, yucky stuff, etc), add some veggies (this time I used carrots, onions
and a bay leaf), fill the crock pot with water to cover the chicken and add 1 table
spoon of Apple Cider Vinegar and cook on low for 24 hours. This makes such a
great tasting broth and can be used in dry beans, gravies or whatever you
normally use stock for. I just freeze mine in containers once the stock has
cooled down. I have read that stock is supposed to kind of gel up when it
cools, mine did not, so don’t worry if yours doesn’t. I think the thicker it is
the more concentrated, but I’m no chef so who knows?
Lastly and for sure my favorite is the Bread Thrift Store!
Who knew?? I remember as a child my Mom making her weekly visits to the local bread
store, I always loved going because she always let us pick out a snack. What a
full circle moment as I take my own children with me and let them pick out a
treat for the week. Anyway, there is a bread thrift store about 10 minutes from
my house and so worth the little gas it takes to get there. I can get two loaves
of Honey Wheat Bread (named brand) for $2.58! The same loaf costs $3.09 at
Bi-lo, so even when it is on special at Bi-Lo or another supermarket, it is
still cheaper to head to the bread store. The bread store I go to offers a
frequent user card and every time you spend $3 they punch the card, when it is
full I will get $4 off my total purchase. Also, if you spend $5 in a single
purchase they let you pick a item from the free rack. This has saved us a ton so
far!!
So, what are some little cost saving tricks you have
learned? I have been thinking about the cost comparison between Wholesale
dealers (like Sam’s and Costco) and using coupons. I am learning that coupons
really cater to convenience items rather than the whole foods you need to make
meals. Thoughts?
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