We all know we should eat our fruits and vegetables, but they can easily turn into a budget buster. Especially because it is incredibly rare to find coupons for fresh produce. So how do you save your pennies when this is such an important staple? Here are a few tricks I love to use to save all the pennies I can:
Weigh your options:
As you look through your produce department, chances are you will find individual items and bulk bagged items. As I said before I like to break things down based on per ounce costs to find out which is the better deal...usually buying individual is the better deal with produce because it can spoil quickly and if it isn't used, you just lost that cost. BUT there are instances when you should buy the bulk bag. Such as with items like potatoes, onions, and apples. Reason being is they last longer then your regular produce, they can be put in multiple items and freeze up in things well. Example: use the potatoes in your freezer meals or the apples in a pie to freeze or make up apple sauce.
PLUS when you can get the bulk bag at a great price, it will break down to cheaper per pound costs then the individual. Now here is the big tip...WEIGH THE BAGS!! Yes it is labeled as a 5lb or 3lb bag...but I promise that is not the exact amount in the bag! Usually you will find that you can get as much as .25 to .75 lbs more then what the bag is labeled as. THAT IS FREE PRODUCE! Take advantage of this and weigh several bags before selecting your bag! And to be honest, I do this will all produce that is packaged and sold as a unit. If I am going to spend I want the best price!
Local is better:
When possible get your produce at your local Farmers Markets! Trust me, you will get better prices and better tasting produce! Do your research first though...find out what is in season so you get it at the best price! Also bring cash...most do not take credit cards or checks so cash is the way to go! I also like to bring my own bags so I am not wasting plastic bags at each vendor.
When shopping at Farmers Markets, pay attention to what you can get for bundled prices. Some vendors will lump items together so you can get a better deal. Also walk the vendors first before just jumping on the first table. Chances are there is another vendor with the same product at a better price! Lastly...get there early! The early bird really does get the worm when in comes to Farmers Markets! The best deals and produce will be snatched up early so get in on it by shopping early!
Need to find a Farmers Market near you? Check out http://www.localharvest.org/ to find one close to you!
Store Correctly:
Not all veggies and fruit should be stored in the same way. Some need to be refrigerated, some should set out on the counter, and some should be in a cool dark place like a pantry. Know where everything goes so you get the best bang for your buck out of your produce purchases! Plus learn tricks that will keep items fresher longer.
One trick I have learned is to freeze certain fruits that I know we don't eat as quickly. I use a parchment lined sheet pan to freeze fruit by placing various berries, sliced and peeled kiwi, and sliced and peeled bananas on it and in the freezer. Make sure to do them in a single layer so they freeze evenly. Once frozen place in a large freezer bag and keep in the freezer. Perfect for smoothies, on top of yogurt, and even in cereal! The kids love the unexpected frozen pop while eating in the morning!
Prep right away:
When I purchase my produce I like to cut up items right away that I may not use if it wasn't already prepped. I do this with veggies such as peppers, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, and zucchini. I store them in easily stacked containers so they are ready for easy lunches and to be added to my meals for the week. This again will save you time, plus you will find if it is cut up and ready to go, you will use them more often! This is awesome for wraps at lunch, or salads!
Now you have no excuse to not get your daily veggies and fruits in!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
When do you Grocery Shop?
There really is no right or wrong answer to this question, unless you say whenever I need something! Studies show that even if we go into the store with the mindset that we just need the 1 gallon of milk, we on average will walk out with 5 or more items totaling more then $20. So your 1 gallon of milk just cost your budget $17 that you didn't intend. If you break that down to one extra trip a week across one year, you just spent $884 a year more then what you had intended. Think of what you could do with $880 across a year. That could be your car insurance for a year! So how do you cut that out? Here are some shopping trip tips that I have been using and stick to!
Set a Date!
I set a date to do my shopping each week. I really like Sunday or Monday, but that doesn't have to be your day. If Friday works best for you, then set that as your day. Then stick with it! If you shop according to your date and your menu plan you will find that you won't need those extra trips because you have purchased based on your weekly needs. I like to even schedule it as a set time...I know its not necessary to do this, but I find that if I have it down as a 'date' then I feel more motivated to get to it and get it done. Plus have you ever tried shopping at stores at various times during the day. There are times that the store is packed and times that it practically empty....I prefer the empty times! By sticking with my dates, then I ensure that I hit those times and don't feel rushed to get out of any aisle or through the checkout so I can make sure I am getting the best deal!
Plan Ahead!
By planning ahead and making a list based on your menu and your coupons, you will spend less! This is why I tend to shop on Sunday's and Monday's because I have just gotten my paper with the ads and coupons. This way I know I am getting the best deals possible. Also by having a list, you don't need to stress over 'do I have that or not in the pantry'...because when we do, we tend to err on the side of getting the item just in case. Thus adding items to our cart that are unnecessary and busting our budgets.
So what should be on your list? I include on my list the grocery items that I need based on my menu and my coupons. I try to organize my list based on the order of the store...this way I am not running back and forth trying to get everything. This is a good reason to have a notebook with your coupon binder...write down the aisle headers so that you can know your store in and out! Once I put the items on the list, I also write down the cost in the ad and if I have the coupon. Mine show C for coupon, SC for Stacked Coupons, C+G for Coupon with Giftcard (Target always have certain items that if you purchase X amount of the items you get a giftcard). I also include at the bottom of my list the meals I am making for the week.
Once you have your list, stick to it as best you can! By sticking to your list you are able to not only save money, but also time. You won't be wandering up and down aisles trying to decide what you need, or what you want for dinner this week. Now with saying that, there are a few times to stray...but only if its a budget saver not a budget blower. Example: You are planning on having lasagna this week for dinner, your list includes 1lb of hamburger which is $3.98 a lb. When going to pick up that hamburger you find that 1lb of ground turkey is on sale for $2.98. Since this is a great swap...stray! You just saved your budget $1 but stuck to the meal plan and list!
Pay Attention!
Here are some things that I always try to pay attention to when making my list and filling my pantry. First pay attention to how fast you are going through staple items such as milk, eggs, bread, and so on. This way you will know that 3 gallons of milk will be enough for 1 week, or 1 dozen eggs will last a week. By knowing what your family needs you can always be stocked and save extra trips to the store.
Also pay attention to the sales at the store. I like to make note of when high priced items go on sale...like meat, cheese, and cereal. These are items that we can always use but add up quickly! By watching when they are on sale and not, I can find the pattern the store has so I can plan accordingly!
Lastly, pay attention when you are at the store. This is why I like to go when the store is least busy so I can take the time to find out the unit costs and compare, without worrying that I am always in someones way. I like to check how much the price is per ounce or unit...this way I can ensure I get the best deal.
Set a Budget!
My last tip is to set a budget, for your week, month, and year. Start small, set a goal for your weekly groceries, and go from there. For us, I set my goal to spend $55 or less per week on groceries. Everything left over from the $55 goes into a jar in our room for a trip we are saving for. By knowing that I only have $55 to spend I make sure to keep track of what goes in my cart...plus by knowing all the extra left over goes towards my trip encourages me to stick to the budget and list that much more!
I hope you take these tips and start using them in your weekly grocery routine! You will find that they add up to some pretty awesome savings!
Set a Date!
I set a date to do my shopping each week. I really like Sunday or Monday, but that doesn't have to be your day. If Friday works best for you, then set that as your day. Then stick with it! If you shop according to your date and your menu plan you will find that you won't need those extra trips because you have purchased based on your weekly needs. I like to even schedule it as a set time...I know its not necessary to do this, but I find that if I have it down as a 'date' then I feel more motivated to get to it and get it done. Plus have you ever tried shopping at stores at various times during the day. There are times that the store is packed and times that it practically empty....I prefer the empty times! By sticking with my dates, then I ensure that I hit those times and don't feel rushed to get out of any aisle or through the checkout so I can make sure I am getting the best deal!
Plan Ahead!
By planning ahead and making a list based on your menu and your coupons, you will spend less! This is why I tend to shop on Sunday's and Monday's because I have just gotten my paper with the ads and coupons. This way I know I am getting the best deals possible. Also by having a list, you don't need to stress over 'do I have that or not in the pantry'...because when we do, we tend to err on the side of getting the item just in case. Thus adding items to our cart that are unnecessary and busting our budgets.
So what should be on your list? I include on my list the grocery items that I need based on my menu and my coupons. I try to organize my list based on the order of the store...this way I am not running back and forth trying to get everything. This is a good reason to have a notebook with your coupon binder...write down the aisle headers so that you can know your store in and out! Once I put the items on the list, I also write down the cost in the ad and if I have the coupon. Mine show C for coupon, SC for Stacked Coupons, C+G for Coupon with Giftcard (Target always have certain items that if you purchase X amount of the items you get a giftcard). I also include at the bottom of my list the meals I am making for the week.
Once you have your list, stick to it as best you can! By sticking to your list you are able to not only save money, but also time. You won't be wandering up and down aisles trying to decide what you need, or what you want for dinner this week. Now with saying that, there are a few times to stray...but only if its a budget saver not a budget blower. Example: You are planning on having lasagna this week for dinner, your list includes 1lb of hamburger which is $3.98 a lb. When going to pick up that hamburger you find that 1lb of ground turkey is on sale for $2.98. Since this is a great swap...stray! You just saved your budget $1 but stuck to the meal plan and list!
Pay Attention!
Here are some things that I always try to pay attention to when making my list and filling my pantry. First pay attention to how fast you are going through staple items such as milk, eggs, bread, and so on. This way you will know that 3 gallons of milk will be enough for 1 week, or 1 dozen eggs will last a week. By knowing what your family needs you can always be stocked and save extra trips to the store.
Also pay attention to the sales at the store. I like to make note of when high priced items go on sale...like meat, cheese, and cereal. These are items that we can always use but add up quickly! By watching when they are on sale and not, I can find the pattern the store has so I can plan accordingly!
Lastly, pay attention when you are at the store. This is why I like to go when the store is least busy so I can take the time to find out the unit costs and compare, without worrying that I am always in someones way. I like to check how much the price is per ounce or unit...this way I can ensure I get the best deal.
Set a Budget!
My last tip is to set a budget, for your week, month, and year. Start small, set a goal for your weekly groceries, and go from there. For us, I set my goal to spend $55 or less per week on groceries. Everything left over from the $55 goes into a jar in our room for a trip we are saving for. By knowing that I only have $55 to spend I make sure to keep track of what goes in my cart...plus by knowing all the extra left over goes towards my trip encourages me to stick to the budget and list that much more!
I hope you take these tips and start using them in your weekly grocery routine! You will find that they add up to some pretty awesome savings!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
DIY Weekly Menu Board
I am all about saving where I can, so when I wanted to add a weekly menu board to my kitchen I made it myself! Sure I could have easily went to the store and bought one that would work just as well, but I figured why not save that money, make it myself and have it be exactly what I wanted!!
To make my board I decided what style I was looking for and an approximate size. Then the search was on to find something that I could upcycle into the perfect menu board. I tried to think outside of the box and figure out what would work best. Then after adding a pin to Pinterest about putting chalk board paint on the inside of your cabinet doors to organize your cabinets, it just hit me! Use a full cabinet door for the board! Since my hubby works at Menards I figured I would go check out their bargin areas for a returned or damaged doors, but unfortunately there were none available at that time. So off I went...to the goodwill, rummages, and finally IKEA's As-Is section! There in all its glory was this large cabinet door...the front was in perfect shape, but the whole cut on the back for the hardware to mount it had cracked. Well obviously it was not suitable for hanging on a cabinet base any longer, but it will do perfectly for what I needed...BONUS it was only $9.75! Thats right, $9.75 for a solidwood cabinet door that was in great condition without any touch ups!
Now that I had the door I simply got the few extras that I needed to create my board. The best part, most of the items we already had around the house! Here is what I used:
To make my board I decided what style I was looking for and an approximate size. Then the search was on to find something that I could upcycle into the perfect menu board. I tried to think outside of the box and figure out what would work best. Then after adding a pin to Pinterest about putting chalk board paint on the inside of your cabinet doors to organize your cabinets, it just hit me! Use a full cabinet door for the board! Since my hubby works at Menards I figured I would go check out their bargin areas for a returned or damaged doors, but unfortunately there were none available at that time. So off I went...to the goodwill, rummages, and finally IKEA's As-Is section! There in all its glory was this large cabinet door...the front was in perfect shape, but the whole cut on the back for the hardware to mount it had cracked. Well obviously it was not suitable for hanging on a cabinet base any longer, but it will do perfectly for what I needed...BONUS it was only $9.75! Thats right, $9.75 for a solidwood cabinet door that was in great condition without any touch ups!
Now that I had the door I simply got the few extras that I needed to create my board. The best part, most of the items we already had around the house! Here is what I used:
Cabinet Door
Chalkboard Paint
Paint Roller
Sandpaper
Painters Tape
Picture Hanger Clips
To get the best finish when repainting or finishing a project always make sure to sand the area that you want to finish. This will ensure your paint will adhere correctly and smoothly! For my board I wanted just the inner panel of the door to be chalkboard paint to the remainder would frame it out and look nicely finished.
1. I taped off the area that I wanted to paint. Make sure to use a high quality painters tape...this ensures a tight seal and no leaks!
2. Sand the desired area to rough up the surface. It doesn't take much time, and it doesn't need to be sanded down to the the wood...just enough to remove the top poly coat.
3. Paint on your chalkboard paint. I did several coats and made sure to smooth over each coat before letting it dry. This ensured a smooth writing surface for my completed board.
4. After fully dried remove the painters tape and add the Photo Hanger Clips on the back. Since my board is a solid wood cabinet door, I used 2 clips to help distribute the weight!
Tada, my board was complete! This can be used for so many things beyond just a menu board so feel free to jazz it up to fit what you need!
Hope you start watching the As-Is sections and rummages and upcycle your own boards and start organizing our life in a pretty fashion!
Monthly Menu Planning
What's for Dinner? How many times a day do you hear that or think that exact question? Well with a monthly menu there is no questions or worries about whats for dinner! Not only will Monthly Menu Planning save you a lot of time, but it will also allow you to save money each week by setting up a well planned list and cut out extra trips to the grocery store!
So what do you need for a successful Monthly Menu Plan? It's really a lot more simple then you might think! Here are some things that I recommend having for the ultimate meal planner:
Unfortuntately Blogspot will not let me upload a Word Doc to show you my calendar but here is a picture of it and I will give you step by steps on how to make it:
So now you know how to get your Monthly Menu Planner Started...but my guess is you would love to have some meal ideas to start off your planner!! Well here are some that are on my calendar now:
So what do you need for a successful Monthly Menu Plan? It's really a lot more simple then you might think! Here are some things that I recommend having for the ultimate meal planner:
A Three Ring Binder
Monthly Calendar Printout
Recipe Cards & Box
Notebook
Unfortuntately Blogspot will not let me upload a Word Doc to show you my calendar but here is a picture of it and I will give you step by steps on how to make it:
To make this simply open a word doc, change the layout to Landscape. I then clicked insert, table, and first did a 1x7 for the dates so I could have that thinner. Then went back in and did a 5x7 table for the week days. I made sure they were fairly large so I could write out the meals in them easily. Underneath the table I simply did an ingredient list. I elected to do 5 lists since I had 5 weeks...this way I could group my ingredents per week based on what I already had in the kitchen and pantry.
Now here is the point that you will need to decide how far into the menu planning you want to get, either one week at a time or the full month at a time. Its totally up to you and how far out you like to plan, but for me I think its easier to just tackle the full month so I am all set with no worries. Keep in mind though I do mine in pencil so I can adjust as I go if necessary depending on sales or mood changes.
Here are the steps I go through to get mine going:
1. Go through the calendar and mark off dates that you won't be home for dinner...no sense planning for a day that doesn't need planning! In ours we knew we were going to be out of town the weekend of Mothers Day and Memorial Day so those I put an X through them
2. Once I have my dates figured out, I like to put Leftovers as the meal plan the night before we will be out of town. This way I am not making a meal that will be wasted if we don't eat it all, plus its a great way to save you time on a packing night, and clean out the fridge before being out of town. Along with doing leftovers before going out of town I also like to do them once a week, even if we will be home. I usually pick a night that we tend to be busy due to what ever our schedule has planned.
3. Now its time to start plugging in meals! Remember I suggested having recipe cards...well this is where my meals come from. I try to make it as easy as possible so what I did was get a recipe box in the $1 section at Target...they always have them in various colors and they come clear plastic dividers in them. I also get lined recipe cards to use in them so its all organized. Then its time to start putting down your recipes! Now this sounds harder then it really is...you don't need to hunt down long lost recipes or find a ton of new recipes. I literally write down all the things the family loves to eat, even if I don't need a 'recipe' for it persay. Example, this week we had Pigs In A Blanket...I obviously do not need a recipe for it, BUT I write down all the ingredents that I need for it. This way I don't miss anything when I am going to the grocery store. Plus I find that if I don't write them down and have them available to pull out I forget to add them into our rotation. **I will do a post on recipe cards and how to organize them later.** Finally I select a side to go with each meal. Usually just rotate out veggies that we like. Again I have recipe cards for various sides so I have the ingredent list needed if any!
As I go through the week/month I try to pull from different food groups so we don't end up having 3 italian dishes in one week. I also try to lump meals together by what types of protiens are in them, this way I can save money by purchasing meats in bulk. I don't necessarily like to have chicken two nights in a row, but will have it several times in one week in various ways. Check out my Saving with Whole Chickens Post to see how easy this is.
4. Lastly...Go through the ingredents. All you need to do is go through what you have on hand and what the recipes call for. Simple as that! I section off my grocery needs at the bottom of my mothly menu so each week I know what I need for the specific recipes that I have listed. Then all I have to do is add those items to my weekly list when I go shopping. This way, one trip to the grocery store and I am set! You will save time, gas money, and added 'extra' purchases at the grocery store!
**To help save even more, try variations on your recipes that include protiens that you have on hand from previous meals that week. So if you have grilled chicken breast on Monday, then on Wednesday when you have tacos, repurpose your grilled chicken into chicken tacos! Or if you have Spaghetti one night, brown up extra hamburger and set it aside for enchiladas the next night!**
After I have my meal plan for the month, then each week I post it up so everyone knows what we are having. This way if I am busy my husband knows exactly what to make for dinner! You can do this by actually hanging up your calendar or have a weekly meal board. I made one out of a cabinet door I got in the AS-IS section at IKEA. **Post to follow with how to make!!**
So now you know how to get your Monthly Menu Planner Started...but my guess is you would love to have some meal ideas to start off your planner!! Well here are some that are on my calendar now:
Meal Ideas:
Chicken:
Chicken Fajitas
Tacos/Nachos
Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Chicken Kabobs
Grilled Chicken
Enchilada Lasagna
Hamburger:
Spaghetti
Grilled Burgers
Lasagna (can be chicken)
Chilli
Pork:
Grilled Brats
San Fran Pork Chops
Family Favorits:
Breakfast for Dinner (will switch out between pancakes, french toast sticks)
Pigs in a Blanket
English Muffin Pizza
Wraps (usually leftovers for fillings!)
Grilled Ham/Turkey Cheese Sandwiches
Homemade Pizzas (BBQ, Asian, Buffalo, ect)
Homemade Mac'N'Cheese (usually have chicken with this)
Now you have the basics to get your planner rolling! I hope that this gets you motivated to get your dinners under control! Once you have your dinner plan down, try branching out and planning your lunches too! Whether you are a SAHM or a working mom, you will find that this will help you out a lot! Lunch is much easier to plan out, but you will find that just being able to take that task out of your daily routine will save you lots of time!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Score Savings with Email
We all have our favorite products that we just can't live without or take substitutions on...but how do we get the best savings on those specific products? Let the company know you are a fan of their specific products!
There are many ways to do this now in the age of Social Media, but the most common is still by signing up on the companies website. All the sites will request your email address and occassionally additional information but then reward you with extra savings only available to those signed up on their site. Some of my favorite sites to sign up are www.SilkPureAlmond.com and www.Kellogs.com because these are two lines of products we always use, but don't always have coupons in the Sunday Paper.
Sound great? Well it really can be...but be warned that when you sign up for these sites you will get not only coupons but also notifications of new products, information about their products, recipes, and so on. So before you quick rush to all these sites and sign up, I highly recommend that take a special step first...get a special email address just for savings! I created an email address that I use just for signing up for things so my real email address doesn't get overwhelmed. I made it fun since its just for savings and went with apennyhereorthere@yahoo.com just because it made me giggle!
Once you are signed up, the savings will start! Now don't think that you are going to get emails everyday with the exact coupons you want, but trust me its a great way to get ones that are rarely in the Sunday Paper on a more regular basis!
Along with email, make sure to check out if the manufacturer has a Facebook site...many times they will run promotions on their site that are only available to those that follow them! Beyond just the manufacturer, become a fan of the places you like to shop too! I am a South Dakota girl through and through so my favorite place to get groceries is Hy-Vee. I went on Facebook and found out that each Hy-Vee in Sioux Falls has their own page, by 'liking' each page I get special Facebook only deals that they are running! Just the other day they had 12 packs of Ortega Hardshell Taco's for only $0.50...thats a $1.29 saving per box! All you had to do was tell the cashier you had the Facebook Deal! How awesome is that!
Best part about all of these deals? Its free to sign up, and is just pennies to print the coupons! So get started saving now! You will be amazed how much you can save!
There are many ways to do this now in the age of Social Media, but the most common is still by signing up on the companies website. All the sites will request your email address and occassionally additional information but then reward you with extra savings only available to those signed up on their site. Some of my favorite sites to sign up are www.SilkPureAlmond.com and www.Kellogs.com because these are two lines of products we always use, but don't always have coupons in the Sunday Paper.
Sound great? Well it really can be...but be warned that when you sign up for these sites you will get not only coupons but also notifications of new products, information about their products, recipes, and so on. So before you quick rush to all these sites and sign up, I highly recommend that take a special step first...get a special email address just for savings! I created an email address that I use just for signing up for things so my real email address doesn't get overwhelmed. I made it fun since its just for savings and went with apennyhereorthere@yahoo.com just because it made me giggle!
Once you are signed up, the savings will start! Now don't think that you are going to get emails everyday with the exact coupons you want, but trust me its a great way to get ones that are rarely in the Sunday Paper on a more regular basis!
Along with email, make sure to check out if the manufacturer has a Facebook site...many times they will run promotions on their site that are only available to those that follow them! Beyond just the manufacturer, become a fan of the places you like to shop too! I am a South Dakota girl through and through so my favorite place to get groceries is Hy-Vee. I went on Facebook and found out that each Hy-Vee in Sioux Falls has their own page, by 'liking' each page I get special Facebook only deals that they are running! Just the other day they had 12 packs of Ortega Hardshell Taco's for only $0.50...thats a $1.29 saving per box! All you had to do was tell the cashier you had the Facebook Deal! How awesome is that!
Best part about all of these deals? Its free to sign up, and is just pennies to print the coupons! So get started saving now! You will be amazed how much you can save!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Splurge to Save?!?
One of my favorite business based sayings is "Don't put the penny before the dollar", which essentially means sometimes you have to spend a little to make a lot. Well in this case sometimes you have to spend a little to save a lot! So you have to ask yourself, when is it better to splurg to save in the long run? Everyone knows their finances best, so its always best to keep that in mind when making purchases, but here are some splurges that I think are really worth your bang for your budget buck:
Stand-up Deep Freeze: Depending on the size you get, these freezers can run from $250-$1000+, but can offer monthly and yearly savings that total more then the upfront cost. When looking for a freezer it is important to shop around and find your best deal. Remember that some stores will match and beat competitors prices so if you bring in the ad in you can get yourself an even better deal. Also watch for extra specials that stores are running. Currently Menards (yes a plug for my husbands employer!) has their 11% rebate sale. So on top of getting the item on sale, you also will get a rebate check that you can use for additional products.
When shopping for a Freezer, make sure to keep your families needs in mind so you get what you need out of it. I recommend getting at least a 14.1 cubic foot model so you have several shelves, along with door storage. This will assist in making your organization a breeze, and your savings add up. You will be surprised how much you can save when you can buy certain items in bulk and freeze them. (More to come on Freezer Meals and their savings!)
Club Memberships: Whether its Sam's, Costco, or any other big box warehouse in your community, look into the memberships that are available to you. Also look for savings on top of these memberships, many of them will offer gift cards when you sign up, so will offer additional savings, and so on. I personally like having a membership at these locations because you can get some amazing savings...BUT you can also really blow a budget quickly at these locations. These stores are a 'stick to your list' type location. Also like I mentioned in my Couponing Do's and Don'ts post make sure to pay attention to the per unit cost when shopping at these locations. Some items look like a good deal but really its not as much of a savings as you would think. Some of my favorite buys at Sam's:
Stand-up Deep Freeze: Depending on the size you get, these freezers can run from $250-$1000+, but can offer monthly and yearly savings that total more then the upfront cost. When looking for a freezer it is important to shop around and find your best deal. Remember that some stores will match and beat competitors prices so if you bring in the ad in you can get yourself an even better deal. Also watch for extra specials that stores are running. Currently Menards (yes a plug for my husbands employer!) has their 11% rebate sale. So on top of getting the item on sale, you also will get a rebate check that you can use for additional products.
When shopping for a Freezer, make sure to keep your families needs in mind so you get what you need out of it. I recommend getting at least a 14.1 cubic foot model so you have several shelves, along with door storage. This will assist in making your organization a breeze, and your savings add up. You will be surprised how much you can save when you can buy certain items in bulk and freeze them. (More to come on Freezer Meals and their savings!)
Club Memberships: Whether its Sam's, Costco, or any other big box warehouse in your community, look into the memberships that are available to you. Also look for savings on top of these memberships, many of them will offer gift cards when you sign up, so will offer additional savings, and so on. I personally like having a membership at these locations because you can get some amazing savings...BUT you can also really blow a budget quickly at these locations. These stores are a 'stick to your list' type location. Also like I mentioned in my Couponing Do's and Don'ts post make sure to pay attention to the per unit cost when shopping at these locations. Some items look like a good deal but really its not as much of a savings as you would think. Some of my favorite buys at Sam's:
Skippy Naturals Peanut Butter, 2 40oz containers $8.88...$4.44 unit price
*if you buy at Target 1 40oz container is over $6
Kraft Mac'N'Cheese 12 pack $10.12...$0.84 unit price
*if you buy at Target $1+ unit price
Tysons Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast. 6lbs $13.83...$2.30 per lb
*If you buy at Target $4.99+ for 2lb bag...$2.50 per lbs
Buying the Sunday Paper: The Sunday paper costs around $1.50-$1.75 depending on where you live. Usually you can sign up for a discounted rate if you get it delivered each week, check them out at your local papers website. Although you are paying for this paper each week, you will get a HUGE return on your cost. On average the Sunday paper has $160+ in savings via coupons. Yes I understand that you are most likely not going to use every coupon in these ads, but even if you use $10 worth of that $160 (which I know you will!) you have already more then quadrupled your original cost with the savings! Also I know you can get coupons online at various sites, but then you are printing them at home which costs you ink, and then still cutting them out. Plus another advantage of getting the paper is you also get the store ads in hand to compare prices, sales, and discounts. This is very handy when making you list for the week, or saving a trip from store to store when you can simply ad match at one store! In my eyes...this splurge is worth the savings!
Couponing Do's and Don'ts
Couponing can save you hundreds each year in grocery, health and beauty items, cleaning products, and much more. BUT if you don't coupon right, it actually can cost you more in the long run. So how do you make couponing work for you? Here are some do's and don'ts that I feel really help you keep your couponing more focused and less likely to hurt your budget!
DO: Keep your coupons organized. Set time aside every Sunday (or what day works best for you) and go through your coupons. I know we are all busy, but really if you set time aside and keep it up, it maybe will take 20 mins at the most each week.
DON'T: Clip every coupon you see just to have it. I go through the ads and clip just what my family needs. We don't have any pets, so obviously I am not going to clip coupons for pet food! Thats a pretty obvious example, but really think about the items that you are clipping. Yes there might be a coupon for M&Ms, but do you really need them? Or there might be a coupon for chips, but is it something that your family needs and really eat? This is where some people blow their budgets because they think just because there is a coupon they need to clip it.
DO: Match your coupons with specials. Just because you got the coupons today in the Sunday paper, that does not mean you need to use them today. First look at your meal plan for the week(don't have one, you need one!) and see what fits with your meal plan. If it doesn't apply to something you need immediately, then hold on to it. I find that most coupons have their best bang for their buck a week or two after they have been issued. You want your coupon to stack on top of a manufacture/store sale...thats when you really start to save!
DON'T: Buy just to buy. Just because you have a coupon, does not mean you need to buy it. This again is a budget buster...if you have no need for it, its not on sale plus the coupon, and its not something that your family really enjoys, then just stay away. Yes, you may have a coupon for it, but just buying because of the coupon is a waste!
DO: Stack your coupons! Watch your coupons and use them wisely. Most of the time you can use the coupon when the store has the item on sale, plus if you watch the retailers website you can also stack the manufactures coupon with the store coupon! This is my favorite because you can get a huge savings this way. Some of my best scores are from Target with their coupons and the manufacturers coupon. Example: Activia on sale 2 for $4, manufacture coupon $1 off the purchase of one, Target coupon $1 off the purchase of 2. Buy 2 of them and use both coupons and you get 2 4pks of yogurt for just $1 each. Thats $0.25 a container...most yogurt is $0.67 a container!
DO: Keep your coupons organized. Set time aside every Sunday (or what day works best for you) and go through your coupons. I know we are all busy, but really if you set time aside and keep it up, it maybe will take 20 mins at the most each week.
DON'T: Clip every coupon you see just to have it. I go through the ads and clip just what my family needs. We don't have any pets, so obviously I am not going to clip coupons for pet food! Thats a pretty obvious example, but really think about the items that you are clipping. Yes there might be a coupon for M&Ms, but do you really need them? Or there might be a coupon for chips, but is it something that your family needs and really eat? This is where some people blow their budgets because they think just because there is a coupon they need to clip it.
DO: Match your coupons with specials. Just because you got the coupons today in the Sunday paper, that does not mean you need to use them today. First look at your meal plan for the week(don't have one, you need one!) and see what fits with your meal plan. If it doesn't apply to something you need immediately, then hold on to it. I find that most coupons have their best bang for their buck a week or two after they have been issued. You want your coupon to stack on top of a manufacture/store sale...thats when you really start to save!
DON'T: Buy just to buy. Just because you have a coupon, does not mean you need to buy it. This again is a budget buster...if you have no need for it, its not on sale plus the coupon, and its not something that your family really enjoys, then just stay away. Yes, you may have a coupon for it, but just buying because of the coupon is a waste!
DO: Stack your coupons! Watch your coupons and use them wisely. Most of the time you can use the coupon when the store has the item on sale, plus if you watch the retailers website you can also stack the manufactures coupon with the store coupon! This is my favorite because you can get a huge savings this way. Some of my best scores are from Target with their coupons and the manufacturers coupon. Example: Activia on sale 2 for $4, manufacture coupon $1 off the purchase of one, Target coupon $1 off the purchase of 2. Buy 2 of them and use both coupons and you get 2 4pks of yogurt for just $1 each. Thats $0.25 a container...most yogurt is $0.67 a container!
How do you know its a Manufacture Coupon vs Store Coupon:
~Manufacture will say the manufactures name on it
~Store coupons will have store logo and say valid only at the specific store
When looking online at Target.com for their coupons you can't see the coupons ahead of time so to help you print the right ones here is the giveaway:
~Manufactures will only say the products name and the amount
~Target coupons will say "With Purchase of" or "When you Purchase"
**Bonus tip...go to the Target Gift Registery Kiosks and access the Target site and you can print your coupons there to save on your ink!!
DO: Use your coupons with clearance items! Thats right, just because its on clearance doesn't make it off limits to use coupons! This works great with body care items and specialty packs of cereals. Example: Target had Gillette Mens Body wash with Free travel deoderant on clearance for $2.28, Regularly $3.99. Manufacture coupon $1 off with the purchase of 1, Target coupon $1 off with the purchase of 2. Final cost was just $2.56! Originally these items would cost $9.96 so that is a $7.40 savings on items that don't expire and are perfect for stock piling!
DON'T: Over stock pile. Yes you want to take advantage of great deals, but there is a difference between stocking a pantry and going extreme! Trust me when I say you do not need 40 bottles of shampoo, 40 bottles of body wash, and 80 gallons of speghetti sauce! But if you know your family really likes a product then get a reasonable amount when you can get a great deal! My family goes through a lot of cereal, so I always watch the prices on cereal and when I can get a great deal I take advantage of it. BUT again this leads back to a previous Don't...don't just buy cereal to buy it. Make sure you are stocking up on the types that actually will get used. For us, I really like Raisin Bran, but no one else does so I don't buy as much because there is just no way I can eat 8 boxes by myself. Also think logically based on expiration dates. Yes you might get yogurt for $0.25 a container but if you have to throw half of the containers away you actually paid $0.50 a container then.
DO: Read your coupons fully before hitting the stores. Make sure you fully read what your coupon is requesting you buy before using them. Some request that you Buy 1 for $X.XX off, some Buy 2 for $X.XX off, some are Buy one and Get one, Some are Buy of This and Get one of That. There are several different things you will see on the coupon so make sure you are reading right so you get a great deal. Example of a bad deal: Buy one Secret Clinical Deoderant get $1.00 off 1 Olay Body Wash product. The Secret Clincal was on sale but the Olay Body Wash was not...because of this the sale really wasn't a great bang for my buck. Also make sure to verify size/quanity of the product to make sure you get the right product.
DON'T: Always buy the biggest package. I highly recommend actually breaking down your sales based on size. We all have calculators on our phones, so we need to use them to get our best savings. I always will make sure that I am paying the least per unit price by taking the cost divided by the units in the packaging. Yes it may be the same product, but you might just be surprised as how much you can save by looking at how many ounces per cost you are getting. This stands true with most items. Example: Charmin Toliet Paper 12 pack is $9.99 and an 8 pack is $6.59 plus you have a $1.00 off coupon. The 12 pack is costing you $0.75 a roll where the 8 pack is costing you $0.70 a roll. Now I understand that is only a $0.05 savings per roll, but when you think about how many rolls of toliet paper your family goes through it adds up. Lets say you go through 1 roll every 2 days, by going with the 8 pack you will save $9.15 a year. Thats just one item out of the hundreds we use across a year! It adds up!
DO: Share the wealth. If you know a friend that just had a baby, but you no longer have a diaper wearer in your home...clip the coupons and drop them in a letter for them. They will love it. Plus if you hit a jackpot with an amazing steal...stock pile and donate to your local food banks and charities. If you have a coupon but know that you just won't need additional items before it expires, leave it on the shelf with the item because someone else might need it more then you(do this with coupons clipped from the paper and not printed though so people can't abuse your printed coupons)! Lastly, when your coupons do expire, donate them to Military Families because they can use them past expiration dates on the bases. For more information on this check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ExpiredCouponsforOverseasMilitary
I hope that these Do's and Don'ts help you kickstart your couponing! Just make sure that you keep your family and budget in mind and you will see a big return on your time!
DON'T: Over stock pile. Yes you want to take advantage of great deals, but there is a difference between stocking a pantry and going extreme! Trust me when I say you do not need 40 bottles of shampoo, 40 bottles of body wash, and 80 gallons of speghetti sauce! But if you know your family really likes a product then get a reasonable amount when you can get a great deal! My family goes through a lot of cereal, so I always watch the prices on cereal and when I can get a great deal I take advantage of it. BUT again this leads back to a previous Don't...don't just buy cereal to buy it. Make sure you are stocking up on the types that actually will get used. For us, I really like Raisin Bran, but no one else does so I don't buy as much because there is just no way I can eat 8 boxes by myself. Also think logically based on expiration dates. Yes you might get yogurt for $0.25 a container but if you have to throw half of the containers away you actually paid $0.50 a container then.
DO: Read your coupons fully before hitting the stores. Make sure you fully read what your coupon is requesting you buy before using them. Some request that you Buy 1 for $X.XX off, some Buy 2 for $X.XX off, some are Buy one and Get one, Some are Buy of This and Get one of That. There are several different things you will see on the coupon so make sure you are reading right so you get a great deal. Example of a bad deal: Buy one Secret Clinical Deoderant get $1.00 off 1 Olay Body Wash product. The Secret Clincal was on sale but the Olay Body Wash was not...because of this the sale really wasn't a great bang for my buck. Also make sure to verify size/quanity of the product to make sure you get the right product.
DON'T: Always buy the biggest package. I highly recommend actually breaking down your sales based on size. We all have calculators on our phones, so we need to use them to get our best savings. I always will make sure that I am paying the least per unit price by taking the cost divided by the units in the packaging. Yes it may be the same product, but you might just be surprised as how much you can save by looking at how many ounces per cost you are getting. This stands true with most items. Example: Charmin Toliet Paper 12 pack is $9.99 and an 8 pack is $6.59 plus you have a $1.00 off coupon. The 12 pack is costing you $0.75 a roll where the 8 pack is costing you $0.70 a roll. Now I understand that is only a $0.05 savings per roll, but when you think about how many rolls of toliet paper your family goes through it adds up. Lets say you go through 1 roll every 2 days, by going with the 8 pack you will save $9.15 a year. Thats just one item out of the hundreds we use across a year! It adds up!
DO: Share the wealth. If you know a friend that just had a baby, but you no longer have a diaper wearer in your home...clip the coupons and drop them in a letter for them. They will love it. Plus if you hit a jackpot with an amazing steal...stock pile and donate to your local food banks and charities. If you have a coupon but know that you just won't need additional items before it expires, leave it on the shelf with the item because someone else might need it more then you(do this with coupons clipped from the paper and not printed though so people can't abuse your printed coupons)! Lastly, when your coupons do expire, donate them to Military Families because they can use them past expiration dates on the bases. For more information on this check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ExpiredCouponsforOverseasMilitary
I hope that these Do's and Don'ts help you kickstart your couponing! Just make sure that you keep your family and budget in mind and you will see a big return on your time!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Saving with Whole Chickens
We all want to speed up the time we spend in the kitchen, and sometimes that means we cut corners by buying premade meals and boxed meals. Although this can speed up your time in the kitchen, it usually means not that great flavors, added preservatives, and sometimes even more work then a good home cooked meal! So how do you have the best of both worlds? Whole Roasted Chickens! Now I am not saying that this is going to be as quick as a box of Mac'n'Cheese the first time you do this, but trust me it gets to be a quick and easy process that will promise to help make your cooking faster all week long! Plus added bonus, this is a very cost effective fix for quick meals!
I will buy whole roasting chickens whenever they go on sale...this way I usually pay $0.69-$0.89 a pound compared to $2.50+ per pound of boneless skinless chicken breast. I simply toss the chickens in the freezer until I need to restock my chicken stockpile. When it is time to restock I take the whole chickens (I like to do 2 chickens at a time to save future time!) and place them in a sink full of cold water. I usually can defrost them fully in about 3 hours that way. You can take them out the day before and place them in the fridge to defrost also.
Once defrosted, I place in my roasting pan on a bed of carrots, onions, celery, pepper, or whatever left over veggies I have left over at the end of the week. You do not need the veggies though, I simply like to do this on Sundays so I usually have veggies that need to be used up and figure why not add them in! I also put salt, pepper, and our favorite grill seasoning on the chickens (Chef Mates, found at HyVee). I sprinkle them inside the cavity of the chicken and on top of the chicken. Then I put the lid on (or foil) and place in the oven for roasting. Depending on the size and your days plans you can roast them low and slow or as high as 350 for 45 mins or so. There are usually tips right on the packaging for best cooking times and temps.
After the chickens have finished cooking I remove them from the oven and let cool to room temperature before taking on the breaking down task. This is usually when I go shopping for the next weeks worth of groceries...got use every minute productively! Once they are cooled its time to dive in and break them down. I find my hands work the best...simply pull the skin back and start pulling the meat out.
I will buy whole roasting chickens whenever they go on sale...this way I usually pay $0.69-$0.89 a pound compared to $2.50+ per pound of boneless skinless chicken breast. I simply toss the chickens in the freezer until I need to restock my chicken stockpile. When it is time to restock I take the whole chickens (I like to do 2 chickens at a time to save future time!) and place them in a sink full of cold water. I usually can defrost them fully in about 3 hours that way. You can take them out the day before and place them in the fridge to defrost also.
Once defrosted, I place in my roasting pan on a bed of carrots, onions, celery, pepper, or whatever left over veggies I have left over at the end of the week. You do not need the veggies though, I simply like to do this on Sundays so I usually have veggies that need to be used up and figure why not add them in! I also put salt, pepper, and our favorite grill seasoning on the chickens (Chef Mates, found at HyVee). I sprinkle them inside the cavity of the chicken and on top of the chicken. Then I put the lid on (or foil) and place in the oven for roasting. Depending on the size and your days plans you can roast them low and slow or as high as 350 for 45 mins or so. There are usually tips right on the packaging for best cooking times and temps.
After the chickens have finished cooking I remove them from the oven and let cool to room temperature before taking on the breaking down task. This is usually when I go shopping for the next weeks worth of groceries...got use every minute productively! Once they are cooled its time to dive in and break them down. I find my hands work the best...simply pull the skin back and start pulling the meat out.
After you have all the meat pulled off you can toss the bones or use them for stock...that recipe will be posted later! I like to shred the chicken, but you can also cut it into cubes. I break it down and usually can get 3 different uses out of one chicken. Depending on how my freezer looks, I will either start making meals right away with it or I will package it up into containers and freeze the meat on its own. It's always nice to have chicken on hand for last minute meals, quick made potluck/party meals, and for sandwiches/wraps.
Here are some uses that our family loves:
Freezer Meals:
Chicken Enchilada Lasgna
Chicken Spaghetti
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Various Chicken Burritos
Chicken Noodle Soup
Potluck/Party Meals:
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Chicken Tacos
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Sandwiches/Wraps:
Ceaser Chicken Salad
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Ranch Chicken Sandwiches
Crescent Braids:
Chicken Ranch BLT
Chicken Enchilada
Chicken Pot Pie
Don't worry, I will be adding all of these recipes as I keep the posts coming!
Couponing: Where to Start
Couponing is all the rage right now, but this is one fad you don't want to pass on! Now is the time to jump on this budget saving bandwagon...but where do you start? Here are some beginner tips that will get you rolling. Once you have these down, we will really get into the meat of couponing! Please be warned though, I am a couponer...not an Extreme Couponer! I am not here to get you stockpiled into 2025, just comfortably stocked and saving money!
First thing is first...you need to get coupons! My first source is my Sunday paper, which usually has all the same coupons you can find online. I like to save where I can, so I only sign up for the Sunday paper and not the whole weeks worth. Also when I signed up, I did it at a local retailer that had a newspaper representative visiting. Since I signed up through this retailer vs just online with my local paper, I was able to get all of the Sunday papers for just $26 for one year...thats a savings of $1.25 per Sunday paper. PLUS since I signed up at the retailer, I got a giftcard for $25 to that retailer. So in turn I got all the papers for just a $1! Places that I have seen these retailers are Lewis, HyVee, Menards, and Sunshine.
Now that you have the paper being sent to you, your stockpile of coupons can begin. Along with the paper I receive at my home, I also let friends and family know that I am couponing so if they don't want their coupons that I will pick them up from them! You would be surprised by how many people don't use their coupons! Also along with letting people know, I will increase my stockpile by purchasing an additional paper or two if there are more then $200 in savings in that weeks paper. Most Sunday papers will have the total savings in the top corner on the front page!
This next step is the most important when you are couponing...storing and sorting your coupons! Your coupons are no good to you if you don't have them organized for easy use! There are many coupon holders out there that you can buy, but to be honest my favorite is a plain old binder with clear pocketed sleeves. I recommend checking out your local rummage sales because I would put money down that you can find either of these items for super cheap at a rummage. If you aren't into rummaging, or are starting during the winter as I did, you can easily go to Wal-Mart and get a cheap binder. For the pages I recommend using baseball card sleeves...they come in different sizes so I recommend getting a varity because coupons come in different sizes!
First thing is first...you need to get coupons! My first source is my Sunday paper, which usually has all the same coupons you can find online. I like to save where I can, so I only sign up for the Sunday paper and not the whole weeks worth. Also when I signed up, I did it at a local retailer that had a newspaper representative visiting. Since I signed up through this retailer vs just online with my local paper, I was able to get all of the Sunday papers for just $26 for one year...thats a savings of $1.25 per Sunday paper. PLUS since I signed up at the retailer, I got a giftcard for $25 to that retailer. So in turn I got all the papers for just a $1! Places that I have seen these retailers are Lewis, HyVee, Menards, and Sunshine.
Now that you have the paper being sent to you, your stockpile of coupons can begin. Along with the paper I receive at my home, I also let friends and family know that I am couponing so if they don't want their coupons that I will pick them up from them! You would be surprised by how many people don't use their coupons! Also along with letting people know, I will increase my stockpile by purchasing an additional paper or two if there are more then $200 in savings in that weeks paper. Most Sunday papers will have the total savings in the top corner on the front page!
This next step is the most important when you are couponing...storing and sorting your coupons! Your coupons are no good to you if you don't have them organized for easy use! There are many coupon holders out there that you can buy, but to be honest my favorite is a plain old binder with clear pocketed sleeves. I recommend checking out your local rummage sales because I would put money down that you can find either of these items for super cheap at a rummage. If you aren't into rummaging, or are starting during the winter as I did, you can easily go to Wal-Mart and get a cheap binder. For the pages I recommend using baseball card sleeves...they come in different sizes so I recommend getting a varity because coupons come in different sizes!
Once you have your coupons cut out, organize them in your binder based on catagories. I have mine broken down by how I shop and what I group on my shopping list. So I put all meats on a page, cereals are grouped followed by fruit bars and juices, and sauces by the pasta coupons. I also keep my groceries seperate from my health care and cleaning coupons. Now this binder is your couponing lifeline...keep it with you at all times! I keep mine in my car until Sunday when I update my coupons. This way anytime I stop at a store it is right there and ready to go...no excuses!
On Sundays I first go through the paper and cut out all coupons that fit our needs. Then as I stock my binder I pull out any expired coupons. This way everything is updated every Sunday all at once!
Pizza Freezer Burritos
In the morning, you have more things on your mind then what am I going to pack for lunch! So why not make that decision a little easier? I recommend having a freezer stocked with ready to grab lunches that are quick and easy. I am not talking about the boxed freezer meals you buy at the store...these are way better and plus nicer on the pocket book! I have many variations but here is our family's current favorite:
PIZZA FREEZER BURRITOS:
2 Jars Pizza Sauce (or 3-4 cups homemade marinara sauce)
3 Cups Uncooked Rice (I didnt use instant but you can, just adjust cooking time)
1 pkg Turkey Pepperoni
1 Cup browned Italian Sausage (I like Johnsonvilles Chicken & Pork)
12 Tortillas
1 bag Shredded Mozz Cheese
Favorite Pizza toppings if wanted (diced green peppers, onions, mushrooms, ect)
Pour jar of pizza sauce (or half of your marinara sauce) into pot along with the jar refilled with water 2x. (three jars worth of sauce and water). Bring to a boil and add rice. Stir well and reduce heat to simmer (I shut the burner off) and cover. I stir occassionally to prevent sticking. Let cook for 20 mins. When finished let rice completly cool.
After letting cool, add remaining sauce to rice mixture...this is a new step, we found it just added so much more flavor to the burritos!
Next is making the burritos!
I set up as an assembly line and get everything ready to go so I can crank them all out at once! I rip out 12 pieces of aluminum foil that are slightly bigger then the tortilla shells. I prefer heavy duty aluminum foil, but havent found a big difference between Renyolds vs Target Brand. Then it is time to assemble! I use a large spoon and place about 3 scoops of rice in the middle of the tortilla, and layer the desired toppings. You can do what ever toppings you like, even customize each one based on your families needs!
After filling you will want to start the wrapping process. This isn't tough but you will want to make sure you do it right so it freezes well and doesn't fall apart! To start you will fold the sides in over the filling:
Then you simply roll them tight, and lable them. I use a marker to write whats in them! I line them up on a sheet pan in one level and place in the freezer to freeze overnight. Once fully frozen I place them in a large ziplock bag labeled with the type of burrito and the dates.
When the hunger strikes you, simply take the burrito out of the freezer and heat. If your burrito has defrosted in your lunch box, remove from foil, and micro on high for 2 mins and turning after one minute. If it is frozen, unwrap and microwave for 4 minutes again flipping after each minute. You can also bake these to reheat, 350 degrees for 30-35 mins should get them nice and toasty!
PIZZA FREEZER BURRITOS:
2 Jars Pizza Sauce (or 3-4 cups homemade marinara sauce)
3 Cups Uncooked Rice (I didnt use instant but you can, just adjust cooking time)
1 pkg Turkey Pepperoni
1 Cup browned Italian Sausage (I like Johnsonvilles Chicken & Pork)
12 Tortillas
1 bag Shredded Mozz Cheese
Favorite Pizza toppings if wanted (diced green peppers, onions, mushrooms, ect)
Pour jar of pizza sauce (or half of your marinara sauce) into pot along with the jar refilled with water 2x. (three jars worth of sauce and water). Bring to a boil and add rice. Stir well and reduce heat to simmer (I shut the burner off) and cover. I stir occassionally to prevent sticking. Let cook for 20 mins. When finished let rice completly cool.
After letting cool, add remaining sauce to rice mixture...this is a new step, we found it just added so much more flavor to the burritos!
Next is making the burritos!
I set up as an assembly line and get everything ready to go so I can crank them all out at once! I rip out 12 pieces of aluminum foil that are slightly bigger then the tortilla shells. I prefer heavy duty aluminum foil, but havent found a big difference between Renyolds vs Target Brand. Then it is time to assemble! I use a large spoon and place about 3 scoops of rice in the middle of the tortilla, and layer the desired toppings. You can do what ever toppings you like, even customize each one based on your families needs!
After filling you will want to start the wrapping process. This isn't tough but you will want to make sure you do it right so it freezes well and doesn't fall apart! To start you will fold the sides in over the filling:
Next start at the bottom of the tortilla and roll forward, making sure to tighten the tortilla around your filling:
Then start wrapping the foil around the burrito, I start from the sides and then the bottom like I did with the tortilla itself:
Then you simply roll them tight, and lable them. I use a marker to write whats in them! I line them up on a sheet pan in one level and place in the freezer to freeze overnight. Once fully frozen I place them in a large ziplock bag labeled with the type of burrito and the dates.
When the hunger strikes you, simply take the burrito out of the freezer and heat. If your burrito has defrosted in your lunch box, remove from foil, and micro on high for 2 mins and turning after one minute. If it is frozen, unwrap and microwave for 4 minutes again flipping after each minute. You can also bake these to reheat, 350 degrees for 30-35 mins should get them nice and toasty!
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