Monday 1 July 2013

A Frugal Weekend

Did all the right frugal things this weekend and loved it!

Needed teabags on Friday, got out the packet of loose tea I bought last year when Rhonda encouraged us to give up teabags because of all the extra packaging. I have 9 teapots but only one in the kitchen, an old-fashioned round brown china pot so I dusted that off and put it to work. The tea is so very much better as it's stronger, teabags contain so very little tea really. We also needed bread but a dig through the freezer revealed English muffins and a few odd slices of bread I'd saved for breadcrumbs. Our milkman brought our rye bread last night so we're set for the week.
Saved fuel, time and money!
I've been craving Mexican or Tex-Mex meals for several days now so instead of a $100 meal at Zocala's(which is wonderful btw) I put my thinking cap on...and asked the Down to Earth ladies in the states what makes a great Mexican meal. Chillies obviously but it's the more subtle flavours of oregano and cumin, lemon or lime juice, fresh herbs and cheese of course.
Over night I soaked a bag of lovely dried mixed beans($1.70) and then cooked them in the pressure cooker for 5 mins...not quite done but 2 more minutes finished them to perfection. Hmmm there seems rather a lot now I thought and then whipped up some beanie dip with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, Mexican chilli(a blend of chilli/herbs/spices) and salt. The cooked beans equalled in volume what I would have got from 4 tins of mixed beans.


Next I fried up chopped onion, red capsicum, garlic and half a habenero from my garden, added tomato paste and then a tin of organic chopped tomatoes and a splash of liquid smoke and simmered that for 10 mins before adding about 2 cups of cooked beans. Left that on for 15 mins and then tasted my delicious chilli beans...no need to go out dinner now lol! I cooked some white rice and sliced a chicken breast, rubbed the chicken with the Mexican chilli blend, dried herbs, lime juice and shallow fried that. Served it all up with grated cheese and a little Greek yoghurt in place of sour cream and it was yummmy!

Forgot to take a pic of the served up plates...steamy, spicy beans and tomatoes...


and sizzling chicken...one breast does us for 3-4 meals...


Other frugal achievements this weekend include mowing the lawns myself instead of paying some-one $50-$60 to do that...this is not without it's "issues" as I can rarely start the lawnmower myself , I re-filled it with fuel and washed the filter sponge but have to wait for Joe to pull-start the mean machine. I focussed on making it look like a Wimbledon court and was very pleased with the result.
I also finished this scarf, made completely from wool given to me last year...the simple pattern is here


So all added up I suppose I saved /avoided spending almost $200...do I get to keep that?? More savings for Canada is my way of looking at it.

Frugal Queen and other bloggers are having "make do with what I have July", just using up what they have in their pantries and freezers and while I haven't joined that challenge I keep it in mind and try to adjust to suit what we do have on hand. They have lots of very thrifty and delicious recipes to share too.

So how did you spend the weekend, gardening perhaps, cooking and crafting are just my favourite ways to spend my time.
Love from Sue
xxx



11 comments:

  1. I have been frugal too, because I am out of work and we are broke. :( Anyway, last week I ran out of bread, so I made some! And it worked out! And tonight, the boys wanted tortillas, and I had no flatbreads, so I made them.

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    1. Good on you, Lois, it is really empowering isn't it?
      xx

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  2. La comida mexicana es deliciosa , amiga!

    LOL I had to look that up on google.

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    1. LOL we've both learned something then!!! ty
      xx

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  3. That Mexican meal looks delish, I agree with you about the pot of tea I really need to get out my teapot I have some tea also but havnt opened it. Teabags just don't make that nice strong cup of tea. You have done great this weekend. x

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    1. I don't think I'll go back to teabags now, the used leaves go on the garden and I really enjoy the good, strong hot tea.
      (Milow has bunnies etc at her blog if you want a fix of cuteness)

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  4. We do not own a mower or wipper snipper. So I borrow my sister's who only lives 6 minutes away. In return I always bake her something. Yes I have to use the car, but I look at how often tools just sit in a shed and never get used. I refuse to pay someone to do our yard, even when I was pregnant.

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  5. That's a great bartering system you have going there, Iliska.
    I know that some ppl just cannot do this heavy work but when I see my almost 80 yr old Dad mowing and edging not just his own garden but his neighbour's as well I keep on going! I had 2 offers today to come and cut the grass next next but I need the exercise and I will persevere as long as I can.
    xx

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  6. Sue, I love the look of that dish. I wonder though...what is 'liquid smoke'? You did indeed have a very frugal weekend. Since getting back from holidays I have stayed home the last two days and that always saves me money as I am not tempted by any sales in the shops.

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  7. Welcome home, Chel, I have enjoyed your holiday photos tfs.
    Liquid smoke is probably a US thing, just a few drops add a lovely authentic smoky flavour to Tex Mex dishes...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_smoke
    PS The sunflower seed butter recipe is at the forum ;)

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  8. Thanks for this post Sue a Mexican meal coming up soon in this house. July is a good month to do a 'no buy' as those winter meals can use so many pantry items. Thanks also for the sunflower butter pointer on DTE forum, hope to make some today.

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