Eat out of your home. This includes home cooking all meals. Also, eat up any food you may have stored.
I'm a store-er. Not a hoarder. I keep emergency easy make meals such as hamburger helper, pasta and sauce and frozen meatloaf/meatballs. They're easy to store and don't perish quickly (precooked food in a deep freeze can last a year!). They're go to meals when I run out of time, or have doctor's appointments and we don't want to eat out. Being gluten-free makes it harder to eat out at restaurants, especially if I try to keep it inexpensive.
Start with consuming any food you have in your freezer and pantry. I always keep a well stocked pantry for emergency and a lot of my cooking comes from there. I usually just supplement with produce.
By doing this you'll use food you already owned, you can become more creative in the kitchen and you'll save money and time. Restaurant meals are at about 3 times more expensive than the same meal home cooked. Although I find pasta dishes are maked up much more than that. Olive Garden sells their marinara sauce and pasta for $7.95 (well the last time I was there they did). A pound of pasta is $1 and a jar of Ragu can be found for $1.66 (neither of these is sale prices) and that can feed 4 people!
When we get a medical bill we didn't foresee or we just want to put some money in savings we do a pantry challenge and eat as much out of our freezers and pantry before going shopping.
The best part of pantry challenges is the thrill of replacing it at the cheapest price possible.
Showing posts with label gluten free. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gluten free. Show all posts
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Gluten - You Fiend!
So, I was doing well on my gluten-free diet (here and here) and had a CRAVING for some cake. Of course it was amazing bakery cake that my neighbor dropped off and was sitting there taunting me. TAUNTING ME I TELL YOU!.
So I've slipped a couple bites of gluten in the past few weeks with no ill side effects. So I stupidly convince myself to eat the cake with Hubs.
Fast forward to today. I have a serious headache, I feel hungover. I am angry, irritable, depressed, moody. I yelled at Bear and then left the room to bawl my eyes out.
Methinks gluten is no good! So for now I'm going to take a relaxing bath while Bear naps in his crib and just try to keep my cool for the rest of today.
So far my breakfast has been gluten free and I've got dinner in the crockpot.
CrockPot Pot Roast
1 Large Vidalia Onion
about 2 lbs potatoes (I used about 5 medium potatoes)
3 lb chuck roast, top round, bottom round (whatever cut of meat you prefer, just make sure it has some fat, it will help keep your meat moist)
Carrots - I actually didn't put any in because I was positive I had a whole bag, and yep they're not there
McCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning (If you're GF read the labels! This is one of the only premixed seasonings I buy. And this time I got a huge low sodium one from the dented can store for $1!)
I used a 6qt crockpot
1) Peel and quarter vidalia onion, lay in bottom of crock pot.
2) Slice each potato into 3 or 4 pieces and lay in with onion in crock pot.
3) Peel and quarter carrots and add to crockpot
4) Lay meat on top of vegetables and pour 3/4 c of water in
5) Sprinkle seasoning all over the top of meat and sprinkle a little bit over the veggies. I put it on the veggies to so it mixes with the water.
6) Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours, or high 3-4. I prefer on low, it is a slow cooker after all. If your meat is frozen just cook on low 8-10 hours, it helps to start on low so the meat can thaw before it starts to cook.
So I've slipped a couple bites of gluten in the past few weeks with no ill side effects. So I stupidly convince myself to eat the cake with Hubs.
Fast forward to today. I have a serious headache, I feel hungover. I am angry, irritable, depressed, moody. I yelled at Bear and then left the room to bawl my eyes out.
Methinks gluten is no good! So for now I'm going to take a relaxing bath while Bear naps in his crib and just try to keep my cool for the rest of today.
So far my breakfast has been gluten free and I've got dinner in the crockpot.
CrockPot Pot Roast
1 Large Vidalia Onion
about 2 lbs potatoes (I used about 5 medium potatoes)
3 lb chuck roast, top round, bottom round (whatever cut of meat you prefer, just make sure it has some fat, it will help keep your meat moist)
Carrots - I actually didn't put any in because I was positive I had a whole bag, and yep they're not there
McCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning (If you're GF read the labels! This is one of the only premixed seasonings I buy. And this time I got a huge low sodium one from the dented can store for $1!)
I used a 6qt crockpot
1) Peel and quarter vidalia onion, lay in bottom of crock pot.
2) Slice each potato into 3 or 4 pieces and lay in with onion in crock pot.
3) Peel and quarter carrots and add to crockpot
4) Lay meat on top of vegetables and pour 3/4 c of water in
5) Sprinkle seasoning all over the top of meat and sprinkle a little bit over the veggies. I put it on the veggies to so it mixes with the water.
6) Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours, or high 3-4. I prefer on low, it is a slow cooker after all. If your meat is frozen just cook on low 8-10 hours, it helps to start on low so the meat can thaw before it starts to cook.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
What's cookin Wednesday-Gluten-Free
Tonight is my "Famous" (in the eyes of my husband) Barbecue Chicken. We are possibly having 5 adults and 2 children at dinner tonight so I went with boneless chicken for convenience. It was on sale for $1.88/lb. Also, this recipe freezes great if there are any leftovers. What makes so different than the rest? Marinating and RED onion.
-boneless, skinless chicken breast (I used about 5lbs because that's how much was in my package and Hubs will bring the rest for lunch tomorrow)
-1 large red onion (mine was .68lb)
-1 bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce (I use Sweet Baby Ray's because it's gluten-free)
Slice onion into rings. Take a container that will fit all your chicken and has a lid. I used a Rubbermaid container like this. Spread some barbecue sauce in the bottom and put half your chicken in. Lay half your onion slices and spread barbecue sauce over chicken and onions. Repeat with rest of chicken and onions so you have two layers.
Put lid on and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, I usually let mine sit for about 4-6 hours,
When ready to cook, preheat grill (don't forget to oil your grates) and cook chicken for about 15-20 minutes, or until no longer pink (this time varies greatly by how large and thick your chicken is). I usually cook the onions for about 10 minutes until they're soft and serve over the chicken.
We will be having this with frozen corn (I froze this last year) and salad. This meal cost me $14.98 (not including salad dressing). Here is my cost broken down. I do prorate it for times I buy an item and use half for one dinner and half for another.
Chicken @ 1.88/lb -$8.48
BBQ Sauce - $1.82
Bag of salad 2/3.28-$1.64
Cucumber-$0.98
Tomatoes-$1.25
Red Onion-$1.01
Total=$14.98
Or just $2.14/person. This is assuming there are no leftovers, but I'm sure there will be at least one serving.
-boneless, skinless chicken breast (I used about 5lbs because that's how much was in my package and Hubs will bring the rest for lunch tomorrow)
-1 large red onion (mine was .68lb)
-1 bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce (I use Sweet Baby Ray's because it's gluten-free)
Slice onion into rings. Take a container that will fit all your chicken and has a lid. I used a Rubbermaid container like this. Spread some barbecue sauce in the bottom and put half your chicken in. Lay half your onion slices and spread barbecue sauce over chicken and onions. Repeat with rest of chicken and onions so you have two layers.
Put lid on and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, I usually let mine sit for about 4-6 hours,
When ready to cook, preheat grill (don't forget to oil your grates) and cook chicken for about 15-20 minutes, or until no longer pink (this time varies greatly by how large and thick your chicken is). I usually cook the onions for about 10 minutes until they're soft and serve over the chicken.
We will be having this with frozen corn (I froze this last year) and salad. This meal cost me $14.98 (not including salad dressing). Here is my cost broken down. I do prorate it for times I buy an item and use half for one dinner and half for another.
Chicken @ 1.88/lb -$8.48
BBQ Sauce - $1.82
Bag of salad 2/3.28-$1.64
Cucumber-$0.98
Tomatoes-$1.25
Red Onion-$1.01
Total=$14.98
Or just $2.14/person. This is assuming there are no leftovers, but I'm sure there will be at least one serving.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Follow Up: April Accountability #4 Make Me Healthy Monday!
Before, I was crawling to the Keurig in the morning and downing a cup of coffee while Bear played on the floor. I'm still putting him on the floor to play, but blogging instead so that we can start our day after his medicine has settled in his tummy.
It is definitely not an easy diet change to make, however, I feel AMAZING so it gives me a lot of motivation to stay away from gluten. I think this is why dieting never worked for me before. I would lose a couple of pounds and have great motivation but then it would stop. And I would never feel better. I would feel hungry, and irritable and still exhausted.
Also, I'm down 5.5 lbs without even trying. I feel less bloated, and have pep in my step.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Cooking Success and Failure Week 2
Let's see how we did this week!
Saturday April 9
Lunch: we had a fun visit down to Amish country and picked up some lunch meat at a bulk food store. We had a picnic on the front porch of a furniture store (don't worry we stopped in to buy something first) with some homemade bread from home and snacks.
Dinner: I wasn't very hungry so Hubs had leftovers from salisbury steak night.
Sunday April 10
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: hot dogs, macaroni salad
Monday April 11
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Pizza Hut. We got home so late from the hospital and were wiped. Bear was melting down and by the time we got him settled and in bed it was so late and we were so hungry.
Tuesday April 12
Lunch: Sandwiches or Pizza
Dinner: Applebee's. I made a chicken crockpot dish. It smelled revolting and looked even worse. So we decided to go out (Yes twice in one week, but I felt it was warranted)
Wednesday April 13
Lunch: I picked up salad for lunch because I started Gluten Free (GF). Hubs had sandwiches
Dinner: Caesar salad, hot dogs (I had mine without a roll), frozen canteloupe and canned peaches
Thursday April 14
Lunch: Leftover salad or sandwiches
Dinner: Pancakes (I found a box of GF mix someone gave me) and turkey breakfast sausage.
Friday April 15
Lunch: Au Bon Pain for me, it was the only thing at the hospital and I was unable to bring anything from home, Hubs had Wendy's, he was on the road for work
Dinner: Jimmy John's, I had Cornish Hens out but Hubs said he really wanted sandwiches. I know you're all thinking, but didn't she just go GF? Jimmy John's offers an Unwich. It's they're sandwich (same amount of meat and condiments, etc) all wrapped up in very large lettuce leaves. It was fantastic, and the Beach Club (Turkey and Avocado) was only 200 calories. We also had potato chips.
I know it seems like we went out an awful lot, and we did. However, this has been one of THOSE weeks so the fact that we even made it through is success. I wish I could have cooked more, but days like yesterday (driving 40 minutes by myself with Bear at naptime, walking the 20 minute walk to the doctor's office, then back to the car, then back to the doctor's office, then back to the car, and then the 40 min drive home in traffic which became an hour) it took all my energy just to survive. So tough luck. Next week is a little calmer, however it ends in Easter. Although in our house holidays=leftovers!!! and less cooking afterwards.
I ended up having to purchase romaine lettuce and 2 packs hot dog rolls and macaroni salad and potato chips.
And as a follow up, that GF pancake/waffle mix was absolutely HORRID. Ruined the whole pancake experience. I thought with enough syrup it would mask the flavor. I was wrong, very wrong.
Saturday April 9
Lunch: we had a fun visit down to Amish country and picked up some lunch meat at a bulk food store. We had a picnic on the front porch of a furniture store (don't worry we stopped in to buy something first) with some homemade bread from home and snacks.
Dinner: I wasn't very hungry so Hubs had leftovers from salisbury steak night.
Sunday April 10
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: hot dogs, macaroni salad
Monday April 11
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Pizza Hut. We got home so late from the hospital and were wiped. Bear was melting down and by the time we got him settled and in bed it was so late and we were so hungry.
Tuesday April 12
Lunch: Sandwiches or Pizza
Dinner: Applebee's. I made a chicken crockpot dish. It smelled revolting and looked even worse. So we decided to go out (Yes twice in one week, but I felt it was warranted)
Wednesday April 13
Lunch: I picked up salad for lunch because I started Gluten Free (GF). Hubs had sandwiches
Dinner: Caesar salad, hot dogs (I had mine without a roll), frozen canteloupe and canned peaches
Thursday April 14
Lunch: Leftover salad or sandwiches
Dinner: Pancakes (I found a box of GF mix someone gave me) and turkey breakfast sausage.
Friday April 15
Lunch: Au Bon Pain for me, it was the only thing at the hospital and I was unable to bring anything from home, Hubs had Wendy's, he was on the road for work
Dinner: Jimmy John's, I had Cornish Hens out but Hubs said he really wanted sandwiches. I know you're all thinking, but didn't she just go GF? Jimmy John's offers an Unwich. It's they're sandwich (same amount of meat and condiments, etc) all wrapped up in very large lettuce leaves. It was fantastic, and the Beach Club (Turkey and Avocado) was only 200 calories. We also had potato chips.
I know it seems like we went out an awful lot, and we did. However, this has been one of THOSE weeks so the fact that we even made it through is success. I wish I could have cooked more, but days like yesterday (driving 40 minutes by myself with Bear at naptime, walking the 20 minute walk to the doctor's office, then back to the car, then back to the doctor's office, then back to the car, and then the 40 min drive home in traffic which became an hour) it took all my energy just to survive. So tough luck. Next week is a little calmer, however it ends in Easter. Although in our house holidays=leftovers!!! and less cooking afterwards.
I ended up having to purchase romaine lettuce and 2 packs hot dog rolls and macaroni salad and potato chips.
And as a follow up, that GF pancake/waffle mix was absolutely HORRID. Ruined the whole pancake experience. I thought with enough syrup it would mask the flavor. I was wrong, very wrong.
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