Frugal Mania

1. Do take-out vs delivery or eating in - this way you can save on having to pay a tip
2. Only eat half your meal - If it’s a big meal, only eat half and bring the other half home for lunch the next day. Two meals for the price of one.
3. Share with someone - Maybe you can both get a small salad and then share your entree.
4. Skip the alcohol - You will save a ton if you don’t drink alcohol. In some cases, it can be more expensive than your entree.
5. Find out the weekly specials - Some places have happy hour specials if you come in earlier to eat - check their website.
6. Coupons - An oldy but a goody - flip through the coupons you get in the mail and visit your local eateries.

Any other tip you can think of that I left off the list?

Or be smart and win your dinner for free at trivia night.

A coworker told me to join Arby’s extras - I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into.. But since then, I’ve received some email coupons for pretty much free meals.

I recently got one (and actually used it) for a free roastburger with the purchase of a drink. So my lunch that day cost me like $2. Also, I think around the holiday season, I got a coupon for a free shake (forgot to use that one). And now I have one in my email box for a chicken sandwich with the purchase of a drink or fries.. cant recall.. but I know again my lunch will cost less than $5.

That’s a frugal find!

Here’s a direct link to join - click here.

For even more info on Arby’s extras - keep reading.. (more…)

From Food Network Robin Miller’s site, here are some killer tips on getting yummy food and being wise with your food budget:

Buy meats in bulk and freeze portions with marinade inside a plastic zip top bag. As it defrosts, the meat will become infused with the marinade and stay moist.

1. Don’t throw out your leftover rice! Use it to make fried rice, rice cakes or quick rice pudding.

2. Almost out of Dijon? Don’t let those last tablespoons go to waste. Add vinaigrette ingredients straight to the mustard jar and shake for mess-free salad dressing.

3. To get the maximum amount of juice out of lemons and limes, pop them in the microwave for 10 seconds. This will break down the fibers inside, allowing juice to flow.

How about a recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken with Rosemary, Apples and Onions?? (more…)

Today I read a really interesting fact from HSBC on money-saving tips. This one really got my attention:

Bring lunch to work rather than eating out and you may save $5 per work day. In a year that can add up to over $1,200.

That’s a nice chunk of change.. Here are some lunch ideas that are easy and tasty to bring to work. (more…)

Okay so what better time to talk about affordable alcoholic beverages than during an economic downfall - People are getting fired, loosing money in their 401K, and basically just really, really worried. Now I am not promoting to turn to alcohol to fix your problems or help them feel like they’re going away… but hey, sometimes we like to drink a bit and it can be pricey..

Here are my favorite picks………. (more…)

I was behind a bus the other day that had a McDonald’s ad on it for a value-meal for $2.99 - it’s a double cheeseburger, medium fries, and a medium drink. I may not be the biggest fan of McDonald’s but that’s a great deal and a great ad.

Apparently during an economic slump people’s eating habits change to the following:

1. Eating more frequently at home versus a restaurant
2. Visiting fast food restaurants more frequently
3. Replacing restaurants like Chili’s or Applebee’s with a substitute that is cheaper and requires no tip like fast food or a chain without waiter’s like Moe’s, Doc Green’s, etc

Want some tips on how to accomplish eating cheaply and healthy? (more…)

The scent of fresh bread always reminds me of my grandmother’s kitchen and Sunday afternoon meals after church.  That undeniable scent holds the memories of some of the happiest times in my life so it is no surprise that I am a huge bread freak and I will eat it in just about any form you can imagine. 
This recipe yields some of the most delectable garlic cheese biscuits I’ve ever had, and the best part is that they are inexpensive and simple to make.

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Today’s frugal recipe comes to you courtesy of a very sweet lady at a local farmer’s market I visited over the weekend.  It sounds so delicious that I can’t wait to make it myself!

Cornbread is such a localized food.  It is made differently in different parts of world – and even different parts of the country.  Even here in the Southern United States, every household has their own way of making the delicious stuff.  Cornbread is an excellent frugal food idea because it is deceptively simple to make and costs very little.  The big plus is that almost everyone loves it!

Mexican cornbread is something I didn’t really even hear about until a few years ago when a co worker emailed me her mother’s recipe and it sounded so delicious that I made it with dinner that very night.  I’ve been addicted ever since!

Mexican Cornbread

• 3/4 cup self-rising cornmeal
• 1/2 cup corn (fresh is best if you have it)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 jalapeno peppers or (3 tablespoons of jarred jalapenos)
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg, beaten slightly
• 1/2 tablespoon sugar (I rarely add it at all)
• 1/3 cup milk (I use nonfat powdered milk)
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1.  Oil a heavy baking pan (or a cast iron skillet, preferably) and place it in the oven while it preheats to 425 degrees.

2.  Mix all ingredients until just blended.  DO NOT over mix!

3.  Carefully remove the pan from the oven (the oil should sizzle) and pour the mixture in.

4.  Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes or until the top of the cornbread has reached a rich, golden brown color.

Salads are a weekly occurrence in my house, both because I need to cut my fat intake and because I truly love them.  That familiarity can bring with it a sense of boredom from time to time, so I make at least a hundred different dishes that fall under the category of salad.  The recipe that follows is my latest creation and it has taken the lead in the constant race for my favorite, largely because it is so simple.

What follows is my basic recipe, which changes on a regular basis based entirely on what fresh produce I have available to me at any given time:

INGREDIENTS

• olive oil
• balsamic vinegar
• green leaf lettuce
• tomatoes
• red onion (which is actually purple)
• carrots
• celery
• radishes
• salt and pepper

OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS

• sunflower seeds
• sliced hard boiled egg
• canned tuna

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Wash and break lettuce into bite sized pieces in individual salad bowls.
2. Into a small sealable container, cut tomatoes, red onion, carrots, celery and radishes into whatever size is best for you.  I cut tomatoes into 1/2 inch chunks, slice the onion quite thin, slice the carrots, celery and radishes.
3. Drizzle vegetables with balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.  Cover container and shake lightly to coat.  Allow mixture to stand for at least 15 minutes to marinate.
4. Drizzle lettuce greens with olive oil.
5. Spoon vegetable mixture atop the lettuce and add any optional ingredients you might want at this time.
6. Serve!

This is truly delicious, in fact I made it for a late night dinner last night and it is quite satisfying without anything that is bad for you at such a late hour.  The preparation time is minimal and the result is delicious!

I’m toying with some regular features for Frugal Mania and Mondays are going to be known from now on (I think) as “Frugal Menu Monday”.

My plan is to make sure that at least once every week I include information and instructions that will allow you to create at least four new complete frugal meals each month.

For the record, the only reason I chose Monday is because ‘Menu Monday’ sounded better than ‘Menu Wednesday’.

For this week’s meal, we are going to do a simple breakfast food from scratch.  It is far better for you and will save you tons of money too! 

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My name is Michael and I am a frugal snacker.

I actually have quite a sweet tooth but I am just not comfortable spending tons of money on frugal snacks, so I have to do what I can to save where I can because sometimes I just get that hankering that I can’t avoid. It is at those times that I am thankful for learning some sneaky frugal snack tricks.

There’s no better sweet to me than a gummi bear, but they can be expensive. Please don’t tell me that Wal-mart sells a big back for a dollar - just don’t. Yuck!

How about making your own? It sounds much more complicated than it is and they are truly wonderful! Here’s the best recipe I have found for making your own homemade frugal gummi bear snacks:

INGREDIENTS
1 small packet of Jello (or the generic equivalent)
7 envelopes of unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup of cold water

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Before you put it on the stove, mix all of the ingredients in a pan thoroughly.
2. Heat the dough-like mixture over low heat until completely melted.
3. Carefully pour the melted mixture into small candy molds and put it in the freezer for a few minutes, until you can easily remove the candy from the molds.
4. Pop them out and store them in zipper baggies - that is if you don’t eat them all!

For variation more similar to commercial varieties, make two or three different flavors and mix them together in the baggies. You can also spritz the formed gummis with water and sprinkle with ascorbic acid for sour gummi flavors!

Paula Dean stands for everything that I am against.

She cooks everything with a pound of butter (which at least is better than margarine), adds everything but the kitchen sink to everything she makes, and I see her face on everything from toasters that make incredible breakfast egg sandwiches to thick cut peppered bacon taunting me from the meat aisles of the local Sam’s Club.

She infuriates me but the fact is that I love her. Adore her, in fact.

I am making it my personal mission to take her recipes apart and turn them into plates full of deliciousness that have all the taste with less fat and for less money. That will make me the anti-Paula I guess, but there’s no denying that she is the Queen of Food Network and I am but a lowly princess relegated to reigning over my own kitchen and sharing the occasional triumph with my lovely readers here on Frugal Mania.

The first on my list for reconstruction is a recipe that my new roommate told me about after he returned home from being out of town for a few months. Now I should tell you that this roomie won’t eat anything that isn’t a hot dog, fast food burger or candy. Or Absolut, but that’s a story for another blog.

The recipe in question is for Paula’s Deep Fried Mac and Cheese and even I have to admit that it sounds pretty darned delish. I will work my frugal kitchen magic and report my findings back here soon!

This should prove to be really interesting. I just wish I had a video camera in the kitchen so you could see how comical my trial and error efforts can be.

It is time for Michael’s Frugal Penne Carbonara!

Carbonara is an absolutely delicious pasta dish that is usually made with a pork cheek that has been salted and cured (it is called guanciale which sounds much better than ‘pork cheek’). My version uses good ol’ bacon and I have to admit that it is pretty darned good regardless of how many little Italian (pronounced ‘eye-talian’ here in the south) women are going to be up in arms over it.

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My name is Michael Nolan, and I’m a breadaholic.

There, I said it. It’s been four days since my last real homemade bread experience – a banana nut bread that made me want to cry it was so good – and I have been a slacker ever since.

Okay, when I went to the store a couple of days back I saw a beautiful ciabatta bread at the bakery and yes, I bought it, despite my frugal nature. I haven’t even touched it. (more…)

I am a picky eater – there is no denying that. Add to that the fact that I make every effort to save money on my food and you run into a problem when it comes to creating a recipe.

There is nothing more satisfying than a good bowl of potato soup, and while there are thousands of ways to make it, many of them can be quite expensive. I started working on my own recipe a few years back and finally came up with the right mix of frugality and flavor.

Without further ado, let’s get cookin’!

INGREDIENTS
• 8 – 10 medium potatoes
• 2 cans (or one large can) cream of chicken soup
• 8 oz sour cream
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 1 packet Ranch dressing mix
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Peel and slice the potatoes about ¼” thick.
2. Place potatoes and ranch dressing mix in a large pot and cover with water.
3. Bring pot to a boil and allow to boil until tender. Reduce heat to low.
4. In a bowl, mix chicken soup with ½ cup of milk and add to the pot.
5. In the same bowl, mix the sour cream and the remaining cup of milk and add to the pot.
6. Allow to simmer, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes.
MICHAEL’S NOTES
Don’t bother spending the money on name brand soup or ranch dressing mix. Any time you are adding ingredients to a pot of soup or a stew, you are wasting your money if you don’t go with the store brand.

As for the sour cream, give the homemade sour cream recipe mentioned in this post a try.