*Feed Your Family $10 A Day Challenge*(AT HOME)

[mom2dea0813]

Our microwave died last night as we were heating up our DD's dinner .

B~ cereal and milk free

Lunch ~
Grilled cheese sandwiches (.45 just bread and butter cheese free )
Grapes 1.00
Carrots and dip .75
2.20

no afternoon snacks

Dinner ~
Pizza 11.00 Dh is picking up on his way home
Cake 2.00
(Ds birthday, he is having a sleep over with 1 friend )
13.00

Snacks ~
the boys had hot chocolate at 10pm that evening ...lol 12 packs for 2.00
and another small piece of cake
.33

$15.53

Hope everyone has a great Friday . The kids had a great sleep over and as my ds says he wishes he could eat like that all the time with nothing healthy and 2 pieces if cake a day ...LOL

Sarah

 

[mommiepoppins]

Breakfast
Rolls= 50 cents
Apple slices =24
Yogurt= 74
=148

Lunch
Left over spaghetti=0
Left over fried zuccani=0
Juice = 50 cents

Dinner turkey sandwhich
bread free from grandma=0
turkey= 265
apple juice=50
zuccani=0
=315



Snacks
Ice pops =0 the kid across the street did not like them and gave them to us
Chips = 1$
Popcorn=20 cents
=120
10.08 For the day
i was going to cook , but it is so HOT

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Just want to let you know how I cooked the zucchini yesterday (for grilled veggie fajitas)

I found a zucchini hiding under the leaves so I had to get creative. I sliced it the long way, in six slices (I guess there were about 1/2 thick on average). I brushed both sides of the pieces with olive oil and sprinkled both sides with garlic powder, cumin, chili powder and a smidge of salt. I would have added black pepper but I'm out of pepper for the peppermill, oops. I grilled the pieces in the grill basket----luckily the squash length was just right for my basket but I still had to split it into two batches!

I sliced up the grilled zucchini with all the other veggies. The girls want me to make zucchini like that all the time. Just think how good it will taste with the right sized zucchini!

 

[dawn1967]

Just want to let you know how I cooked the zucchini yesterday (for grilled veggie fajitas)

I found a zucchini hiding under the leaves so I had to get creative. I sliced it the long way, in six slices (I guess there were about 1/2 thick on average). I brushed both sides of the pieces with olive oil and sprinkled both sides with garlic powder, cumin, chili powder and a smidge of salt. I would have added black pepper but I'm out of pepper for the peppermill, oops. I grilled the pieces in the grill basket----luckily the squash length was just right for my basket but I still had to split it into two batches!

I sliced up the grilled zucchini with all the other veggies. The girls want me to make zucchini like that all the time. Just think how good it will taste with the right sized zucchini!

I always have extra zucchini and yellow squash I slice them and white onion diced up some garlic and saute it just until tender in olive oil it comes out great. I serve this over brown rice and soy sauce. Makes a great Lunch or dinner.

 

[feedindy]

Well, I wasn't feeling well last night and asked DH to handle dinner. His idea of "handling" it was stopping at McDs on his way home so that blew the budget out the window. However, I think we're having dinner tonight with my mom and she always pays so it should balance out. So far today:

Breakfast:
protein bar for me $.82
cereal & milk for girls: $.62
Total: $1.44

Lunch:
leftovers for me: free
hot dogs for girls (2 of a $.99 pkg): $.20
pretzels (1/2 a $1.65 bag): $.83
strawberries (1/4 a $1.33 pkg): $.34
blueberries (1/5 a $1.50 pkg): $.30
Gerber potatoes: $.79
water: free
$2.76

Snack will be fruit salad made from what's left of the strawberries & blueberries: $.75

Total: $4.95

 

[dawn1967]

Breakfast Black berry muffins .75 for 24 Homemade

Lunch Kids getting Lunchables from there Grandfather Free

Dinner
Hom Made Tortilla's
Carna Asada
cheese Dip (home made)
Refried beans (home made
rice
total for today 4.25 that's for the meat and rice and beans and cheese.

Snacks
Nacho's and cheese (kids love this)
Fruit and veggies

Total 5.00 Making everyting from scratch really saves me money.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

It was frozen chicken with a lid on top it was still ice ice cold when I figured it out . I saw it about 1:30pm I put it on at about 10:30am

Sarah

Did you eat this? This could potentially make you sick.
http://cookingtips.cookingcache.com/cooking-chicken/keeping-chicken-at-room-temp.html

From the point of view of food safety, you're taking a risk if you leave it outside the refrigerator for more than two hours. Unfortunately, bacteria grow and multiply at temperatures between 40 degrees and 140 degrees, and they flourish at room temperature.

This also says not to cook frozen chicken in a crockpot. I did not know that, but I don't "think" I have cooked frozen chicken in a crockpot.

http://www.foodreference.com/html/artchickensafety.html

Do not cook frozen chicken in the microwave or in a slow cooker. However, chicken can be cooked from the frozen state in the oven or on the stove. The cooking time may be about 50% longer.

 

[DawnM]

We have been on vacation and we went with another family, so we BLEW money on eating all week! Time to buckle down. (but, boy was it fun while it lasted!)

Today we had:

cereal and milk- $1 at most for 5
hamburgers- $3 homemade
Juice- .50

Not sure what dinner will be yet. I think I can keep it around $4 tops though.

Dawn

 

[mom2dea0813]

I cook frozen chicken frozen beef frozen everything in a crock pot and MANY friends and family do the same . None of us have ever gotten sick . The the whole point of the crock pot to throw everything in and let it cook from start to finish .

Also most people put meat on the counter to get unfrozen thats basically what this chicken did in the crock pot but it didn't get fully unfrozen . We did it . Actually we ate it for 2 days and it was great both time . Its one of my family's fav dishes .

Sarah

 

[punkin]

Breakfast: cereal, milk peaches $1.50
Lunch: cold cuts, bread, tomato, cuke $2.50
Dinner: Beef Stew, salad, garlic bread $12 (but will have lots of leftovers)
Snack: peaches, apples, halvah $3

TOTAL: $19

I should mention that it is just the girls and I this weekend. DH will be back Sunday afternoon.

 

[Adi12982]

I cook frozen chicken frozen beef frozen everything in a crock pot and MANY friends and family do the same . None of us have ever gotten sick . The the whole point of the crock pot to throw everything in and let it cook from start to finish .

Also most people put meat on the counter to get unfrozen thats basically what this chicken did in the crock pot but it didn't get fully unfrozen . We did it . Actually we ate it for 2 days and it was great both time . Its one of my family's fav dishes .

Sarah

PLUS that link above is for how long you can keep it at room temp - it is not at room temp in the crock pot - it's cooking. . . you have to cook things in the oven for long periods of time too. . .

 

[mom2dea0813]

Also from the first website you mention it has this info about cooking frozen chicken ...
http://cookingtips.cookingcache.com...ken-or-do-i-have-to-let-it-defrost-first.html

And yep I cook usually 6-8 hour on high to med depending upon if chicken sat in fridge overnight or if its completely frozen .

 

[Wonderlandmom]

Also from the first website you mention it has this info about cooking frozen chicken ...
http://cookingtips.cookingcache.com...ken-or-do-i-have-to-let-it-defrost-first.html

And yep I cook usually 6-8 hour on high to med depending upon if chicken sat in fridge overnight or if its completely frozen .

I "think" they are saying that when you put a frozen chicken in a crockpot and cook it, it is at a very low temp since it cooks so long (hence the name slow cooker) and therefore does not get to the recommended cooking temp quick enough and bacteria can multiply. I never knew this, just found it online. The USDA has the same info online.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Chicken_Food_Safety_Focus/index.asp
I really don't know though. Just trying to keep people healthy!

 

[mom2dea0813]

But then wouldn't they have to pull them off the self or list on each box that you could be making your family sick by using these items ?

I will say I use my crock pot 3-4 times a week usually more if Dh dose not grill . I have done till for 6 plus yrs now and none of is have gotten sick befor . I mean I could not get a dinner on the table for my family without it .

But thanks for the info .

Sarah

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Dawn, yep I saute squash too---sometimes I'll add fresh herbs after the squash, onions and garlic are almost cooked. The kids like it best with basil, though I prefer other herbs. Dh eats anything! I didn't want to stand over a stovetop yesterday though, so I cooked everything on the grill

When it's not too hot to use the oven (my kitchen faces west, btw, and gets full sun until 7ish in the summer, so it's hot even with the a/c on), I'll do baked stuffed squash. The filling is dependant on what I have on hand----sometimes ground turkey and brown rice, sometimes beans and brown rice, sometimes just veggies and brown rice, plus tomatoes or pasta sauce if I'm being super-quick, herbs, some cheese to suit the filling (mozzarella or cheddar or freshly grated parmesan). I always have more filling than squash (or sweet peppers) so I'll put the rest in a little pyrex dish for baking. Really good leftover!

 

[TNKBELL]

But then wouldn't they have to pull them off the self or list on each box that you could be making your family sick by using these items ?

I will say I use my crock pot 3-4 times a week usually more if Dh dose not grill . I have done till for 6 plus yrs now and none of is have gotten sick befor . I mean I could not get a dinner on the table for my family without it .

But thanks for the info .

Sarah

I'm also a Slow Cooker!! It's great in the summer, not having to heat up the house to prepare dinner!! Have you ever made a cake in it? I did one time, it was fun!! But cake in the oven is better!!

 

[Wonderlandmom]

I love my slow cooker too! I will just be careful not to put frozen chicken in it since it would be at an unsafe temp for too long. I will make sure to defrost the chicken in the fridge first!

 

[Wonderlandmom]

I found this for crockpot food safety!

Food safety basics for slow cookers

Handling your food properly before cooking helps ensure a safe dinner. Begin with a clean cooker, clean utensils and a clean work area. Wash your hands before and during food preparation. Keep perishable foods refrigerated until preparation time. Cut food into 1"chunks or smaller pieces to ensure thorough cooking, and never use the slow cooker to cook whole stuffed chickens. If you cut up meat and vegetables in advance, store them separately in the refrigerator. Why? The slow cooker may take two hours to reach a safe, bacteria-killing temperature. Constant refrigeration assures that bacteria, which multiply rapidly at room temperature, won't get a "head start" during the first few hours of cooking.

Always defrost meat or poultry in the refrigerator completely before putting it into a slow cooker. To help distribute heat evenly, choose recipes with a high moisture content such as chili, soup, stew or spaghetti sauce. If possible, turn the cooker on the highest setting for the first hour of cooking time and then to low or the setting called for in your recipe. However, once you have tested the temperatures on your slow cooker, it is safe to cook foods on low the entire time.

Fill a cooker no less than half full and no more than two-thirds full. Always put vegetables in first. Vegetables take longer to cook than meat does, so for layering purposes, start with vegetables, then meat, and finally seasonings and small amounts of liquid. To prevent overcooking, fresh dairy products, pastas or instant rice should only be added during the last 30 minutes of cooking time, or as your recipe directs. Keep the lid in place. Remove it only to stir the food or check for doneness.

While food is cooking and once it's done, food will stay safe as long as the cooker is operating. If you are not at home during the entire cooking process and the power goes out, check the temperature with you quickread thermometer. If it is below 165 degrees, throw away the food even if it looks done.

http://www.ellenskitchen.com/faqs/safecrock.html

 

[dawn1967]

Seen a joke about food safety the other day

" Remember when mom thawed out meat all day on the counter. And it was perfectly safe as kids to drink from the garden hose then go inside for water. " Makes me laugh at some things today are dangerous and were all still walking around when we did those things 20 yrs ago or more.

 

[mom2dea0813]

hmmm never tried a cake in it befor will have to look into that . Although I do love cake in the oven

Sarah