This is something that I was thinking about today as I was getting everything ready for the week ahead. One of the best things that I have done for my budget is to schedule time in the kitchen for myself, just like I would schedule anything else going in our home. One day out of the week I am able to cook and save our family tons of money.
It isn’t necessarily the meals that I am preparing, but it is all of the other things that seem to cost so much. I usually bake a special treat (muffins, granola bars, or a loaf of quick bread) that we can put in the lunch boxes or be eaten as an evening treat.
I then try to mix up all of my ingredients for the things that I will need for the week. If you plan your menus, you can determine what you will be eating and what you can make ahead for your meals. You can chop the ingredients for certain dishes and mix any of the dry ingredients that you can for your dinners. Think of this as making your own convenience food. I promise it is much more convenient for you to dirty your kitchen once then it is to do this multiple times throughout the the week. I love to mix up waffle mix pancake mix, bread machine mix, pizza dough mix, cornbread mix, rice mixes, and anything else that I can think of!
I also make a big batch of coffee and keep some in the fridge for iced coffees and freeze the rest in ice cube trays for my mochas.
I throw on some really good music, light candles, dance in the kitchen…whatever I am in the mood for! I also have a good “fluffy” book to read while I am taking breaks between things baking. I can usually squeeze in a chapter here and there, which makes it more fun for me!
When everything is done, I individually wrap everything so it is ready to go for a quick breakfast or to be added to lunch boxes. Putting it in a pretty basket makes it more visually appealing (as if a homemade treat wasn’t visually appealing enough!)
Here are some of a few of my favorite recipes in our house:’
Fun Treats:
Chewy Granola Bars
4.50 cups oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter, melted
2/3 cup honey
¼ cup peanut butter (creamy)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease on 9x13” pan. In a large mixing bowl, mix together all of the ingredients (minus the chocolate chips). Stir in chocolate chips. Press into pan & bake for 18-22 minutes. Let cool for ten minutes, and then cut into bars.
2 cups all purpose flour
Spiced Pumpkin Bread
3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 16-ounce can solid pack pumpkin
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 9x5x3-inch loaf pans. Beat sugar and oil in large bowl to blend. Mix in eggs and pumpkin. Sift flour, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, salt and baking powder into another large bowl. Stir into pumpkin mixture in 2 additions. Mix in walnuts, if desired.
Divide batter equally between prepared pans. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Transfer to racks and cool 10 minutes. Using sharp knife, cut around edge of loaves. Turn loaves out onto racks and cool completely.
Best Big Fat Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup melted unsalted butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 325 F. Grease cookie sheets or line them with parchment paper. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until blended. Stir in chips with a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough by 1/4 cups at a time onto the prepared sheets. Cookies should be at least 3 inches apart. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until edges are lightly toasted then cool on sheets a few minutes before transferring to cooling racks.
Cinnamon Bread Delight
3 cups flour 2 cups
sugar
1 (5.1oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2tsp salt 2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup applesauce
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar
Preheat oven to 325. Grease 2 5×9 loaf pans. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, pudding mix, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, mix the milk, oil, applesauce, eggs and vanilla. Stir the milk mixture into the flour mixture until smooth. Sprinkle the bottoms of the pans with cinnamon sugar and divide the batter between the 2 pans. Bake 1hr or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Potential Monthly Savings: $30 or more
Sound Off: Do you have a favorite recipe to share that I could try in my kitchen? Something that has been a total hit in your house?
I do this too!
On kitchen day I do my cleaning and my planning as well.
I also try to make two meals that night – one for the table and one for the freezer! (I have been talking about this a lot over at my place)
This is one of the biggest ways I save my family money! Making our own stuff and really sitting down to plan!
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Great advice, and something I should try to do more often (I usually end up just making extra of something when I can – like measuring out two or three portions of dry ingredients, then stashing it in the cupboard for the next time). I love the extra coffee idea – I am definitely going to do that!
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This is SUCH a good idea.
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Great idea and thanks for including the yummy recipes!
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I’m looking forward to trying the recipe for granola bars – I go through a lot of these in a week.
Thanks!
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I love to get up early put the coffee on and cook muffins for us in the fall. Then, once they are out of the oven, I go back to bed for about 1/2 hour. When my husband gets up and the house if full of the smell of coffee and muffins, it is a great way to start the day!!. Thanks for more recipes to try. I also make a really large meal and put 1/2 in the freezer for later. Great Blog!.
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Thank you for more recipes. I LOVE your bbq crockpot chicken. So easy!! Much better than boiling and shredding like I used to do.
Jennifer
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Hi, I’ve copied down the chewy bars recipe, I’m going to try them later today! Thanks :O)
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My little girl loves our yummy raisin-filled Bran Flax Muffins. the recipe is on my blog:
http://paintingpinkpajamas.blogspot.com/2009/03/bran-flax-muffins.html
We go through spurts of spending time in the kitchen to fill the freezer with meals & snacks, but we should do it on a more regular basis!
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On the cinnamon bread recipe should the pudding be a 1.5 oz package?
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Amy Reply:
January 4th, 2011 at 8:07 am
No, it is the large box (I think the ounces are 3.4 ounces). I hope that helps! You can also find a picture tutorial here: http://momadvice.com/blog/2009/11/gifts-you-can-make-elegant-quick-breads-with-printable-gift-tags
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