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Low Cost Healthy and Delicious Meals


Lorraine
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I just eat food and it seems to work for me. For instance I just ate some black grapes from Spain. I just pulled them off the whatsit and ate them one after the other until they were gone. Don't worry I've got more for tomorrow! Midnight Beauty is the variety.
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I'll go by Wal-Mart this week and see what they have, and check on the prices of dutch overs. Janie, what size?

 

There's a thrift store a couple of blocks from here going out of business, I could go there and check, but the place is really seedy and I wouldn't buy clothes in it let alone anything to cook out of. :ph34r:

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I just eat food and it seems to work for me. For instance I just ate some black grapes from Spain. I just pulled them off the whatsit and ate them one after the other until they were gone. Don't worry I've got more for tomorrow! Midnight Beauty is the variety.

 

Looking forward to it, Treeduck! :) It will give me a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

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I'll go by Wal-Mart this week and see what they have, and check on the prices of dutch overs. Janie, what size?

 

There's a thrift store a couple of blocks from here going out of business, I could go there and check, but the place is really seedy and I wouldn't buy clothes in it let alone anything to cook out of. :ph34r:

Can you not steal some drug money from next door? That would set you up nicely for a while. :D-13:

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I just eat food and it seems to work for me. For instance I just ate some black grapes from Spain. I just pulled them off the whatsit and ate them one after the other until they were gone. Don't worry I've got more for tomorrow! Midnight Beauty is the variety.

 

Looking forward to it, Treeduck! :) It will give me a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

I'll feed you a few, don't forget to open your mouth same time tomorrow.

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Janie, can you give me some staples to buy now (especially spices)? I am not ready to start cooking yet since the temperatures out here, especially this week, are hot ( :eh: ), but I would like to be somewhat prepared for September.

 

 

in the freezer I already have a few ham steaks, two pork roasts and two pounds of chopped meat.

I completely understand about not wanting to eat in the summer! I have a really hard time getting in the kitchen and making a hot meal when it's hot outside. It pains me because I love cooking so much. These days I just pass through my kitchen and stare at it lovingly.

 

As for spices/herbs to keep on hand... the ones I use most are: garlic powder, onion powder, basil (although I also have a massive pot of planted, fresh basil in the kitchen - I use this herb that much), oregano, red pepper flakes, thyme. I think that would be a good start. Maybe bay leaves too. I use them quite frequently in the fall and winter because I make a lot of soups and stews.

 

As for other staples, I previously listed some good pantry staples so start with those. Potatoes and onions are ok to buy in bulk and store; however, they can turn on you and then you will need to toss them if they've gone past the point of no return. I store mine in the pantry where it's dark and cool. Let's see, what else do I have in the pantry... lots of bagged, dried beans. They're cost efficient but, yes, it is going to take a while to prepare them to use in a recipe but still, they have a long shelf life and no preservatives and such that you'll find in canned, prepared items.

Edited by Janie
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I'll go by Wal-Mart this week and see what they have, and check on the prices of dutch overs. Janie, what size?

 

There's a thrift store a couple of blocks from here going out of business, I could go there and check, but the place is really seedy and I wouldn't buy clothes in it let alone anything to cook out of. :ph34r:

Can you not steal some drug money from next door? That would set you up nicely for a while. :D-13:

 

Better late than never. Thank you for providing my first hearty laugh of the day. :LOL:

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crock pot is the way to go! originally invented to cook beans you can do anything you can imagine in it as it is the original set it and forget it kitchen device. Speaking of beans that is a truely cheap and high fiber dish that can be paired with some rice or pasta yumm. you can also use some ground meat and tomato paste to mke an awsome chili that can also be paired with rice and pasta. The key is to make sure wat ever fat source you use does not get solid at room temperature. Light olive oil is a perfect example of such.

Here is a link that can get your creative juices flowing for slow cooker recepies,

http://www.crock-pot.com/recipes.html

but really you can cook just about anything in a crock pot and yumm will follow. When I was single and many times now when it is my turn to cook I can throw everything in the morning and then when I get home dindin done Mmmm I m going to get mine out now :outtahere:

 

 

 

Crock Pots... they are ok, at best, in all honesty. They're great to have on hand for those times when you will be gone all day or know that when dinner time comes, you are going to be too tired to put together a big meal. I much prefer a Dutch oven but they can be expensive but are the better option for when you're at home and need something to be in the oven for a really long time. I would buy one from a thrift store, no problem! Don't let one that looks, "dirty inside" scare you. That's actually want you want! One that is well-seasoned. A Crock Pot I would certainly buy new. I would recommend a fully programmable one which is going to be more expensive but they should last a really long time so can easily justify the cost. They come in various sizes but the average size is 5-6 quarts which can make a lot of food if you shove a ton in there but then you get leftovers! Another cost saving option right there. One dish I love to make in the Crock Pot is meatballs. Either make your own or use frozen meatballs. Just throw them in the Crock Pot with a little ketchup, mustard and brown sugar (think classic meatloaf topping) or a combination of chili sauce and cranberry sauce if you want something a little tangy and sweet, and cook for however long which is going to depend on if they're frozen, thawed, etc. Make some mashed potatoes, serve with some green beans and call that an awesome comfort food meal.

 

Seriously, SO many options out there for you!!!

 

You put me to shame with your creativity. Who would ever think of pairing chili and cranberry sauce together, but I bet it is good!

It's actually chili sauce, not regular canned chili... just want to clarify. And I cannot take credit for that recipe at all. I have a cooking club and one time, for one event, a friend brought these meatballs. I loved the recipe, in part because it's so simple. And then when I was buying a jar of chili sauce I saw that the recipe was right there on the jar! For the record, you can easily make your own chili sauce. I'm lazy sometimes. :LOL:

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I'll go by Wal-Mart this week and see what they have, and check on the prices of dutch overs. Janie, what size?

 

There's a thrift store a couple of blocks from here going out of business, I could go there and check, but the place is really seedy and I wouldn't buy clothes in it let alone anything to cook out of. :ph34r:

Can you not steal some drug money from next door? That would set you up nicely for a while. :D-13:

 

Better late than never. Thank you for providing my first hearty laugh of the day. :LOL:

I'm deadly serious, get on your tight black ninja pajamas, and your Nike Air Lorraines and black hoody and be on your way, like a night prowler! :ph34r:

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I'll go by Wal-Mart this week and see what they have, and check on the prices of dutch overs. Janie, what size?

 

There's a thrift store a couple of blocks from here going out of business, I could go there and check, but the place is really seedy and I wouldn't buy clothes in it let alone anything to cook out of. :ph34r:

As for Dutch oven size, a 5 1/2-6 quart one is best (same size as best Crock Pot). Dutch ovens are highly prized and coveted so it may be hard to find one at a thrift store but keep your eyes open! You never know. It might be easier to score one at a yard sale.

 

You can also try Bed, Bath and Beyond for a Crock Pot because you can use one of their 20% off coupons. Those things seem to come in the mail quite often.

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I'll go by Wal-Mart this week and see what they have, and check on the prices of dutch overs. Janie, what size?

 

There's a thrift store a couple of blocks from here going out of business, I could go there and check, but the place is really seedy and I wouldn't buy clothes in it let alone anything to cook out of. :ph34r:

Can you not steal some drug money from next door? That would set you up nicely for a while. :D-13:

 

Better late than never. Thank you for providing my first hearty laugh of the day. :LOL:

I'm deadly serious, get on your tight black ninja pajamas, and your Nike Air Lorraines and black hoody and be on your way, like a night prowler! :ph34r:

 

That's just how they dress too. At night, they all walk around with their hoodies' hoods up and down over their faces. Who the heck can see anything anyway??

 

But then I'd have to go out and buy the black ninja pjs, and I'd rather buy a dutch oven.

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I'll go by Wal-Mart this week and see what they have, and check on the prices of dutch overs. Janie, what size?

 

There's a thrift store a couple of blocks from here going out of business, I could go there and check, but the place is really seedy and I wouldn't buy clothes in it let alone anything to cook out of. :ph34r:

As for Dutch oven size, a 5 1/2-6 quart one is best (same size as best Crock Pot). Dutch ovens are highly prized and coveted so it may be hard to find one at a thrift store but keep your eyes open! You never know. It might be easier to score one at a yard sale.

 

You can also try Bed, Bath and Beyond for a Crock Pot because you can use one of their 20% off coupons. Those things seem to come in the mail quite often.

 

Janie, thank you.

 

How long would you cook the delicious chicken recipe Stone provided in a dutch oven?

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I'll go by Wal-Mart this week and see what they have, and check on the prices of dutch overs. Janie, what size?

 

There's a thrift store a couple of blocks from here going out of business, I could go there and check, but the place is really seedy and I wouldn't buy clothes in it let alone anything to cook out of. :ph34r:

Can you not steal some drug money from next door? That would set you up nicely for a while. :D-13:

 

Better late than never. Thank you for providing my first hearty laugh of the day. :LOL:

I'm deadly serious, get on your tight black ninja pajamas, and your Nike Air Lorraines and black hoody and be on your way, like a night prowler! :ph34r:

 

That's just how they dress too. At night, they all walk around with their hoodies' hoods up and down over their faces. Who the heck can see anything anyway??

 

But then I'd have to go out and buy the black ninja pjs, and I'd rather buy a dutch oven.

Just wear your old black leggings and Keds then!

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I'll go by Wal-Mart this week and see what they have, and check on the prices of dutch overs. Janie, what size?

 

There's a thrift store a couple of blocks from here going out of business, I could go there and check, but the place is really seedy and I wouldn't buy clothes in it let alone anything to cook out of. :ph34r:

As for Dutch oven size, a 5 1/2-6 quart one is best (same size as best Crock Pot). Dutch ovens are highly prized and coveted so it may be hard to find one at a thrift store but keep your eyes open! You never know. It might be easier to score one at a yard sale.

 

You can also try Bed, Bath and Beyond for a Crock Pot because you can use one of their 20% off coupons. Those things seem to come in the mail quite often.

 

Janie, thank you.

 

How long would you cook the delicious chicken recipe Stone provided in a dutch oven?

I'm convinced that the Crock Pot is the affordable option for the Dutch oven. Dutch ovens and Crock Pots are interchangeable in that one is done in the oven, the other on your kitchen counter. Both are designed for low, slow cooking. If a Crock Pot recipe calls for something to be done at a high heat for 4 hours, you can pretty much bet that the same is true for the Dutch oven. If your Crock Pot recipe calls for low heat for 6-8 hours, then so will your recipe for the Dutch oven.

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Just going to add that I use my Dutch oven FAR more than my Crock Pot. Food can turn out iffy with the Crock Pot with meat easily being over-cooked while vegetables turn out mushy while everything turns out great in the Dutch oven. The difference really is night and day so I'm a proponent of splurging on one of these. A Dutch oven will last you a lifetime and you can hand it down! You won't be doing that with a Crock Pot.

 

My two cents.

Edited by Janie
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I'd like to know this too. I never cook that much because I never like much of what I do cook. :LOL:

 

Me too. I always get this idea in my head of what the meal should taste like. When it doesn't, I am very disappointed and consider it a failure.

 

A while back I found a recipe for black bean soup that looked interesting, so I tried it. Followed the recipe to the letter, and I wasn't all that happy with how it came out. I imagined it tasting different, like thicker and more tomato-y. So the next time I made it, I made adjustments. More tomatoes, more beans (some of them ground in a mini food processor to add thickness), and I made it spicier. It took several tries to get it to the point of, "THIS is how I imagined it should taste." It's now more of a hearty black bean chili than a soup.

 

The point is, don't be afraid to take a recipe and make adjustments to turn it into what you want.

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Lorrain Dutch ovens are a great cooking device. They defiinitly have their place I have a well seasoned one I primarily use when camping when I want to cook stews chili or other one pot items over an open fire. It really boils down to if you feel comfortable leaving your oven or stove on for a long period of time unattended. I have cooked all day( such as a Thanksgiving meal) in my oven but I never strayed far. But with a slow cooker I can leave the house all day and not nave a worry. Also stay away from processed foods as the fat and sodium contents are no where near healthy. One can practically over salt everything cooked at home and still be under the sodium levels of processed foods.

Here is one of my favorite crock pot recipies

 

New Orleans Style Redbeans and Rice

1-1 1/2lbs dry Red Kidney beans pre washed and pre soaked quick method

1lb- fresh sweet italian sausage ( or any regular sausage Ham or smoked turkey or Ham hocks neck bones any cheap seasoning meat etc.)((meat can be optional))

3-4 Stalks fresh Celery sliced

1- Med-Lg Onoin (spanish yellow or white) Chopped

6-8 Cloves of garlic chopped

1- Lg green Bell Pepper chopped

2 cups veggie stock

2-cup water ( If you opt not to pre soak dry beans add 1 additional cup of water or till there is at least 2 inches of liquid covering beans)

1/4- 1/2 teaspoon red cayenne pepper (go easy with this as it is easier to add than take away)

1/2- teaspoon salt (or to taste will depend on what meat is used)

3-4 Bay Leaves

1- teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)

Directions

Add all ingedients in 5-6qt. crock pot/slow cooker

set on med for 4-6 hours

just before serving slightly smash with mashed potato tool being careful not to smash all beans

(This will help to thicken broth and transforms beans into creamy "New Orleans Style)

makes 8-10 servings that will dissapear quick

Serve over rice of your choice if you need recipe for rice let me know

Edited by Crimsonmistymemory
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I'll go by Wal-Mart this week and see what they have, and check on the prices of dutch overs. Janie, what size?

 

There's a thrift store a couple of blocks from here going out of business, I could go there and check, but the place is really seedy and I wouldn't buy clothes in it let alone anything to cook out of. :ph34r:

 

We have dutch ovens--but typically only use them when we are camping. I find they are hard to regulate the heat and I usually dry out whatever meat I am trying to cook.

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I'll go by Wal-Mart this week and see what they have, and check on the prices of dutch overs. Janie, what size?

 

There's a thrift store a couple of blocks from here going out of business, I could go there and check, but the place is really seedy and I wouldn't buy clothes in it let alone anything to cook out of. :ph34r:

 

We have dutch ovens--but typically only use them when we are camping. I find they are hard to regulate the heat and I usually dry out whatever meat I am trying to cook.

 

we have never used our dutch ovens in the oven--usually on the fire or with charcoal--will have to try it now that you have mentioned it.

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