Frugal Happenings Week 3

Sunday — My brother gave me a bag of venison that I am adding to our freezer inventory list. I think I will probably cook it for a weekend lunch in the next week or two. I washed and hung a load of clothes to dry. I cooked a chicken casserole, using the oven heat to help warm the house.  (We’ve dropped back down to below freezing again at night.)

Monday —  It was a cold day.  I used the oven to bake two cakes and to bake fries.  This helped by providing extra heat.  (I put one cake in the freezer for later.)   I checked the refrigerator to see what needed using up.  I determined the kale needed cooking, and that I had some zucchini that needed cooking.  The kale went in the pressure cooker with 1 cup of water.  I cooked it on high and did a QPR.  (Quick pressure release).  I’ll add this to my meals this week.

The zucchini went in the pressure cooker with dried onions, bell pepper, and mushrooms.  

I added some water, beef bouillon, 2 cans of diced tomatoes, and some Italian seasonings.

I let them pressure cook for 30 minutes on the soup function — basically high for 30 minutes.

When this was done I use the immersion blender to blend it.

I stirred in a can of tomato sauce to thicken it a little more, added some black pepper, and simmered it for a few minutes.

This sauce went into the freezer in bags for future use.

Tuesday —

The man came to put the gutters up.  While he was here he hung my menu board for me.  I’m finding the menu board to be great because I don’t have to think about meals while I am so busy.  At bed time I take out anything I need for the next day and transfer to the refrigerator if need be.  This wasn’t a no spend day but his labor was well worth the expense.

Wednesday —

Home all day working on computer assignments.  I had to order one supplemental textbook.  $28 out the door, but I did put an add-on of pens I needed, which were cheaper on Amazon than locally.  Some good in most things if you look hard enough.  

Ran the dryer in the morning to take care of towels and to help heat up the upstairs some.  I sliced lemons and put them in the dehydrator.  The extra heat won’t hurt, and we love lemon slices added to tea.

Thursday — 

We got up to snow.  I checked the lemons, and they weren’t quite ready so I put them back on.

While I was in the kitchen, I canned 5 pints of grapefruit slices.

When the lemons were finished, I took stock of the last three oranges and decided to dry them, too.

Friday —

We used up the last of some lingering hot dog buns for my daughter’s lunch.

Saturday —

I did what little shopping I was going to do.

I’ll share a post about that called Store Sales Papers.