Back to cooking... LOTS of FOOD!

Well, as you all probably know, we are expecting a new arrival in the beginning of October. Combine that with Homeschooling, co-ops, cub scouts and just normal life activities... and you might just see me a bit overwhelmed!
So my Frugal self has decided to get the ball rolling on freezer meals. No, not the ones from the store... but fresh, preservative free, change the ingredients to your liking... Freezer meals.

Now friends, do not take offense to me making freezer meals... I still love you, and love the fact that you would be willing to bring my family a meal during this crazy time... but friend.... I am just too darn picky! But please visit and see the baby!

Okay, SO here is my plan: Save Money, Save Time, and hopefully make some yummy and healthy meals!

I bought the book Once a Month Cooking: Family Favorites (you can also visit their website for more information- www.once-a-monthcooking.com) The cool thing about this book is that it provides the grocery list for you if you use all of the recipes for that cycle. Well, I had to take out a few recipes, and add a few different ones, but I was able to figure that in to my 'new' grocery list.

So my goal for August is to see if I can spend a whole day shopping (I think I can handle that) and another whole day cooking and prepping the meals. I am going to get my bulk items at Costco (chicken, roasts, veggies, canned goods) and then hit Winco for my dry goods and other non-produce items... and then hit up the farmers market, my garden and Safeway for the produce. I will be cooking up 28 meals ranging Stuffed Shells and Sauce to Pozole Soup that can be cooked in the crock pot.

Wish me luck, and let me know if you do the same thing as well!

It is cool to save?!

While watching the Today Show this morning, I caught a segment on how Americans now think it is COOL to save?!

How great!! Seriously!!!

So here are my questions for you-

Are thier store brands that you buy rather than the name brands?Why do you perfer those?

Do you hold off buying clothes until the sales hit?

What are your secrets?!

Here is a cool food/money saving tip for this entry-

Homemade brown sugar - courtesy of Molly Green (http://www.econobusters.com/?p=4934)

Ingredients

1 cup of granulated sugar

1 tablespoon of molasses

Directions

Measure sugar and molasses into a mixing bowl. Stir with a fork until completely mixed. Your brown sugar is now ready for use! Store in an air tight container, in a cool, dark, place until ready to use.

Makes 1 cup.

Tip: If you want to make a darker brown sugar, just increase the molasses to two tablespoons.