Real Cooking

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN CHERYL JOST
I know my husband will laugh when he reads this next sentence, but I actually believe the statement I’m about to make is entirely true. When it comes to money, I’m a thrifty person, a careful spender, a good steward who makes wise expenditures.


Do you hear him laughing?


All right. So once in awhile I’ve made some bad decisions. There have been the occasional bargains that haven’t turned out to be such good deals and, yes, there is a dress that is still hanging in my closet as yet unworn.


I’m reminded of this fact every so often; usually when we’re getting dressed to go to church. Standing in the closet, Keith will cock his head toward the thing and say something like, “You could wear that today.”


Well, the dress-purchased on sale-needs a belt and I haven’t been able to find one that suits. At least not yet, I’m quick to remind him.


And now that winter is here, it’s out of season anyway, so…what’s the rush in finding a belt to match?


But apart from the dress, I’m really pretty frugal. Now, I don’t mean to say that I’m not above spending significant sums of money on items that I think are needed for our home and family to function.


After all, Kunkel Construction is scheduled to move in sometime this week to start our house addition and I’m fully aware that these kinds of projects don’t come without a price tag.


My definition of frugality is this: that I get the best value for my money spent and that my expenditures are made with careful thought.


I’m prudent, not miserly. I’m economical, not a penny pincher. I’m…well…maybe this will explain it.


I do reuse tea bags if I’m sitting down for a cup and want a second one, but I don’t leave the tea bag lying around for reuse later in the day.


I do rinse out Ziplock storage bags to use again-unless they’ve been used for meat. But I don’t keep the wrappers that come off of margarine or butter sticks to be used for greasing pans or wrapping potatoes.


I do keep a few empty Cool Whip cartons around for storage, but I don’t feel compelled to keep every one that has ever come into my possession.


I do use “regular” dishes when all possible, but I don’t try to wash and reuse disposable plates, cups or flatware. (Throw them away-that’s why God made landfills. Sorry, that’s a joke. No letters, please. I’m an environmentalist. Really.)


I do look for items on sale at the grocery store and make my menu plans around them, but I don’t buy any cheese puffs other than Cheetos.


Why not? Am I that big of a snob? I hope not. It’s just that experience has taught me that if I buy another brand of cheese puffs, they will rot in the pantry before any one will eat them. And that’s money down the drain. Better to spend 50 cents more and buy what will be used.


OK, OK. I know some of you out are saying, “Better yet, she shouldn’t be buying any foods that are as nutritionally empty as Cheetos. She could be putting that $2.29 to better use.”


To that I answer, “Everything in moderation.” I find that prudent advice.


This subject of money and how to spend it can be such a tricky topic of discussion. Why, even in the happiest of families, people can have radically differing views on what is important to life and what is not and how to spend the family’s income accordingly.


For us, one great debate is about toilet paper. Not a big thing in the larger scheme of things, but one that does impact our daily living.


We’re divided into two camps, with my daughter and husband pitted against my son and me. To Meg and Keith, only the finest paper should be purchased. Alex and I say, “Hey, it’s just toilet paper. Save the money and put it toward something else.”


I don’t know what it is, but I just hate to spend a lot of money on paper that is used once and then never seen again. I mean, I really don’t want to see it again-but, you get my point?


I do buy the more “cushiony” bathroom tissue, but only when it’s on sale. And I refuse, absolutely refuse, to pay more than 25 cents a roll. So, if toilet paper is on sale, don’t be surprised to see me in the store with a cart filled to the brim. I’m taking it home to hoard until the next sale rolls around.


And hoard I do. If something is on sale at the grocery store-something that I know will be used before the expiration date comes-I will buy it by the caseload.


Cherry pie filling? Whipped topping? Cream of chicken soup? I’ve got it. And I got it on sale.


It’s the frugal thing to do…and that I am. Don’t mind that guy over in the corner laughing, he’s just trying to find the tea bag he left on the counter earlier this morning.


* * *


Speaking of Cheetos…the crisis is over and the puffs can once again be found on market shelves. I want to personally thank the Frito-Lay salesman (sorry, I didn’t get your name!) who made a special trip to the Free Press office to bring me a bag of Cheetos puffs. My family was thrilled to receive them!


* * *


I guess the idea for this column came when I found a new-at least new to me-Web site called “Frugal Moms.” It’s loaded with ideas and recipes designed to make the most of your time and money. Well worth a look at www.frugal-mom.com.


This recipe is taken from the Frugal Moms Web site. It calls for a can of beer and I know that for some that might not be available. I wonder if substituting apple juice would work? The beer breaks down the meat so tougher cuts can be used, the alcohol evaporates during the cooking process.




Crockpot Beef Pot Roast


11/2 to 2 lb. roast


1 dry pkg. Good Seasons garlic dressing


1 dry pkg. Italian or Zesty Italian dressing


1 can of beer




Place one envelope of dressing mix in the bottom of a crockpot. Place meat on top and sprinkle with other dressing mix. Pour beer over meat and let cook for eight to 10 hours on low setting. To make gravy, take meat out and keep warm. To make broth, add four to five tablespoons flour and two tablespoons butter. Stir until smooth and heat on high for 10 minutes.

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