Trying to Reduce the Grocery Bill, Again!

I didn't realize how long it had been since I'd posted on this blog. Wow! But I knew I had to chat after Dad came home from the bread store and said their prices had gone up, again. We remember getting day-old bread and paying a dollar for 4 loaves. On Saturday it had risen to 5 loaves for $6.00! REALLY! Not on my watch. So while I'm typing, my Kitchen Aid is kneading my bread dough. It's from a recipe found on my Everyday Food Storage blog. I use wheat flour that I grind up right before I start the dough. Now that's fresh! The recipe can be found on  everydayfoodstorage.net!

I also wanted to share a couple of recipes that I found that use basic ingredients and are delicious. First: Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole with Potato Chip Topping

Two chicken breasts (I use my canned chicken)

1 tsp. chicken bouillon granules

salt & pepper

1 1/2 c. cooked white rice

2 Tbls finely, choppy onion

1/2 c. celery (I didn't have this so I skipped it)

2/3 c. mayonnaise

1 T. lemon juice

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/4 c. water

3/4 c. cheddar cheese

2 c. mashed potato chips (This part you can skip if you want, I did)

1. If your chicken breasts aren't cooked yet toss them into a skillet and pout hot water over the top. Add chicken bouillon and a touch of salt and pepper. Bring water to a boil over med-high heat, cover pan and cook the chicken. Save the water!

2. After cooking chicken about 15 minutes remove from pan and shred it.

3. Place chicken in mixing bowl. Add cooked rice, onion, celery, mayonnaise, lemon juice, canned soup and 1/4 c. water. (This is where you can use water from cooking chicken)

4. Mix everything to combine. Spray a 9x13 pan and spread mixture into it.

5. Sprinkle cheddar cheese over the top. Sprinkle chips over the cheese.

6. Put dish in a preheated 4oo degree oven. Let it bake for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted.

I had some leftover sour cream and found this great cocoa cake! (I don't like to call it coffeecake)

Banana Chocolate Chip Cocoa Cake

1 c. butter (I used margarine)

2 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 c. mashed bananas

1 c. sour cream

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. salt

3 c. flour

Filling:

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 1/2 c. chocolate chips

Pour half of batter into a 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with half of filling. Pour remaining batter on top of filling, then remaining filling. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. This was delicious.

I am trying hard to use up what we have and although I'm not nearly as good as I'd like to be, I will keep trying. Food is so expensive now, that in order to outwit the manufacturers we have to be careful about our purchases and making sure we use up what we have.