As food prices are continuing to increase, so is the worry that many families, like my own, are facing. Staples such as milk, eggs, and now wheat will cost more that usual this year. Other products, such as corn and anything made with corn (which is a high percentage of foods, from goods made with high fructose corn syrup to processed meats) are also increasing due to the demand for corn crops being used as an alternative fuel. Add in the pressure of a recession, and well, let’s just say that it will take some clever shopping to make your dollar go further in the food department.
Don’t panic, through. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing some practical and fun ways to stretch that food dollar.
Whole frozen turkey is still a pretty good deal. You can get an 18-20 pound turkey for 99 cents a pound without a sale. That one turkey can provide you with several dinner meals, at least a week’s worth of lunch meat, at least another three family-sized pot pies, another meal of turkey fajitas or tacos, etc. All of this food is yours for $18 or $20!
If you are really hard core with your frugality, you could make turkey soup, use the gelatin from the bones to make your own Jello and more.
As for the difference between frozen or fresh turkey…food experts say that there isn’t a discernible taste difference. An equally-sized fresh turkey costs 50 to 50 percent more. I’d rather defrost the frozen turkey in my refrigerator, saving the cost of the turkey and helping my refrigerator use less energy at the same time!
In fact, I have a turkey in the oven as I write. I’m looking forward to making up some turkey sandwiches tomorrow. They will be on wheat bread, with mayo, cranberry sauce and stuffing. If I add some grapes, we have a “gourmet” lunch that we can take along in a cooler instead of stopping and buying fast food.
Keep checking back, as I share more recession food.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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