Saving money on FOOD!

  Pan de Coco

I noticed how expensive it is to go to the grocery store this days. I can't imagine some families with more than 2 children. I would say, the most expensive 5 minutes of my life is at the grocery check out. So,  I come up with the list ideas on how to cut down expenses on food and sharing my experience with you. Hopefully, I can save more money at the end of the year. C' mon let's start saving some buck on food.:) wink..


Food Inventory -Check your pantry, freezer and fridge before shopping. It gives you an idea of what you of already have and the amount of food you need to buy.
* using leftover on smart way- for instance Fried Rice is perfect pair with Beef Paris . Don't forget! always come up with back up plan for left over food.
* Cook by for portion- is best way to avoid left over food.

 Weekly Sales Ad-  products goes on sale every other week or so, use this advantage to score inexpensive stuffs enough to go through until the product will gonna be on sale again.
* Rewards Program/ Store loyalty card- Don't think about it twice, Sign Up! some store give you discounts and rewards for the product you normally used. 
* Clip Coupons- Pair your coupons with weekly sales ad or reduced/ mark downed products.Don't buy the product just because you have coupons.
* Compare Prices- Help you determined which store is the best for your needs.

Meal Planning-  This will save you time browsing and thinking what you gonna get at the grocery store, and save you money for spending only to those ingredients you need on the menu.
* Plan your meal for what's on sale.
*Home-style cooking- cooked what you have on your freezer and pantry and recipes with same main ingredients for instance; Chicken and Ground beef
Monday-Chicken Stir Fry
Tuesday- Lechon Manok
Wednesday- Pancit canton
Thursday-Vegetable Stir Fry
Friday- Pansit-Bihon
Saturday-Taco Salad
Sunday- Chili
* Stick to the meal plan-

Shopping- there must be temptations along the way, but if you have this 2 basic ingredients before heading to the store, guaranteed you gonna save money, A little lesser than you normally spent at the grocery store. 
* First- Eat before you go- when you're hungry everything looks good, that's not a good thing. You ended up buying more than you anticipated.
* Second- Stick to the list!
Additional tips:
Shop Alone- shop without kids if possible,so that you can focus more on sales, rather than what the kids wants.
Try store brand products is little cheaper than brand name products. Like toilet paper, dish-washing soup etc.

Cooking - I cooked our food most of the time, especially dinner. Not only it will save me money from dining out. It also enhanced my cooking ability,learning new recipes, and having fun spending time with my kids at the kitchen. It doesn't mean, I won't order food outside or avoid dining out, I still do! but not as often as we used to do.


What's your favorite money saving meal ideas? I would love to know:) wink..

Chicken Afritada Recipe

Chicken Afritada Recipe

( Mj's recipe)

 Chicken Afritada is just basically stew with tomato based sauce. It's kinda look same with Pork Menudo   but differ on taste. It is also very popular to most Carinderia's in the Philippines. I remembered my college days, eating at Carinderia's with my friends during lunch time. It was FUN! and chicken afritada is always on the menu. It's the bright red/orange color that make it so inviting to eat and the smell is irresistible.
So, Last week, I brought some cassava cake  to my friends house for our lunch get together. Rachel, made some delicious hot spicy chicken with beans, I forgot the name of the dish ( hahah) Rose, made some pork adobo and Mj brought some chicken afritada, its very yummy! So, this dish today was inspired by my friend MJ. It's her version of chicken afritada and to tell you its very easy to make at home.. This is also perfect for potluck party, family gatherings or simply just for family dinner..:)
C'mon let's start cooking and be inspired with this Chicken Afritada Recipe:)

NOTE:  Add some of your favorite ingredients like bay leaves and bell pepper, etc.:)

Ingredients:

1 /2 lbs. chicken tenderloins cut into cubes- ( used what whatever you have in hand )

1 large potato

1 medium carrots

1/2 cup sweet peas

2 clove garlic finely chopped

1 small onion chopped

1 cup tomato sauce

Oil

Salt n Pepper- to taste

 Directions:

1.) Put oil in large pan, add the chicken let it cooked until golden brown.
2.) Add the onion and garlic,sauteed until translucent.
3.) Put the tomato sauce, little water. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
4.) Add the potato and carrots. Let it simmer until everything cooked.
5.) Salt and Pepper to taste, throw the peas and let it stand for 5 minutes.
6.) Serve it HOT with rice. ENJOY!

Happy Weekend Everyone!:)

Binignit Recipe

Binignit/ Ginataan Recipe

(my own version of binignit )

Some people called this "Ginataan na Halo-Halo or Ginataan" but in the place were I grew up, we called it "Binignit"  its pretty popular in the Philippines some people sell this in cups for snacks/merienda time on the whole neighborhood, this is usually served during Holy Week in the Philippines  Last couple days I've been thinking about making binignit and finally I made it, luckily for me! I have some fresh riped banana left over from Banana Que I made last week.Throw everything in one pot and wholaa! enjoying binignit in minutes.  Everyone have its own delicious version of making this delightful snack  My version of Binignit was inspired on how I remembered my Mom's made it for us, simple yet deliscious. But due to the  unavailability of some ingredients I only have some few on my binignit. The taste still good though!:).~  I would say that.. simplest ingredients is the best!!C'mon lets start cooking!

Below is the recipe Binignit:)

NOTE: Feel free to add your favorite ingredients like ube, cassava, gabi, landang, small tapioca pearl, bilo-bilo, etc.

 Ingredients:
1/2 cup sweet rice
1 large size sweet potato- cut into cubes
2-3 pieces Saba banana- cut into cubes
1 cup tapioca- it just happen that I only have the purple tapioca, but different color of tapioca is recomended
Sugar- depending on how sweet you want it to be
2 cans coconut milk
1 cup water

Directions:
1.) Cook the tapioca in hot water for 5 minutes, drain and set aside.
2.) In large pot, put the sweet rice along with the 1 cup water. Let it boil until for 10-15 minutes and the rice start to cook.
3.) Add the sweet potato and coconut milk. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
4.) Add the banana's, tapioca pearl and sugar. Let it stand for another 5 minutes or until everything is cooked through.
5.) Add little sugar or coconut milk if necessary. Serve hot and ENJOY!

 ( c'mon over, let's eat some! )