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I actually learned how to make monkey bread out of canned biscuit dough back in 8th grade home-economics class. My teacher Mrs. Emerson seemed to have a million and one recipes to use canned biscuit dough…pizza crusts, donuts, casseroles, you name it! And since I can get deals on Pillsbury biscuits quite frequently with sales and coupons I always seem to have some on hand.

And yes…you CAN freeze Pillsbury canned biscuit dough. I have been doing it for 8+ years and they come out just fine. The flaky layers type biscuits (and crescent rolls) tend not to be quite as flaky but they taste just fine. To thaw frozen biscuit dough I leave a can out on the counter for about 1-2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator and they are good to go!

This recipe comes straight from Pillsbury and just couldn’t be easier!

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2cup granulated sugar
• 1teaspoon cinnamon
• 2cans (16.3 oz each) Pillsbury® Grands!® Homestyle refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
• 1/2cup chopped walnuts, if desired
• 1/2cup raisins, if desired
• 1cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 3/4cup butter or margarine, melted

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 12-cup fluted tube pan with shortening or cooking spray. In large -storage plastic food bag, mix granulated sugar and cinnamon.
2. Separate dough into 16 biscuits; cut each into quarters. Shake in bag to coat. Arrange in pan, adding walnuts and raisins among the biscuit pieces.
3. In small bowl, mix brown sugar and butter; pour over biscuit pieces.
4. Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until golden brown and no longer doughy in center. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Turn upside down onto serving plate; pull apart to serve. Serve warm.

Photo and Recipe Credit to Pillsbury.com

Tags: Freezing, Monkey Bread, Pillsbury, Pillsbury Biscuits, Stockpile Recipe
Posted in Breakfast, Recipes | 1 Comment »

If “April showers brings May flowers”, those showers also bring cabin fever to my house.  Since the wintery nights in January, I’ve been dreaming of going outside to work in the garden and start growing produce again for my family.  I’ve been longing to see corn tassles in my garden boxes, and bees swarming around the blossoms on the apple trees.

This will be the third summer we’ve been able to produce food on our suburban lot.  We live in a community with lots of tall pines and oaks and dense shrubs.  Most people in our neighborhood plant roses, rhodies, and other flower-bearing trees.  But a few years ago, we ripped most of that out of our yard and went entirely edible.  Based on that experience and having had two successful summers with growing my own produce, here’s my top five things I think every family should consider growing to save money.

The five things on my list can be grown relatively easy in most climate zone, and can all be done in containers for those living in apartments or have limited yard space.

Blueberries – Yes, you can container blueberries.  A nice 5-gallon container berry bush can be had for $13.  IF you keep the soil acidic and move it to a bigger container, and even in an apartment, it can be trained to make a nice broad hedge.  Blueberries in the grocery store sell for $5 a pound on average, and one full tree at maturity can yield around 18 pounds – that’s nearly $100 savings year over year per plant.  Plus, berries freeze well and are high in vitamins and antioxidents.

Sugar Peas – a $1 packet of seeds can keep you in sugar peas all summer.  Peas thrive when you trellis or string them up, so they don’t need a lot of space since they grow vertically. It’s perfect for small area gardening.  Sugar peas are usually $3.99 a pound at the store, so $1 in seeds can save you $50 or more over the course of the summer.  For those in an apartment, try letting them train up and over deck rails..

Lettuce – If your family loves salads, lettuce is so easy to grow. The growing season can be very long, so planting lettuce could save you hundreds over buying bagged salad every night.  Lettuce comes in a wide array of varieties, so plant lettuce that’s going to give you good nutritional value over the iceberg type that is commonly found in bagged lettuce mixes.  If you get your lettuce in the ground now, you’ll have a harvest before Memorial Day.  And, lettuce is a cool-weather crop, so if you take care with your plants, and plant new seedlings every few weeks, you can have lettuce well into the fall. The average cost of a bagged lettuce is $2 for 12 ounces.  Between May through October, the savings for a family of four eating salad four nights a week is $200..

Green Beans – Like the snow peas, these can be done in the ground or in containers.  The can also grow vertically up and over deck rails, so even in a small space, if you don’t mind giving up your rails to growing food, you can get an amazing amount of green beans that can either be frozen or canned.  Growing your own beans lets have enough so you can pull them out all winter long.  The beans grow as fast as you can pick them. If you remember to enrich the soil midway through the growing season, you can keep growing green beans well into the fall. The easy pace lets you process in small batches for winter dinners.  If I had bought all the green beans I grew last year, I would have spent close to $125..

Basil – a few ounces of basil can run you $3.99 in the store.  But a single packet of basil seeds can keep you in pesto for the entire winter.  A simple trick to storing basil is to mix it into your own paste with olive oil and freeze it for later use.  Making my own basil paste saves me a few hundred dollars over retail a year (which honestly, I wouldn’t spend that kind of money on basil in the store, so we’d go without).  Of all the herbs I use, basil has the highest return on investment over any other herb we plant.  You can harvest it all summer long.  Quick tip – freeze basil paste or pesto in icecube trays and then transfer to a zipseal bag when it’s frozen.  Then you can easily pull out what you need for dinner..

There are many reasons to garden, and certainly, the variety of what you can grow is eye-popping.  But if you have to make some choices due to time or space constraints, or if you’re just getting started as a gardener, the items on this list return a lot of value and can shave hundreds off your grocery bill.

What are you waiting for?  Get planting!

Tags: 5 produce items to grow, canning, food, food preservation, Freezing, frugal, Garden, planting, Save Money
Posted in Articles, Home & Garden | 2 Comments »

While there are some items that are hard to find coupons for that does not mean that you should pay full price for them. The same strategy for shopping with coupons can apply. Watch the sales and learn how to prepare and process these foods for the freezer and you won’t have to pay full retail price for them.

Bread: Whenever there is a good sale on bread, bagels, English muffins or other baked goods, stock up and freeze. To freeze simply wrap the bread in an extra layer of plastic wrap and place in the freezer. I have found that it is best to store frozen bread in the center of your freezer and not next to the sides if you can avoid it as this helps prevent freezer burn. Now mind you that bread can get stale in the freezer if it is stored long term. But I find that I can easily store 2-3 weeks of bread in my freezer without compromising flavor or texture. Longer storage can leave your bread not as tasty, but if you find that you have some frozen bread that was stored too long you, don’t throw it out, but instead use it for French toast, bread pudding, bread crumbs or extender in meatloaf or meatballs.

Cheese: Cheese is an expensive item at the grocery store, often retailing at $4.00 a pound or more. However when you can find a good deal on it go ahead and stock up and freeze it. Hard cheeses freeze the best but if frozen in blocks many will thaw with a crumbly texture so it is best to use these cheeses for cooking (think lasagna, enchiladas, macaroni & cheese). Cheese that is already shredded is easily frozen. Just toss the bags directly into the freezer or if you buy cheese in bulk or by the block you can shred the cheese at home (a food processor with a shredding attachment makes the job easier) and package in 1 or 2 cup sizes in freezer bags. Sliced American cheese (think Kraft Singles) can also be frozen, just watch for freezer burn. Just about all types of cheese can be frozen, but some will change texture when thawed. Most cheeses can be frozen for about 6 months however if you package them in air tight bags (Foodsaver) cheese can last a year or longer in the freezer.

Deli Meat: Lunch meat is another expensive food item that can be frozen for use later. Meat sliced fresh from the deli as well as pre-packaged deli meat can be frozen for up to 6 months. Look for sales and if you can combine with manufactures coupons for additional savings. Pre-packaged lunch meat can be frozen right in the package but sliced deli meat from the deli counter should be packaged in air tight bags. Once thawed most deli meats will be expel some of the water and be a little juicy. However all you need to do is drain off or pat the lunch meat on a paper towel to dry the meat. I have not found any significant change in texture once thawed. One money saving tip for deli meat is to look for deli ends from the deli counter. These ends of ham, turkey and roast beef can be had sometimes for $1.00 a pound and can be sliced or diced for additions to meals.

Eggs: Whenever eggs go on sale for $0.99 a dozen or less I try to purchase a few dozen to help stretch my budget. Eggs can last 2-3 weeks in their carton in your refrigerator, but if you don’t think you will use them before they expire then freezing can extend the use of your bargain eggs. The easiest way to freeze eggs is to crack them into a container and beat them until the white and yolk are combined. Put the beaten egg into small containers and freeze. I like to make small containers that hold 2 eggs each and since many recipes call for 2 eggs and 2 eggs is usually a serving for omelets or scrambled eggs. However you can also freeze in larger containers of 4 to 6 eggs as well for larger recipes or meals. I just simply thaw the frozen eggs in the refrigerator overnight and use the next day. You can cook scrambled eggs right from the frozen state if you start your pan on a low temperature. I use frozen eggs in cakes, cookies, quiche, pancakes, and all sorts of dishes. Additionally you can freeze the yolks and whites separately. To freeze egg yolks, place the egg yolks into a container and gently stir. Add 1 ½ tablespoons sugar, 1 1/1 tablespoons corn syrup or ½ teaspoon salt per cup of egg yolk depending on the intended use (sugar and corn syrup for sweet baked goods or salt for savory dishes). Package into containers allowing ½ inch headspace. Seal and freeze. One tablespoon egg yolk mixture equals on egg yolk. To freeze egg whites, place the egg whites into a container and gently mix (do not whip). Package in containers leaving ½ inch headspace. Seal and freeze containers. Two tablespoons of the egg-white mixture equal one egg white.

Fruits and vegetables: While the list of fruits and vegetables that can be frozen is too extensive to list out here. You can and should freeze produce when it is in season and at the cheapest price possible. Gardening and growing your own produce can further reduce the cost on nutritious fruits and vegetables. To get a feel about what fruits and vegetables can be frozen take a walk down the frozen food section of your store. Everything from berries, melons, corn, green beans, peas, tomatoes, potatoes and more can be frozen. I like to buy in bulk and prepare for freezing things that I consider staples for cooking. When potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, and citrus are in season I take a few hours to do some prep work. Some items need no preparation before freezing. Berries for example should just be picked through to make sure there are no moldy ones and then just need to be flash frozen on a cookie sheet. Once frozen berries can be packed into freezer bags or containers for long term storage in your freezer. Other produce items need a little bit of prep work before they can be frozen. Corn, carrots, peas and green beans for example need to be blanched before being frozen. Potatoes on the other hand really need to be cooked before they can be frozen as the starch in potatoes turns into sugar and can effect the taste and texture of the final product.

Herbs: Fresh herbs are a wonderful thing to have on hand for cooking a tasty dish however they are expensive at the grocery store. I prefer to grow my own (herbs are easy to grow, give them a try). However weather you purchase them at the store or farmers market or grow your own you usually will have more fresh herbs than you will need for a dish so freezing the extra allows you to prevent waste and have that same fresh herb taste. To freeze herbs you have a couple of options. The easiest way is to combine your fresh herbs with a little water and process them in a blender or food processor. Freeze the mixture in ice cube trays. Once frozen place your herb cubes into freezer bags and seal. Use the frozen herb cubes in soups and stews and other cooked dishes. Another method is to flash freeze your herbs by placing dry sprigs of herbs on a wax paper or parchment lined cookie sheet and placing the entire sheet in the freezer. Once the herbs are frozen you can then place the herbs into plastic bags for use later. Frozen herbs will retain their flavor however will become limp once thawed, but are perfect to use in cooked dishes. This past summer I grew an abundance of basil and prepared 20 pints of homemade pesto and froze in small plastic freezer safe containers. I figured the cost of ingredients and containers ended up being about 1.50 a pint which is cheap compared to the almost $4.00 price of premade refrigerated pesto found at the grocery stores.

Milk: You can easily freeze milk for 6 months to a year. I usually toss whole gallons of milk right in the freezer with no other prep work needed. However some people like to open the container of milk and pour out a cup to allow for some head-space for freezing. I must admit that there are some folks that swear that there is a difference in the taste and/or texture of thawed frozen milk. But I personally cannot tell the difference. You may wish to freeze a gallon and then thaw it and taste it to see if you notice a change. Either way, you can always use the milk for cooking. Milk in my area sometimes goes on markdown for as low as $1.00 a gallon and as long as I freeze it right away I can extend the shelf life of that milk. Once thawed use the milk as normal.

Nuts: Nuts are outrageously expensive but a great source of fiber and good for you fats. If you can get a deal on them there is no harm in freezing nuts for extended use. I like to look for nuts on clearance after the holidays but I will also buy in bulk at a warehouse store and freeze for long term use. Nuts stored at room temperature run the risk of the oils contained in the nuts going rancid, so even if you don’t have a lot of nuts to store, you should still store nuts in either your refrigerator or freezer. Nuts stored in the freezer can last 6 months to a year. To prepare there is no need to thaw, just pull desired amount from the freezer and chop or eat whole. You can freeze nuts right in the shell or to save space shell or purchase already shelled nuts to add to your freezer.

Rice: While dry rice can be stored a long time at room temperature provided that it is stored in a well sealed container, did you know that you can store cooked rice in your freezer? Whenever I make rice for a meal I like to make extra rice and freeze it for use later. I simply put cooked rice into freezer bags or containers. I add cooked rice to soups or other dishes that call for rice. You can freeze individual portions of rice or larger container for meals. While freezing rice may not save a lot of money it can be a time saver, and time is money when all is said and done. Cooking extra rice takes very little time or effort but when you are in a hurry to put a quick meal on the table having precooked rice on hand is a nice time saver.

Wine: I love a good glass of wine every now and then but often times I will find myself with leftover wine. You can save that wine by freezing in ice cube trays and placing the frozen wine cubes into plastic freezer bags. Then whenever a recipe calls for a little wine you can just toss a wine cube or two (remember one ice cube equals 3 tablespoons) into the dish. Additionally frozen wine cubes can be used as regular ice cubes in drinks like Sangria without watering down your drink. This method can also be applied to tea, coffee and other beverages.

Recently I created a wonderful breakfast quiche from almost all ingredients from my freezer. Eggs, cheese, onion, green peppers, and ham. I even had a homemade frozen pie crust. The only ingredient that I used that I did not have in my freezer was some herbs, and that was simply because I had already used up all my herbs that I froze this past Summer. Which tells me that I need to freeze more this summer! The key to freezing items in order to save money is to buy the items when the price is low and in the case of produce when the item is in season, spend a few minutes on prep work, freeze and then make sure you use what is in your freezer for meal preparation.

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Tags: Bread, Cheese, Deli, Eggs, Freezer, Freezing, Fruits And Vegetables, Herbs, Milk, Nuts, Produce, Rice, Wine
Posted in Articles, Best of HotCouponWorld.com, Cooking & Kitchen Tips, Stockpiling | No Comments »

There are three popular methods of freezer cooking that can save a family money. There are many benefits to freezer cooking. Some benefits include preserving perishables and reducing waste, having ready-made meals in your freezer when you are tempted to order out, and maximizing time with the family by cooking less often. Fully cooked meals can maintain their texture and taste in the freezer for up to three months. Uncooked, ready to go meals, like marinated meat can be frozen without degradation for up to six months. Different methods can optimize for busy schedules or tight budgets and any family can find benefits in one of the methods mentioned below.

Once a Month Cooking, also known as, OAMC is a way of making meals ahead of time and freezing them for later use. There are several ways to adopt this system into your family. The phrase once a month cooking was made famous by a book entitled Once-A-Month-Cooking by Lagerborg and Wilson. Their book is worth a buy at Amazon for beginners, the information inside is valuable to anyone looking into getting involved in this type of cooking schedule. OAMC, in its purest form, involves a family preparing 30 meals within one weekend each month, or mini-sessions where 14 meals are made in one day. The benefits are having only one weekend of dirty pots to clean and a highly detailed dinner schedule. For the family that eats take-out regularly or is rushed to find time for dinner, this is an excellent program.

Another method of freezer cooking is for seasoned deal seekers. “Assembly Line” cooking, as seen on websites like www.cooktosave.com, takes perishable loss leaders from your local grocery store and assembles them into several meals in one day to be enjoyed or prepared for another day. Assembly Line cooking turns your kitchen into a family assembly line. Examples are finding over-ripe bananas at the store for less than $0.25 a pound and turning them into 30 chocolate covered frozen banana popsicles, buying 20 pounds of pork loin at $1.67/lb and making breakfast sausage, burritos, kebobs, steaks, and Weiner schnitzel. For the family that likes buying large quantities of loss leaders and getting the best price for their meals, this is their perfect match.

The third and easiest method of freezer cooking is called “Feed the Freezer”. These ideas incorporate making double or triple the amount you usually make for dinner and putting the additional meals away in the freezer for a later date. When planning to make lasagnas, stuffed shells, chili’s, or other easy to freeze casseroles, make two or three dinners instead of one and freeze the additional dinners. Try searching any recipe site on the internet, like www.allrecipes.com for the keyword “OAMC”, to find recipes that are freezer friendly. For the family that wants to make their food dollar stretch a little more than usual and have one of two meals in their freezer this is an easy adoptive plan.

However a family chooses to adopt a make ahead style of cooking, there are savings to be had. An extra stand-alone freezer in your home can save $1,000 or more per year on a family food budget.

Contributed by: HotCouponWorld member FrankRyan owner of the website CookToSave.com

Tags: Bulk Cooking, Bulk Shopping, Feed The Freezer, Freezer, Freezing, Frozen Food Month, March, Meal Planning, OAMC, Once A Month Cooking, Stockpile
Posted in Articles, Cooking & Kitchen Tips, Frugal Living, Stockpiling | No Comments »

Make the most out of your freezer space with these space saving tips.

• Remove everything from your freezer and take stock of what you have in there.
• Toss anything that has gotten freezer burn or is past it’s expiration date. Remember the adage “When in doubt, throw it out”.
• Make a list of items you have that need to get used up soon and plan some meals for this week around those items.
• Consider consolidating some packages. For example I like to take items like Totino’s Pizza Rolls and dump all the boxes into a few freezer bags, cut out the cooking instructions from one box and place it inside the bag and put back in to the freezer. This saves quite a bit of space.
• Now is a good of time as any to go ahead and clean and defrost your freezer. If you have a freezer that needs to be defrosted place your frozen foods in a ice chest or two while you complete the defrosting. Follow your freezer manufactures instructions on defrosting.
• Put your foods back in the freezer, keeping in mind to put like items together. Use the shelves or bins inside your freezer to keep similar items together. For example put all frozen vegetables in one bin, all meats in another, etc.
• Containerize – Cardboard boxes, freezer containers and milk crates can be used to further organize your freezer. I personally use crates like these in different colors to organize my chest freezer.

Tags: Food Storage, Freezer, Freezing, Frozen Food Month, March, Organization, Storage
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Did you know that the month of March is designated as “Frozen Food Month”? What this means for the frugal shopper is that this is a great time to be watching for deals and coupons on things like ice cream, pizza, frozen vegetables and other great items to fill your freezer.

Also be on the look out for deals offered by some grocery stores that will be running specials on freezers themselves with the purchase of certain amounts of frozen foods.

For more information on sales cycles check out Hotcouponworld’s Sales Cycles thread in our forums.

For more information on what items you can or cannot freeze check out Hotcouponworld’s Storage Guides: How to Buy, Store & Use Anything forum.

Tags: Food Storage, Freezer, Freezing, Frozen Food Month, March, Sales Cycles, Stockpile, Storage
Posted in Blog, Deals | No Comments »