|
|
|
Home
Lifestyle
Groceries and Food
Alternative Food Sources
My Story: Bulk Cooking Southwestern Style
If you live near a potato farm, as we do, you can buy potatoes during harvest time, at a reasonable price. I buy them in 100-pound bags and split the potatoes with our grown children. We do the same with locally grown chili peppers and pinto beans. Each of us has the amount we can use and the cost is very low compared to the local markets.
The chili peppers are already hand roasted when we buy them and we put them in the freezer in resealable bags (whole chilies, without removing stems, skins nor seeds). To cook, we take them out of the freezer and run cold water over them and the skins slide off. Then they are ready for any dish you wish to make. If you want a milder flavor, remove the seeds before freezing.
We divide the beans into gallon-sized resealable bags for easier storage in the cupboards. It takes two to three cups of dry pinto beans to make a large slow cooker of beans. We add ham for flavor.
I scrub the potatoes, wrap them in aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees. When I bake 24 of the number two potatoes at a time, it takes about two hours. When they are cool, I put them in the freezer. I use them as I would any frozen potato. I brown them in olive oil for a side dish or I put them in stews, omelets, or soups.
The advantage to doing your own cooking from scratch is you can control the amount of salt, fat, other additives that go into your food.
Beans can be frozen after they are cooked. Simply put them in a freezer container and freeze. When ready to use, take the beans out of the freezer, thaw, heat and serve.
Try adding a bit of green chili peppers to homemade chicken noodle soup. It adds a special tang to any dish. When using chili peppers in a dish, be aware that it can be very hot to the uninitiated tongue. Experiment with small amounts before using larger amounts.
Having these western staples on hand in the freezer can make cooking time a lot shorter on a busy day.
"My Story" is a regular feature of The Dollar Stretcher. If you have a story that could help save time or money, please send it to MyStory@Stretcher.com
Take the Next Step:
Share your thoughts about this article with the editor: Click Here
Sign up for our free weekly eNewsletter Surviving Tough Times.
Looking for an answer to a frugal living question? Click here to ask a Dollar Stretcher Stretchpert!
To subscribe, check the newsletters you wish to receive, enter your email address and then click Subscribe.
Each month one TDS reader will win $100 just for telling us your favorite time or money saving idea. It could be you!
Click here to share your idea.
Recent winners are:
- Michelle from NC
- Matt from CO
- Joan from CT
- Joanne in New York
|
Money problems? Struggling with credit card debt? What you need to know about bankruptcy? Trouble repaying student loans?
|
Copyright 1996 - 2012 "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." All rights reserved unless specifically noted.
Contact the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton FL 34280
Voice 941-761-7805
Fax 941-761-8301
"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.
| About Us | Privacy Policy | Writer's Guidelines | Sponsorship | Media | Contact Us |
Dollar Stretcher Community
Forums
Blogs
Also In This Week's Issue
In The Dollar Stretcher Community
Reader Favorites
Newsletters
Email
Print
Contact Editor
RSS Feed
Share
Leave a Comment
