Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter: 18:14 Bright ideas to save you money
1. Cath's Corner
2. In the Tip Store - Store Those Big Blocks of Cheese so They Last, Easy Burn Free Firelighters, Recycled Dish Cloths
3.Mother's Day Specials - 5 great gift ideas for mum!
4. Submit Your Tip - We love your frugal tips, send them in!
5. Living Green in 2014 - Why Kids Should Get Involved in Living Green
6. On the Menu with Anne - Sweet & Spicy Glazed Ham
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Batch Cooking
8. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
9. Member's Featured Blog - Oh! I Finally Get It! by Palsie
10. Last Week's Question - Fresh Food?
11. This Week's Question - I'm desperate! How do I eradicate weevils forever?
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Gift Memberships
14. Frequently Asked Questions
15. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
The May edition of The Cheapskates Journal is waiting for Members in the Member's Centre and it's huge, over 20 pages of great ideas to save you money, time and energy.
Time really is flying by. It's just over a week until Mother's Day and when Joanne emailed and asked if there was a special for Mother's Day I was kind of surprised, we had a really good special offer ready to go, I just wasn't paying attention to the calendar. So, if you're looking for a great gift idea for Mum (or yourself) scroll down, we have five great offers; four of them include FREE Platinum memberships and one is a hefty discount on new memberships.
Mother's Day prompted me to double check the calendar and I realised it is just over two weeks until we hold our one-day workshop! Hannah and I have been getting things ready, making sure all the tools and materials are ready for the workshop sessions and that's when we realised we still have a few places left. If you'd like to come along we'd love to have you join us for a full day of frugal fun and learning but you'll need to book your spot quickly. You can do that right here, but you will need to be quick.
Cheapskaters are such a helpful bunch, sharing ideas and tips and offering suggestions willingly, I love to see the answers to questions come flooding in. Remember a few weeks ago John asked for help cleaning some antique chairs? Your suggestions worked!
"Thank you so much for the tip on "baby wipes"...tried it and it worked...very happy with the result and hopefully will sell the chairs...This is a great Club and I do thank you for your help." John
I love the optimism of Cheapskaters too, even in tough times. I love how they can plan for the future, work that plan and then relax knowing they are in charge of their finances.
"Cath, In August I go back to hospital for ten days with six weeks recovery. The Cheapskates hints are helping me save money for when I'm off, and hopefully, if I stay on track, I'll have two months worth of grocery money sitting on my card ready for when I go in, so I can relax and send the family off to shop with my list with no worries. By then all the veggies I've just planted will be harvested and in the freezer or bottled. Better to be proactive than to sit and worry my life away.....Thank you again." Cheryl.
Have a great week everyone.
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.
2. From The Tip Store
Store Those Big Blocks of Cheese so They Last
Approximate $ Savings: $5 - $8 per kilo
It's a lot cheaper per kilo to buy bigger blocks of cheese but unless you use a lot it can go mouldy in the fridge. We keep ours in the wrapper for easy identification but store the cheese in decor or similar containers with tight lids. Cheese keeps for weeks longer like this, including solid Parmesan blocks and Mozzarella balls. Cheese comes on special pretty regularly and has a use by date months ahead, so you can stock up on big blocks when it's $6 to $10 a kilo (depending on the type of cheese) and know that even after it's been opened it'll still stay fresh.
Contributed by Cheryl Lockwood
Easy Burn Free Firelighters
Approximate $ Savings: $20 per month
I was tired of spending $4 per week on traditional fire lighters. Instead I decided to make my own. Here's how!! Tear newspaper into thin strips. Add water to cover (I use my kitchen sink). Take a handful of squeezed newspaper strips; remove most of the water just by squeezing it. Mould into ice cube trays to retain shape. Leave for 24 hours. To remove fire lighters, place tray upside down and tap quite hard. This removes them easily. Leave outside in a covered place (an outdoor setting table is good) until dry; this may take a few days if it's cold. To help them burn more easily, I light a tea light candle and carefully place a few drops of the melted wax on top of each one newspaper cube. I make them during the summer months so by the time winter comes around again I have a steady supply on hand. A good use for newspaper which usually ends up in the recycling.
Contributed by Judith Wood
Recycled Dish Cloths
Approximate $ Savings: $1.00
I can't knit but I can sew so to make my dish cloths I bought some $2.00 cheap hand towels and cut them in half. Then I just overlocked around the edge, taking off the hem. They can be washed and if they get marked I just soak in bleach then wash and they look like new. These dish cloths last for months. You can even colour code for the part of the house, like red for bathrooms and toilets etc.
Contributed by Karen Witek
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Mother's Day Specials
If you're looking for the perfect gift for Mum this Mother's Day, we have it, or rather we have five great ideas for you:
1. Book bundle No.1 and a 1-year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership just $65, value $101.50
2. Book bundle No. 2 and a six month Platinum Cheapskates Club membership just $39.99, value $59.99
3. Book bundle No. 3 and a six month Platinum Cheapskates Club membership just $44.99, value $64.99
4. Book Bundle No. 4 and a six month Platinum Cheapskates Club membership just $44.99, value $64.99
5. A 1-year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership just $30.00, value $36.50
Click here to go to the Book Store to place your order.
4. Submit your tip
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
5. Living Green in 2014
Why Kids Should Get Involved in Living Green
There are many reasons why kids benefit from practicing sustainable living. If you’re interested in making the planet healthier for your kids, you’ll want them to continue those practices as they grow older.
Kids who participate in sustainable living are:
•more likely to learn gardening skills and eat vegetables
•more likely to continue recycling as they become adults
•physically healthier
•more conscious of ethical treatment of animals
•less concerned with material possessions
Not only will your children benefit from sustainable living, they can take over some of the responsibilities – and that benefits you! There are some really fun ways to get your kids involved in this type of lifestyle. When you make it fun for them, they’ll be happy to help.
6. On the Menu with Anne
Sweet & Spicy Glazed Ham
Ingredients:
3.5kg ham on the bone
Glaze:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup sultanas
1 can sliced peaches in syrup, drained and diced - reserve syrup
1 tbsp cornflour
1/4 cup orange juice
1 can crushed pineapple in syrup - do not drain
1 tbsp orange zest
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp crushed chilli flakes
1/2 tsp fresh ginger (from a jar is fine)
Method:
Roast ham in according to wrapper directions or in a pre-heated 160 degree oven for 3 hours. While ham is cooking prepare glaze. In a medium saucepan over high heat, combine brown sugar, vinegar, sultanas and peach syrup. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, dissolve cornflour in orange juice. Add to brown sugar mix. Add remaining glaze ingredients and mix well. Cook over medium heat until it boils and thickens. Remove from heat until ready to use. When ham is done, remove from oven and generously brush with glaze. Return to the oven for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 72 degrees Celsius (160 Fahrenheit). Remove from oven and brush with glaze once more. Let stand for 20 minutes before serving.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Fish cakes, wedges and salad with sweet chilli cream
Saturday: Lamb kebabs
Sunday: Roast beef, baked vegetables, corn, gravy
Monday: Rissoles, mash, beans, corn, onion gravy
Tuesday: Spaghetti, salad
Wednesday: Honey mustard chicken over steamed rice
Thursday: Tacos
In the fruit bowl: Kiwi fruit, apples, grapefruit
In the cake tin: Boiled fruit cake, Jam Drops
There are over 1,300 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Welcome to a new week everyone.
Batch cooking is a great way to save time in the kitchen. For those of you who are new to this concept, it pretty much means exactly that. You cook multiple serves of a meal at the same time to store in the freezer. The benefits of batch cooking are -
* It saves time in the kitchen at meal times.
* Saves on electricity/gas.
* Emergency meals on hand in the freezer
* Helps avoid the takeaway temptation.
* Meal preparation is simplified
* Older children can get tea ready for you.
* Great for taking on holidays
* Unexpected visitors can be fed.
* Peace of mind
* Great for portion controlling the meat.
Most of the meals I batch cook are made with beef mince. I buy a couple of two kilo trays of mince at a time. I try to plan this when I have a couple of days off from work. I then weigh out the amount of raw meat I need for the multiple serves I plan to cook.
For spag bol I use 300g for the four of us. If I want to make four meals for us then I weigh out 300g X four meals = 1200g. I cook the mince in a large electric fry pan and add four tins of tomatoes, four serves of tomato paste and four times the amount of seasonings. Once cooled it is spooned into four containers and frozen.
I use 400g of mince to make pie meat. This is eventually made into a family sized pie that serves the four of us. If I want to make pie meat for four pies I weigh out 400g X four meals = 1600g. It is cooked, seasoned, thickened with gravy powder and corn flour. When cooled it is divided into four containers and frozen. When frozen I empty it out of the container and double wrap it, label and date it and pop it back in the freezer. When I want to make a pie, it's defrosted in the fridge overnight then spooned onto a pastry lined pie plate and topped with cubed potato. A pastry lid is placed on top then cooked in the oven.
I use 400g of mince to make a meatloaf. To make four meatloaves I weigh out 400g X four meals = 1600g. I need 3 tablespoons of uncooked rice X four meatloaves = 12 tablespoons. This is cooked and added to the raw mince with salt, pepper, onion, parsley, four eggs and large squirts of tomato sauce. Mix well and divide into four meatloaf / baking tins and cook at the same time in the oven. When cooled double wrap and place in the freezer.
I hope these recipes give you inspiration to give batch cooking a go. It only takes a few hours to have 15 - 20 family sized meals ready for the freezer.
What main meals do you batch cook?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2442-300-a-month-food-challenge-28-04-14&p=40648
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
8.Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Burritos
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2441-Burritos
MOO French Onion Soup Mix
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2439-MOO-French-Onion-Soup-Mix
How MOO Bodywash?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2437-How-MOO-bodywash
Most popular blog posts this week
The Perfect Pantry
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/11/the-perfect-pantry.html
Three Ways to Make Food Last
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2010/12/three-ways-to-make-food-last.html
The Worlds Easiest and Yummiest Brownies
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/04/worlds-easiest-and-yummiest-brownies.html
9. Member's Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by Palsie.
Oh! I Finally Get It!
I have been diligently working on the Saving Revolution lessons, although I haven't blogged for a while and I know that it was part of the deal. I have been re-visiting some of the lessons which I need to keep working on, one in particular is the price book. This weekend, I have got organised with printing off the sheets and entering the data and as I was meticulously working through my supermarket dockets from two separate stores, it suddenly dawned on me (an epiphany? or maybe I am just a slow learner) the importance of keeping a price book to see where your money goes, to compare brands, specials and the frequency of specials. I had been working on saving 10% of my weekly shopping over the past few weeks and have put that into a slush fund. I then made a link while entering data into my price book, that yes, I have a slush fund and I could use this money for a couple of fantastic savings on two items this week, namely 2 Litre UHT milk for $2 and chicken thigh fillets for $6.99 per kilo. This may sound a bit pathetic, but I was so excited about this I nearly fell off my chair. Of course I now realise how Cath's suggestion of feeding a family of four on $80.00 a week is a reality.
I get it, I get it! If you have a stockpile of the essentials through judicial planning, this frees up your money to keep within a certain budget.
My motto for this week is 'Persistence Pays Off'. Guess where I am headed off now.............yes back to the supermarket to stock up on the abovementioned products with some of my 'Slush Fund' money!
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
10. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Inquisitive who wrote "I need help! I live in WA and at the moment we only have one supermarket in our town centre. The produce there is shocking! I went shopping today for mince and it was a pasty grey colour. Their fruit and veg is expensive and below standard for what I'm paying. My question is where do other people find fresh meat, fruit and veg that do not break the budget? My family hasn't eaten meat in weeks because of the poor quality stuff from the supermarket. On a further note if you live outside of WA and have access to fresh fruit and veg, where do you live? And where's the best place to live to grow your own produce? I'm seriously considering a move over East just so I can live a healthier, fresher lifestyle. Thanks in advance for all your advice!!"
Cheryl Slapp answered
Hi Inquisitive, I live in Brisbane and a member of a site called Jettos Patch. This is a couple who live in WA and - grow all their own fruit and vegetables so if you are into gardening I would highly recommend this site. You can't get any fresher than out of your own garden. Other than that maybe there is a farmers market or maybe on line orders - I quite often do bulk orders of meat on line (direct from the farm).
Liz Randall answered
Do you have any cafes or restaurants in your town. They usually purchase their fruit and veggies directly from the markets. Perhaps you could approach them and ask if they could add extra produce to their order especially for you. I read about somebody who is doing this. They live at the edge of a desert, so it's impossible for them to grow their own.
Jodie Stafford answered
I don't live in W.A but my sister does she suggests, MG wholesale for fruit and veg and The Beef Shop for quality meat that won't bust the budget. Both are wholesalers and both deliver. I don't know if the price will be less than what you are paying at your supermarket but the quality will definitely be better.
Ann Green answered
Having lived in some parts of Tasmania, where food can be expensive and poor quality, I know the feeling. I would ask the locals as there may be a butcher and a green grocer who visit the town from a larger town but it is probably only one day a week. Plants will grow anywhere so long as there is water and humus in the soil e.g. we are growing banana palms in Melbourne. Have a look at other gardens in the town and you will find out what will grow in your area.
Do you have a question that needs an answer?
Send us your question and receive the combined knowledge of your fellow Cheapskates to solve your problem!
Ask Your Question
11. This Week's Question
Marg writes
"Can anyone suggest a foolproof way to eradicate weevils from the pantry (without poisoning humans of course). I have emptied the pantry thoroughly, cleaned it, washing down the shelving, bagging and sealing any offending or suspicious products. Even sultanas in well sealed canisters have become contaminated. From the desperado who now has very little in the pantry and no idea how they keep reappearing - it's either magic or my pantry is possessed! HELP!"
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Marg let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.
Send your answer
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
For just 10 cents a day you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/members/join_form.cfm?item_id=2271
13. Gift Memberships
Your family and friends will thank you for a whole year when you give them a Platinum Cheapskates Club membership as a gift.
It's so simple: just select the number of gift memberships required, click the Buy Now button and complete the Gift Membership order form (you must use this form to order gift memberships) and we'll get in touch with you to confirm the gift subscriptions.
Click here to order a gift membership right now!
14. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
Read our privacy policy
How Did You Get on Our List?
You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member
15. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskates.com.au
[email protected]
2. In the Tip Store - Store Those Big Blocks of Cheese so They Last, Easy Burn Free Firelighters, Recycled Dish Cloths
3.Mother's Day Specials - 5 great gift ideas for mum!
4. Submit Your Tip - We love your frugal tips, send them in!
5. Living Green in 2014 - Why Kids Should Get Involved in Living Green
6. On the Menu with Anne - Sweet & Spicy Glazed Ham
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy - Batch Cooking
8. Cheapskates Buzz - Cheapskaters are talking in the Forum and on Cath's blog
9. Member's Featured Blog - Oh! I Finally Get It! by Palsie
10. Last Week's Question - Fresh Food?
11. This Week's Question - I'm desperate! How do I eradicate weevils forever?
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
13. Gift Memberships
14. Frequently Asked Questions
15. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
The May edition of The Cheapskates Journal is waiting for Members in the Member's Centre and it's huge, over 20 pages of great ideas to save you money, time and energy.
Time really is flying by. It's just over a week until Mother's Day and when Joanne emailed and asked if there was a special for Mother's Day I was kind of surprised, we had a really good special offer ready to go, I just wasn't paying attention to the calendar. So, if you're looking for a great gift idea for Mum (or yourself) scroll down, we have five great offers; four of them include FREE Platinum memberships and one is a hefty discount on new memberships.
Mother's Day prompted me to double check the calendar and I realised it is just over two weeks until we hold our one-day workshop! Hannah and I have been getting things ready, making sure all the tools and materials are ready for the workshop sessions and that's when we realised we still have a few places left. If you'd like to come along we'd love to have you join us for a full day of frugal fun and learning but you'll need to book your spot quickly. You can do that right here, but you will need to be quick.
Cheapskaters are such a helpful bunch, sharing ideas and tips and offering suggestions willingly, I love to see the answers to questions come flooding in. Remember a few weeks ago John asked for help cleaning some antique chairs? Your suggestions worked!
"Thank you so much for the tip on "baby wipes"...tried it and it worked...very happy with the result and hopefully will sell the chairs...This is a great Club and I do thank you for your help." John
I love the optimism of Cheapskaters too, even in tough times. I love how they can plan for the future, work that plan and then relax knowing they are in charge of their finances.
"Cath, In August I go back to hospital for ten days with six weeks recovery. The Cheapskates hints are helping me save money for when I'm off, and hopefully, if I stay on track, I'll have two months worth of grocery money sitting on my card ready for when I go in, so I can relax and send the family off to shop with my list with no worries. By then all the veggies I've just planted will be harvested and in the freezer or bottled. Better to be proactive than to sit and worry my life away.....Thank you again." Cheryl.
Have a great week everyone.
PS: Love our site? We love referrals! Send a note to your favourite newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, friends and relatives, and tell them about us!
PPS: You can read this newsletter and past copies on the website in the Newsletter Archive.
2. From The Tip Store
Store Those Big Blocks of Cheese so They Last
Approximate $ Savings: $5 - $8 per kilo
It's a lot cheaper per kilo to buy bigger blocks of cheese but unless you use a lot it can go mouldy in the fridge. We keep ours in the wrapper for easy identification but store the cheese in decor or similar containers with tight lids. Cheese keeps for weeks longer like this, including solid Parmesan blocks and Mozzarella balls. Cheese comes on special pretty regularly and has a use by date months ahead, so you can stock up on big blocks when it's $6 to $10 a kilo (depending on the type of cheese) and know that even after it's been opened it'll still stay fresh.
Contributed by Cheryl Lockwood
Easy Burn Free Firelighters
Approximate $ Savings: $20 per month
I was tired of spending $4 per week on traditional fire lighters. Instead I decided to make my own. Here's how!! Tear newspaper into thin strips. Add water to cover (I use my kitchen sink). Take a handful of squeezed newspaper strips; remove most of the water just by squeezing it. Mould into ice cube trays to retain shape. Leave for 24 hours. To remove fire lighters, place tray upside down and tap quite hard. This removes them easily. Leave outside in a covered place (an outdoor setting table is good) until dry; this may take a few days if it's cold. To help them burn more easily, I light a tea light candle and carefully place a few drops of the melted wax on top of each one newspaper cube. I make them during the summer months so by the time winter comes around again I have a steady supply on hand. A good use for newspaper which usually ends up in the recycling.
Contributed by Judith Wood
Recycled Dish Cloths
Approximate $ Savings: $1.00
I can't knit but I can sew so to make my dish cloths I bought some $2.00 cheap hand towels and cut them in half. Then I just overlocked around the edge, taking off the hem. They can be washed and if they get marked I just soak in bleach then wash and they look like new. These dish cloths last for months. You can even colour code for the part of the house, like red for bathrooms and toilets etc.
Contributed by Karen Witek
There are more than 11,000 great tips in the Tip Store
3. Mother's Day Specials
If you're looking for the perfect gift for Mum this Mother's Day, we have it, or rather we have five great ideas for you:
1. Book bundle No.1 and a 1-year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership just $65, value $101.50
2. Book bundle No. 2 and a six month Platinum Cheapskates Club membership just $39.99, value $59.99
3. Book bundle No. 3 and a six month Platinum Cheapskates Club membership just $44.99, value $64.99
4. Book Bundle No. 4 and a six month Platinum Cheapskates Club membership just $44.99, value $64.99
5. A 1-year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership just $30.00, value $36.50
Click here to go to the Book Store to place your order.
4. Submit your tip
The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.
Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.
Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Submit your tip
5. Living Green in 2014
Why Kids Should Get Involved in Living Green
There are many reasons why kids benefit from practicing sustainable living. If you’re interested in making the planet healthier for your kids, you’ll want them to continue those practices as they grow older.
Kids who participate in sustainable living are:
•more likely to learn gardening skills and eat vegetables
•more likely to continue recycling as they become adults
•physically healthier
•more conscious of ethical treatment of animals
•less concerned with material possessions
Not only will your children benefit from sustainable living, they can take over some of the responsibilities – and that benefits you! There are some really fun ways to get your kids involved in this type of lifestyle. When you make it fun for them, they’ll be happy to help.
6. On the Menu with Anne
Sweet & Spicy Glazed Ham
Ingredients:
3.5kg ham on the bone
Glaze:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup sultanas
1 can sliced peaches in syrup, drained and diced - reserve syrup
1 tbsp cornflour
1/4 cup orange juice
1 can crushed pineapple in syrup - do not drain
1 tbsp orange zest
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp crushed chilli flakes
1/2 tsp fresh ginger (from a jar is fine)
Method:
Roast ham in according to wrapper directions or in a pre-heated 160 degree oven for 3 hours. While ham is cooking prepare glaze. In a medium saucepan over high heat, combine brown sugar, vinegar, sultanas and peach syrup. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, dissolve cornflour in orange juice. Add to brown sugar mix. Add remaining glaze ingredients and mix well. Cook over medium heat until it boils and thickens. Remove from heat until ready to use. When ham is done, remove from oven and generously brush with glaze. Return to the oven for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature of the ham reaches 72 degrees Celsius (160 Fahrenheit). Remove from oven and brush with glaze once more. Let stand for 20 minutes before serving.
This week we will be eating:
Friday: Fish cakes, wedges and salad with sweet chilli cream
Saturday: Lamb kebabs
Sunday: Roast beef, baked vegetables, corn, gravy
Monday: Rissoles, mash, beans, corn, onion gravy
Tuesday: Spaghetti, salad
Wednesday: Honey mustard chicken over steamed rice
Thursday: Tacos
In the fruit bowl: Kiwi fruit, apples, grapefruit
In the cake tin: Boiled fruit cake, Jam Drops
There are over 1,300 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File
7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy
Welcome to a new week everyone.
Batch cooking is a great way to save time in the kitchen. For those of you who are new to this concept, it pretty much means exactly that. You cook multiple serves of a meal at the same time to store in the freezer. The benefits of batch cooking are -
* It saves time in the kitchen at meal times.
* Saves on electricity/gas.
* Emergency meals on hand in the freezer
* Helps avoid the takeaway temptation.
* Meal preparation is simplified
* Older children can get tea ready for you.
* Great for taking on holidays
* Unexpected visitors can be fed.
* Peace of mind
* Great for portion controlling the meat.
Most of the meals I batch cook are made with beef mince. I buy a couple of two kilo trays of mince at a time. I try to plan this when I have a couple of days off from work. I then weigh out the amount of raw meat I need for the multiple serves I plan to cook.
For spag bol I use 300g for the four of us. If I want to make four meals for us then I weigh out 300g X four meals = 1200g. I cook the mince in a large electric fry pan and add four tins of tomatoes, four serves of tomato paste and four times the amount of seasonings. Once cooled it is spooned into four containers and frozen.
I use 400g of mince to make pie meat. This is eventually made into a family sized pie that serves the four of us. If I want to make pie meat for four pies I weigh out 400g X four meals = 1600g. It is cooked, seasoned, thickened with gravy powder and corn flour. When cooled it is divided into four containers and frozen. When frozen I empty it out of the container and double wrap it, label and date it and pop it back in the freezer. When I want to make a pie, it's defrosted in the fridge overnight then spooned onto a pastry lined pie plate and topped with cubed potato. A pastry lid is placed on top then cooked in the oven.
I use 400g of mince to make a meatloaf. To make four meatloaves I weigh out 400g X four meals = 1600g. I need 3 tablespoons of uncooked rice X four meatloaves = 12 tablespoons. This is cooked and added to the raw mince with salt, pepper, onion, parsley, four eggs and large squirts of tomato sauce. Mix well and divide into four meatloaf / baking tins and cook at the same time in the oven. When cooled double wrap and place in the freezer.
I hope these recipes give you inspiration to give batch cooking a go. It only takes a few hours to have 15 - 20 family sized meals ready for the freezer.
What main meals do you batch cook?
Have a great week and BE ENCOURAGED!!!!!
The $300 a Month Food Challenge
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2442-300-a-month-food-challenge-28-04-14&p=40648
The Post that Started it All
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=44265
8.Cheapskates Buzz
This week's hot forum topics
Burritos
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2441-Burritos
MOO French Onion Soup Mix
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2439-MOO-French-Onion-Soup-Mix
How MOO Bodywash?
http://www.cheapskatesclub.com.au/memberforum/showthread.php?2437-How-MOO-bodywash
Most popular blog posts this week
The Perfect Pantry
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2013/11/the-perfect-pantry.html
Three Ways to Make Food Last
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2010/12/three-ways-to-make-food-last.html
The Worlds Easiest and Yummiest Brownies
http://www.debtfreecashedupandlaughing.com.au/2011/04/worlds-easiest-and-yummiest-brownies.html
9. Member's Featured Blog
Platinum Cheapskates Club members have their very own Cheapskating blogs, and they are wonderful and inspirational and encouraging and even funny. This week's featured blog is written by Palsie.
Oh! I Finally Get It!
I have been diligently working on the Saving Revolution lessons, although I haven't blogged for a while and I know that it was part of the deal. I have been re-visiting some of the lessons which I need to keep working on, one in particular is the price book. This weekend, I have got organised with printing off the sheets and entering the data and as I was meticulously working through my supermarket dockets from two separate stores, it suddenly dawned on me (an epiphany? or maybe I am just a slow learner) the importance of keeping a price book to see where your money goes, to compare brands, specials and the frequency of specials. I had been working on saving 10% of my weekly shopping over the past few weeks and have put that into a slush fund. I then made a link while entering data into my price book, that yes, I have a slush fund and I could use this money for a couple of fantastic savings on two items this week, namely 2 Litre UHT milk for $2 and chicken thigh fillets for $6.99 per kilo. This may sound a bit pathetic, but I was so excited about this I nearly fell off my chair. Of course I now realise how Cath's suggestion of feeding a family of four on $80.00 a week is a reality.
I get it, I get it! If you have a stockpile of the essentials through judicial planning, this frees up your money to keep within a certain budget.
My motto for this week is 'Persistence Pays Off'. Guess where I am headed off now.............yes back to the supermarket to stock up on the abovementioned products with some of my 'Slush Fund' money!
Login to read more Cheapskates Club member blogs
10. Last Week's Question
Last week's question was from Inquisitive who wrote "I need help! I live in WA and at the moment we only have one supermarket in our town centre. The produce there is shocking! I went shopping today for mince and it was a pasty grey colour. Their fruit and veg is expensive and below standard for what I'm paying. My question is where do other people find fresh meat, fruit and veg that do not break the budget? My family hasn't eaten meat in weeks because of the poor quality stuff from the supermarket. On a further note if you live outside of WA and have access to fresh fruit and veg, where do you live? And where's the best place to live to grow your own produce? I'm seriously considering a move over East just so I can live a healthier, fresher lifestyle. Thanks in advance for all your advice!!"
Cheryl Slapp answered
Hi Inquisitive, I live in Brisbane and a member of a site called Jettos Patch. This is a couple who live in WA and - grow all their own fruit and vegetables so if you are into gardening I would highly recommend this site. You can't get any fresher than out of your own garden. Other than that maybe there is a farmers market or maybe on line orders - I quite often do bulk orders of meat on line (direct from the farm).
Liz Randall answered
Do you have any cafes or restaurants in your town. They usually purchase their fruit and veggies directly from the markets. Perhaps you could approach them and ask if they could add extra produce to their order especially for you. I read about somebody who is doing this. They live at the edge of a desert, so it's impossible for them to grow their own.
Jodie Stafford answered
I don't live in W.A but my sister does she suggests, MG wholesale for fruit and veg and The Beef Shop for quality meat that won't bust the budget. Both are wholesalers and both deliver. I don't know if the price will be less than what you are paying at your supermarket but the quality will definitely be better.
Ann Green answered
Having lived in some parts of Tasmania, where food can be expensive and poor quality, I know the feeling. I would ask the locals as there may be a butcher and a green grocer who visit the town from a larger town but it is probably only one day a week. Plants will grow anywhere so long as there is water and humus in the soil e.g. we are growing banana palms in Melbourne. Have a look at other gardens in the town and you will find out what will grow in your area.
Do you have a question that needs an answer?
Send us your question and receive the combined knowledge of your fellow Cheapskates to solve your problem!
Ask Your Question
11. This Week's Question
Marg writes
"Can anyone suggest a foolproof way to eradicate weevils from the pantry (without poisoning humans of course). I have emptied the pantry thoroughly, cleaned it, washing down the shelving, bagging and sealing any offending or suspicious products. Even sultanas in well sealed canisters have become contaminated. From the desperado who now has very little in the pantry and no idea how they keep reappearing - it's either magic or my pantry is possessed! HELP!"
Do you have the answer?
If you have a suggestion or idea for Marg let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.
Send your answer
12. Join the Cheapskates Club
For just 10 cents a day you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.
Joining the Cheapskates Club gives you 24/7 access to the Members Centre with 1000's of money saving tips and articles.
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
http://www.cheapskates.com.au/members/join_form.cfm?item_id=2271
13. Gift Memberships
Your family and friends will thank you for a whole year when you give them a Platinum Cheapskates Club membership as a gift.
It's so simple: just select the number of gift memberships required, click the Buy Now button and complete the Gift Membership order form (you must use this form to order gift memberships) and we'll get in touch with you to confirm the gift subscriptions.
Click here to order a gift membership right now!
14. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. Members can update their email address or any other details by clicking on "Edit Profile" directly under their membership number after they have logged in to the Member's Centre. Subscribers to our free newsletter can use the Change Your Address form (under Customer Service in the menu) and fill it out. Once you've filled it in click the send button and we'll do the rest. Please remember to include your old email address so we can find it in the list as well as the new one.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
When you login to the Member's Centre you will be told how many days of membership you have left once you have 30 days left. Just click on the link to renew and your membership will just continue on, uninterrupted.
What will you do with my email address?
We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.
Read our privacy policy
How Did You Get on Our List?
You signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member
15. Contact Details
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
www.cheapskates.com.au
[email protected]