Your Cheapskates Club Newsletter 33:23
In This Newsletter
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - What to do with Potato Water; Just Keep on Peeling;
Freezer Preps Make Meals Easier
3. Birthday Month Special
4. Share Your Tips
5. On the Menu - Crispy Potato Cakes
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Mega Bulk Bags of Potatoes
7. The Weekly MOO Challenge - Freezer Mash
8. Cheapskates Buzz
9. The Cheapskates Club Show
10. The Handmade Christmas Challenge - Tags
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Here we are, two weeks before Spring, and this last week has been the coldest of the whole winter. For the first time this year, we've had frosts and I've been out each afternoon covering the garden. I just use old sheets to protect the plants and they work well. So far nothing has been frost burnt. Phew!
I can't believe I'm saying this, but roll on summer!
This week it's all about potatoes. Yes, the humble spud. The most favoured vegetable to Australians. Why? Because I bought 40 kilos of them! What can I say, they were cheap. I thought I'd share what Cheapskaters do with potatoes, and some tasty recipes that use potatoes.
Before I go, welcome to our new members! We're really happy to have you join us. (If you're not already a Cheapskates Club member, during August new memberships are just $20, and a Cheapskates Club membership makes a great gift - hint, hint.)
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
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!
2. From The Tip Store
What to do with Potato Water
If you boil or steam peeled potatoes, don't throw out the water! Potato water is so handy and can be used for so many things - even cleaning stainless steel!
It's full of nutrients, which means it's good for you, so use it. I use it instead of milk in mashed potatoes, it makes them light and fluffy. I also add it to stock to make soup, or to make gravy. It's good for thinning a pasta sauce too.
You can use it in baking, especially breads (it is especially good in cornbread), to replace some or all of the milk.
If you boil peeled potatoes for any reason, don't pour the water down the drain. It's chock full of nutrients and potato starch, which means it's good food.
If you find you can't use it in cooking, use it to clean your stainless steel cooktop or fridge or pots and pans. Just dip a cloth in the potato water and wipe it over the stainless steel then buff with a soft, dry cloth.
Potato water will keep in the fridge for a two to three days before it starts to get slimy. It will freeze, and be perfectly fine to consume when thawed but it will go grey and look horribly unappetising so I don't recommend freezing.
And, if after all those ideas, you still haven't used your potato water up, use it to water you pot plants. They'll love the moisture and the nutrient boost.
Just Keep on Peeling
If I am peeling potatoes for a meal I often peel a couple extra doesn't make much difference but comes in handy for making fish patties the next day.
Contributed by Lisa
Editor's note: I often do this, especially if I know I am going to be flat chat the following day. Potatoes, sweet potato,pumpkin, parsnip and onion all keep well in a dish of water in the fridge for 24 hours. I also do this when we are camping, vacuum packing the peeled veggies in meal lots. They keep for around 7 days in the fridge if they are vacuumed packed, saving a lot of time, water and mess. Cath
Freezer Preps Make Meals Easier
Every day I look for small ways to make future meals easier. How do I do this? I prep ingredients for the freezer. Shredding cheese - shred an extra package for the freezer. Cutting onions, celery or peppers. Dice and freeze on a tray then put in snack size ziplock bags - place all bags in a larger zip bag to keep them together. Making potato salad and boiling the potatoes - Throw in extras and pull them before they get all the way done. When cool shred and put on a tray in the freezer. (use foil or parchment) Freeze and put in bags. Homemade hash browns. Little bits add up to lots of pre-prepared meal ingredients, less waste and peace of mind.
Contributed by Crystal
There are more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
Add a Tip
3. Birthday Month Celebrations!
1. Cath's Corner
2. From the Tip Store - What to do with Potato Water; Just Keep on Peeling;
Freezer Preps Make Meals Easier
3. Birthday Month Special
4. Share Your Tips
5. On the Menu - Crispy Potato Cakes
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge - Mega Bulk Bags of Potatoes
7. The Weekly MOO Challenge - Freezer Mash
8. Cheapskates Buzz
9. The Cheapskates Club Show
10. The Handmade Christmas Challenge - Tags
11. Join the Cheapskates Club
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Contact Details
1. Cath's Corner
Hello Cheapskaters,
Here we are, two weeks before Spring, and this last week has been the coldest of the whole winter. For the first time this year, we've had frosts and I've been out each afternoon covering the garden. I just use old sheets to protect the plants and they work well. So far nothing has been frost burnt. Phew!
I can't believe I'm saying this, but roll on summer!
This week it's all about potatoes. Yes, the humble spud. The most favoured vegetable to Australians. Why? Because I bought 40 kilos of them! What can I say, they were cheap. I thought I'd share what Cheapskaters do with potatoes, and some tasty recipes that use potatoes.
Before I go, welcome to our new members! We're really happy to have you join us. (If you're not already a Cheapskates Club member, during August new memberships are just $20, and a Cheapskates Club membership makes a great gift - hint, hint.)
Happy Cheapskating,
Cath
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!
2. From The Tip Store
What to do with Potato Water
If you boil or steam peeled potatoes, don't throw out the water! Potato water is so handy and can be used for so many things - even cleaning stainless steel!
It's full of nutrients, which means it's good for you, so use it. I use it instead of milk in mashed potatoes, it makes them light and fluffy. I also add it to stock to make soup, or to make gravy. It's good for thinning a pasta sauce too.
You can use it in baking, especially breads (it is especially good in cornbread), to replace some or all of the milk.
If you boil peeled potatoes for any reason, don't pour the water down the drain. It's chock full of nutrients and potato starch, which means it's good food.
If you find you can't use it in cooking, use it to clean your stainless steel cooktop or fridge or pots and pans. Just dip a cloth in the potato water and wipe it over the stainless steel then buff with a soft, dry cloth.
Potato water will keep in the fridge for a two to three days before it starts to get slimy. It will freeze, and be perfectly fine to consume when thawed but it will go grey and look horribly unappetising so I don't recommend freezing.
And, if after all those ideas, you still haven't used your potato water up, use it to water you pot plants. They'll love the moisture and the nutrient boost.
Just Keep on Peeling
If I am peeling potatoes for a meal I often peel a couple extra doesn't make much difference but comes in handy for making fish patties the next day.
Contributed by Lisa
Editor's note: I often do this, especially if I know I am going to be flat chat the following day. Potatoes, sweet potato,pumpkin, parsnip and onion all keep well in a dish of water in the fridge for 24 hours. I also do this when we are camping, vacuum packing the peeled veggies in meal lots. They keep for around 7 days in the fridge if they are vacuumed packed, saving a lot of time, water and mess. Cath
Freezer Preps Make Meals Easier
Every day I look for small ways to make future meals easier. How do I do this? I prep ingredients for the freezer. Shredding cheese - shred an extra package for the freezer. Cutting onions, celery or peppers. Dice and freeze on a tray then put in snack size ziplock bags - place all bags in a larger zip bag to keep them together. Making potato salad and boiling the potatoes - Throw in extras and pull them before they get all the way done. When cool shred and put on a tray in the freezer. (use foil or parchment) Freeze and put in bags. Homemade hash browns. Little bits add up to lots of pre-prepared meal ingredients, less waste and peace of mind.
Contributed by Crystal
There are more than 12,000 great tips in the Tip Store
Add a Tip
3. Birthday Month Celebrations!
New Member Special OfferIt's our birthday! 22 years of the Cheapskates Club, and to celebrate we are having a sale.
For the month of August, new Cheapskates Club memberships are just $20!
Not sure a Cheapskates Club membership is for you?
Here's 20 reasons to join the Cheapskates Club
For the month of August, new Cheapskates Club memberships are just $20!
Not sure a Cheapskates Club membership is for you?
Here's 20 reasons to join the Cheapskates Club
4. Share Your Tips
The Cheapskate's Club website is thousands of pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. There are over 12,000 tips to save you money, time and energy; 1,600 budget and family friendly recipes, hundreds of printable tip sheets and ebooks.
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.
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!
Share Your Tip
5. On The Menu
Crispy Potato Cakes
Its all about potatoes this week. They have been on sale, down to as low as 60 cents a kilo, so the pantry is overflowing with potatoes. I love having this staple vegetable in the pantry, and on the pantry shelves, and in the freezer, but we really like to eat them fresh too.
One way we especially like them is as potato cakes. They're good hot or cold, which means they make an appearance in lunchboxes, for lunch or dinner.
Crispy Potato Cakes
Ingredients:
1kg potatoes, peeled and grated
1 onion, grated
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup seasoned dry breadcrumbs
Vegetable oil for frying
Method:
In a large bowl, combine potatoes, onions eggs and breadcrumbs. Season with salt and pepper. Add some oil to a heavy based fry pan and heat it. Drop mixture by the spoonful into the hot oil. Brown on both sides. Remove from the pan and serve hot with a salad.
Notes:
If you don't have seasoned breadcrumbs, add parsley, oregano and thyme to the mixture (or whatever herbs you like and have on hand).
Because these potato cakes are cooked immediately, there is no need to squeeze the potato. Just grate, add everything else and cook.
Depending on how big you make them, you'll get 10 - 15 potato cakes from this recipe.
Cost: $2.30, or 23 cents - 15 cents each (depends on how many you make).
Next week we will be eating:
Sunday: Roast Beef
Monday: Sausages, onion gravy, mash
Tuesday: Spag bol, salad, garlic bread
Wednesday: Honey Mustard Roast Beef Toasted Sandwiches
Thursday: MOO Pizza
Friday: Italian Vegetarian meatballs, pasta
Saturday: Stuffed Potatoes
There are over 1,800 budget and family friendly recipes in the Cheapskates Club Recipe File, all contributed by your fellow Cheapskates, so you know they're good.
Add A Recipe
Recipe File Index
6. The $300 a Month Food Challenge
Mega Bulk Bags of Potatoes
When I can get potatoes for 60 cents a kilo you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be stocking up, and that is just what I've been doing for the last four weeks.
Every week our local greengrocer has had 5 kilo bags of potatoes on sale for as low as $3 a bag (60 cents a kilo). Potatoes at the supermarkets between $1.80 a kilo up to $4.90 a kilo! I like a good bargain, especially when it helps the grocery budget, so 40 kilos of potatoes have been bought for a total cost of $24. That's enough potatoes to last us about 6 months.
The problem when you buy a bulk lot of anything perishable is being able to preserve it so you can use it.
Potatoes keep very well if they are kept dark, dry and cool (not cold!). I have some hessian sacks that work really well. I've also packed them in layers in a box with newspaper between the layers and they have lasted for months.
And while lots of folk think potatoes don't freeze well, they do (frozen chips? potatoes? mash? topping frozen shepherd's pies?). They can also be dehydrated and canned so they are shelf stable and then you have years to use them.
To make sure no potato is wasted, I've been busy canning chunks and wedges, and freezing mash. I kept some out to use for baked potatoes.
I do a similar thing when carrots and onions are really cheap too. Being able to buy in bulk, and preserve or use it all up, gives a tight grocery budget a good boost.
In this instance, I spent $24 on 40 kilos of potatoes. If I'd bought them from the supermarket, at the cheapest price I could find as I'm writing this, $1.80 a kilo, I'd have spent $72.
Being prepared to think ahead, and put some time into preserving so nothing is wasted, has kept $48 in the grocery budget.
The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
The Post that Started it All
7. The Weekly MOO Challenge
Freezer Mash
Potatoes have been on sale for the last few weeks (as low as 60 cents a kilo), and of course I've been buying them cheap.
That means that there has been a lot of potatoes in the pantry. Some we will use fresh, but most of them need to be preserved.
I've been making bulk mash and freezing it. Very simple, very handy to have, and a great way to preserve a lot of potatoes, coming into spring and the warmer weather (when they won't keep as long) because really, who doesn't like mashed potato.
For individual serves, use an ice-cream scoop to portion it out, then flash freeze before bagging it up for the freezer.
For meal sized portions measure out however much you want and vacuum seal. No vacuum sealer, no problem. Put it in a ziplock bag, express as much air as possible, seal and freeze. It helps if you use a ziplock bag about the size of the portion so there is less air to express and potentially trap in the bag.
I love having ready to eat potato on hand. I know they don't take long to steam or boil, but when you're busy and tired, being able to pull a packet out of the freezer, thaw it, heat it and eat it is bliss. If you plan ahead, take it out the night before and thaw it in the fridge; if you don't, thaw it in the microwave or in a bowl of hot water, it won't take long. Then you can heat it in the microwave or on the stove or even in the oven if it's on. Easy!
And no wasted potatoes!
Members can log in to read the full article here.
Get in on the fun and discussions here.
8. Cheapskates Buzz
From The Article Archive
How to Use Canned Potatoes
6 Soups to Keep You Warm
The Perfect Roast Potato
This Week's Hot Forum Topics
Growing Potatoes
Can I Freeze Potatoes to Roast on Christmas Day
Roast Potato Ideas Anyone?
Latest Tips
Microfibre Mouth Care
Rethink Your Throw Outs
Shopping Around for Travel Insurance
9. The Cheapskates Club Show
Join Cath and Hannah live Tuesdays and Thursdays on You Tube at 7.30pm AET
Latest Shows
Subscribe to our You Tube channel and never miss a show.
10. Handmade Christmas Challenge
Tags!
This week I've been making tags. Gift tags. Lots of them.
Some of them will go on gifts, but I have the idea to package them up in sets of 20 or so with a mixture of sentiments and gift them to friends and family.
I like to use the dividers from boxes of tea bags to make tags (and bookmarks). They're shaped at both ends, meaning they can be cut in half for gift tags, love a two-for-one craft that is mostly free to make.
Don't forget to check in for our Make It Monday show and tell over at Cheapskates Chatter, we'd love to see what you've made.
Handmade Christmas Central
The Handmade Christmas Forum
11. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $20 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 for a full year.
That's unlimited 24/7 access to EVERYTHING in the Member's Centre!
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
12. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You will be sent a renewal reminder before your subscription is due to renew. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
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.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You either signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
13. Contact Cheapskates
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
Contact Cheapskates
10. Handmade Christmas Challenge
Tags!
This week I've been making tags. Gift tags. Lots of them.
Some of them will go on gifts, but I have the idea to package them up in sets of 20 or so with a mixture of sentiments and gift them to friends and family.
I like to use the dividers from boxes of tea bags to make tags (and bookmarks). They're shaped at both ends, meaning they can be cut in half for gift tags, love a two-for-one craft that is mostly free to make.
Don't forget to check in for our Make It Monday show and tell over at Cheapskates Chatter, we'd love to see what you've made.
Handmade Christmas Central
The Handmade Christmas Forum
11. Join The Cheapskates Club
For just $20 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 for a full year.
That's unlimited 24/7 access to EVERYTHING in the Member's Centre!
Click here to join the Cheapskates Club today!
12. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my email address?
This one is easy. When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name at the top of the page to go straight to your profile page where you can update your details, change your password and find your subscription details.
Not a Cheapskates Club member? Then please use the Changing Details form found here to update your email address.
How do I know when my membership should be renewed?
Memberships are active for one year from the date of joining. You will be sent a renewal reminder before your subscription is due to renew. You can also find your membership expiry date on your profile page.
When you login to the Member's Centre just click on your name to go straight to your profile page where you can will find your join date and your expiry date.
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.
How did I get on this list?
The only way you can get onto our newsletter mailing list is to subscribe yourself. You either signed up to receive our Free Newsletter at our Cheapskates Club Web site or are a Platinum Cheapskates Club member.
13. Contact Cheapskates
The Cheapskates Club -
Showing you how to live life
debt free, cashed up and laughing!
PO Box 5077 Studfield Vic 3152
Contact Cheapskates