Comments on: Adventures in Frugality: Preparing Food in Advance for a House Full of People http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: jodie http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-90243 jodie Sat, 20 Oct 2007 18:52:32 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-90243 There’s a nice recipe for a no-knead bread here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/081mrex.html?_r=1&oref=slogin . It needs to be done ahead of time, and would go really nicely with any sort of a stew or chili.

]]> By: KarenFLA http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-88846 KarenFLA Thu, 18 Oct 2007 01:23:05 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-88846 I have a fast stand by and kids love it even more than pizza and it’s a lot cheaper. A friend of mine taught me to make easy baked ziti. Cook a package of ziti al dente. Mix with a jar of tomato sauce in a deep pyrex baking dish and put a package of the grated mozzarella cheese you buy in the dairy section on top. Cover and back 1/2 hour, serve with salad and a green vegetable. It is very filling.

]]> By: Dawn http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-88723 Dawn Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:32:24 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-88723 We just did this same thing when we had 10 guests for a weekend bus tour. I didn’t freeze the food, but I did use my 2 crock pots to cook the food while we did other things, and had everything prepared before time. the other bonus of this is that you spend time with your guests, instead of being in the kitchen the whole time.

Some things worked, some didn’t, so I’m making some notes to use for next time I have a big group.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-88620 Michelle Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:18:07 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-88620 Trent can you post the recipe for your pizza dough? Does anyone know how I would make this? THanks!!

]]> By: Rachel http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-88563 Rachel Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:48:02 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-88563 My opinion is that anyone who stays in you home from 3 to 7 days should be contributing to the grocery budget as well. They should purchase some milk, bread, coffee, and the ingredients to cook at least one meal while in your home. Those that stay the 7 days should at least treat you and your family out to dinner one night. I always do this when visiting family, but they never do it when coming to my home, guess they don’t pick up on the hint very well!

]]> By: Gloria http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-88537 Gloria Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:46:43 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-88537 Trent,

I love your daily comments. Really starts my day thinking about ways I can save money for my family. Thanks for all the great tips. Now, how about giving us some recipes?

]]> By: ADD http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-88098 ADD Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:17:05 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-88098 “…just unthaw them, slice them, and toss them in the oven to bake.”

“Unthaw” means “freeze.” :-)

Great tips, though!

]]> By: Amanda http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87980 Amanda Tue, 16 Oct 2007 23:59:39 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87980 You can freeze potato salad? I assume yours doesn’t include mayonnaise, then. Mayo separates after being thawed.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87898 Lisa Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:48:57 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87898 Great planning Trent!

You inspire me!!

Can you post the recipes for the cinnamon rolls and egg casserole, please

…Lisa

]]> By: Never the Same River Twice http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87825 Never the Same River Twice Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:31:07 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87825 Trent, I can tell that you’re a Midwestern boy by that menu!

Seriously, though, when I stay at someone else’s house, I generally buy some groceries and/or pay for a meal out. To me that’s part of being a good guest.

]]> By: m http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87793 m Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:53:20 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87793 I’m curious about how you make homemade bread. Maybe a recipe? Your plan sounds great by the way. The dishes are very different from the ones we eat in our family (we are vegetarian anyway, so that rules out a lot of your ingredients right there); I love being able to glance through a “window” into other people’s fridges and kitchens!

]]> By: db http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87790 db Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:50:40 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87790 @Tyler:

Stop being a food nazi. This is a decently balanced menu. There is no reason to expect they are going to be overindulging themselves and besides its nobody else’s business what an individual chooses to eat.

]]> By: s http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87766 s Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:19:51 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87766 @Tyler:
Aside from the cinnamon rolls and bratwurst, the menu doesn’t look all that unhealthy. At least not if the bread and pizza crust are whole grain, and the meats and cheese of a low fat variety (they may not be, but it’s not specified either way).

The rest (beans, eggs, veggies, and stews) are generally pretty good for you.

]]> By: Rob in Madrid http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87760 Rob in Madrid Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:00:32 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87760 man oh man your making me hungry!!!!

]]> By: Kate http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87754 Kate Tue, 16 Oct 2007 19:34:16 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87754 Trent, have you checked out The Best Make Ahead Recipe cookbook from the America’s Test Kitchen? I got it through inter-library loan at my local library a few weeks ago. It’s a great cookbook with really delicious recipes, such as these that I’ve made: spinach-mushroom lasagna, broccoli rabe and sausage lasagna, and pork stew with fennel, prunes and carrots. I copied several recipes before returning it. They have chapters for crockpot, make-and-freeze, and planned leftovers. I may end up buying it as a xmas gift for a family member. I recommend you look for it sometime.

]]> By: Emily http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87728 Emily Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:24:21 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87728 While Martha Stewart isn’t usually that concerned about budget ingredients she is the queen of this sort of planning. And almost everything she does is made from scratch. If you notice in her magazines she usually outlines the “prepare ahead” steps on all her recipes and will even tell you to how long certain items will stay “fresh” in the freezer. Her old holiday magazines are a great resource for recipes and ideas for feeding large groups. And best of all you can get them at the library for free.

If you make as much ahead of time as possible, and you get all your cleaning done early you will have nothing to do but relax and enjoy you guests and the holidays – it takes away the stress and pressure that most people feel during the holidays.

]]> By: Amanda http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87717 Amanda Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:51:44 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87717 Ooh – please share the recipe for the red wine beef stew!

]]> By: Tyler http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87710 Tyler Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:29:39 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87710 This is also a plan for weight gain as well. I see nothing but low quality carbs in all these meals. Go for complex carbs and carbs with a low glycemic load. Otherwise, everyone will be tired and fat after your weekend.

]]> By: Vixen http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87703 Vixen Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:01:44 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87703 I’m assuming there is virtually no room in your freezer at this point. :-D

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87702 Jennifer Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:01:33 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/10/16/adventures-in-frugality-preparing-food-in-advance-for-a-house-full-of-people/#comment-87702 You nailed it! Planning ahead and planning easy to prepare and freezable things is so important – to your stress level and your budget. I just implemented this strategy last weekend when my inlaws came for 4 days. Yes it was only the 2 of them with the 6 of us. But when I spent the entire week prior and most of the weekend of their visit very sick, those freezable meals and all that planning paid off in a big way! I have most of my family coming for Christmas and I am already starting to plan.

Enjoy your weekend!

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