Are you Cooped up?

Some of my "fans" have been asking me to compile my frugal tips for everyone to see. Especially my ability to feed my family organically on such a small monthly grocery budget ($300-$500). Do I shop at the usual places people think to go for organic foods, "Whole Paycheck"? NOPE, I never step foot in there unless I happen to need a very specific item. Yet at the same time I don't coupon horde either, not like there is a lot of organic food item coupons out there anyway! The simple answer for us is Co-op.

What is a co-op you ask? Well then, let me tell you in one word it's Awesome! A co-op (short for cooperative) is a group of people who get together to order items direct from the supplier usually resulting in close to wholesale cost. Instead of spending retail prices at a major store. There are catches of course, usually they require you to order a minimum amount or some even require you order monthly to keep your "co-op" status. This is why you get together with other families to order together. Co-op items could be anything from food to clothes to toys. You name it!

So This is my little secret for cheap groceries, vitamins, and sundries. It takes some time finding co-ops in your area, usually they are only found by word of mouth, so they take some time to find and some research and smoozing on your part to get in. I have a co-op for everything. Here is a list of the co-ops I am currently using to supplement what my family uses from produce to shampoo!

www.azurestandard.com

Organic and non organic produce, dairy, supplements, packaged food, sundries, staples, and more!

www.frontiercoop.com

herbs, spices, and everything you think you would find in a Whole Paycheck

www.bar10beef.com

Local ranch who delivers healthy grass fed beef to the Las Vegas area (they ship as well)

www.coxhoney.com

Not local honey but they assure me its raw!

www.bountifulbaskets.org

Organic produce at rock bottom prices

there are more produce co-ops like this in town as well; www.tbsteva.org (strictly organic), www.angelfoodministries.com

Now I also had a co-op for raw milk and dairy items but since we are now dairy free I haven't used them in a long while. If you are local to Las Vegas there is a blog you should fallow if you are serious about getting the best deal on the healthiest stuff for your family. A good friend of mine started it and has since moved on but the spirit still remains. Living Healthy in Las Vegas. If you are not local then do some searching. Look for moms groups on living frugally on yahoo or google or even meetup. Or even try emailing or calling the company you want to participate in and see if they have a co-op in your area that you can get in on! This is really the hardest part is just finding the groups!

Now that is only one of my little secrets for living organically and frugally. Do I only order from co-ops, no, I also shop at grocery stores and next week I'll show you my little secret treasures!

Grandma Brook's Recipes

Shortly after my grandmother had a stroke she asked me one year what I wanted for my birthday now that she could no longer make me my annual apple pie. My response was that I wanted a recipe book. All her famous/favorite recipes in one place. I told her I would come transcribe for her so she wouldn't have to write it all down. But of course she did anyway. Well over the years I had misplaced these dang things with all my moving around. Thankfully I found some!!! Not all, but a few and as I find more I will add. I have to also say that these recipes require a bit of common cooking sense, as she didn't include every step just the basics. My comments, substitutes and replacements are in italics. ENJOY!

Here is the treasure I found this week:

Tamale Corn
1 lb Ground Beef
1 med onion
1 med can of diced tomatoes
2 cans of whole kernel corn
1 large tamale cut up (she never mentions what kind so I always just did whatever I felt like at the time)

Brown beef and onion, then add corn, bring to a boil then add cut up tamale-don't over cook after adding tamale. Top with grated cheese if desired- you can also season with garlic, salt and pepper..

You will notice she didn't mention the tomatoes.. I assumed they went in with the corn. And she always used cheddar when I ate it at her house. I have made it also with fresh and/or frozen veggies and with cornbread instead of tamale. For added liquid and flavor I have added 1/4 c of green enchilada sauce, i'm sure red would be just as good. All were yummy variations!

Oatmeal Tollhouse Cookies
1 1/2 C sifted flour,  1tsp soda, 1tsp salt < sift together
1 C shortening
3/4 C brown sugar
3/4 C white sugar
2 eggs
1Tbsp hot water
1 C nuts
1 pkg chocolate chips
2 C oatmeal
1tsp Vanilla

Sift Flour, soda, and salt - add to the creamed shortening and sugar - add eggs one at a time. mix in other ingredients in order. Drop by teaspoonful on greased baking sheet and bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes.

This must be where I got my love of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!!! I never knew, or I should say I never remembered.  I have used butter as a shortening replacement. I have also made these egg free since I have allergic friends. I use 1/4 applesauce, or 1 squishy banana (my least favorite), or 2 Tbsp arrowroot powder and 2 Tbsp water.




Lemon Cake Top Pie (I hear this is uncle Kenny's favorite)
1 uncooked crust 9"
1 C sugar
1Tbsp butter
2 eggs separated
2Tbsp flour
1 lemon, grated & juiced
1 C milk

Cream sugar and butter - beat egg yolks and add to creamed mixture. Add flour, grated lemon peel (2 tsp),  lemon juice (3 Tbsp), and milk. Beat Egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold into prepared mix. pour in
crust and bake 10 minutes in 450 degree oven. Reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake 20 minutes longer or until brown.

I haven't tried this one yet but I can totally taste it right now, especially with a lemon from her tree!!! Those dang Chernobyl looking things were damn tasty!




Grandma GG's Coconut Pineapple Pie
1 uncooked pie crust
1 C coconut
1 cube oleo
3tsp flour
4 eggs
1 C crushed pineapple

Bake at 350 for one hour.

Notice no directions, good luck with that! And what the heck is Oleo??




Grandma Phyllis' Sugar Shortbread Cookies (Mindy's favorite cookie)
1C flour
1/3 C sugar
1/8tsp salt
4Tbsp corn starch
1/4lb real butter (not Oleo)
1C walnuts chopped

mix all above until crumbly - then knead at least 5 minutes until sticks into a ball. Flatten walnut sized pieces on a cookie sheet. When done should be yellow - not brown while still warm sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Damn skippy those are my favorite!!! no baking instruction for these. I do 350 for 10 min and watch. 




"Sally's Favorite Delightful Coconut Pie
1C unsifted flour
1 stick melted oleo
1/2 C finely chopped nuts (walnuts)

Mix above together into 9" or 10" pie plate and bake at 350 about 40 minutes
Mix 8oz pkg of cream cheese with 1 cup powdered sugar and add 1 cup cool whip. Blend all 3 and set aside. Mix 1 pkg instant vanilla pudding sm box with 1 1/2 cups milk - add 1 cup coconut - spread cheese mix in pie crust, add pudding, then add 1 cup cool whip on top - keep refrigerated.

I should make this some time....




Goulash
1lb burger
1 med onion
1 med can diced tomatoes
1 small pkg elbow macaroni (cooked)
1 pkg dried spaghetti sauce mix

Brown beef and onion, add the rest, season with garlic add shredded cheese if desired.

Still one of my favorite and easiest dinner dishes!




Apple Pie
Crust for 2 layer 9" pie (
4 or 5 sliced green apples (granny smith)
1C sugar
1Tbsp Flour
1/2 cube margarine or butter

Bake 425 oven 1 hr puncture top crust 3-4 times

Pastry 9" crust bottom
1 1/2 C flour
1/4tsp salt
1/2 C shortening
2 to 4 Tbsp ice water

Pastry 9" crust top
2 1/2 C flour
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 C shortening
6 to 7 Tbsp ice water

no directions again, so hopefully your savvy enough to figure it out.