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Posts:
404
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jul 22, 2008 7:30 AM
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I like to lightly butter the bottom of the casserole and then add the onions, potatoes, carrots, seasoning, dots of butter, ham and go up from there. The very last layer I have just potatoes.
And, you're right, wait til fall, it's WAY too hot right now....
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45
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jul 20, 2008 1:07 PM
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> Sure.... My mom called this "Ham Dish", simple and to
> the point I guess.
>
> Ham - bite size pieces
> Potatoes - sliced about 1/4 in, maybe thinner
> Onions - sliced the same
> Carrots - sliced the same
> Butter
> Salt & Pepper - I use Seasoned salt, whichever you
> like
> Milk or Cream - I use full fat milk or 1/2 & 1/2,
> sometimes a combination, makes a thicker, creamier
> "sauce"
>
> Sorry there are no amounts. It's just a matter of
> layering all the above, being sure to season EACH
> layer & dotting w/butter as you go. I like 3 or 4
> layers. So how much of any one thing depends on the
> size of dish you are using.
> Fill a little over 1/2 way w/milk and/or cream. Cover
> w/tin foil and put it on a cookie sheet or something
> to catch the overflow because it WILL overflow.
> Bake @350, covered, probably close to an hour. I
> uncover for the last 15 minutes or so to brown &
> crisp up the top.
> You could certainly add some cheese and brown that up
> also but I prefer the "plain & simple" version. Hope
> you enjoy...
> One last thing, if it looks like you should need to
> add liquid, which happens occasionally, be sure that
> what you add is not cold. Happy Ham Dish......
I have made something similar to this in my crockpot, just cook on low all day (or over night). My variations are 1.) make an egg and milk mixture and cover all ingredients or 2.) make rue and melt velveeta into it, then pour over mixture. I don't usually add carrots and sometimes I subsitute bacon for the ham. I have also used bread in place of the potatoes or frozen hashbrowns and sometimes I add a little hot sauce to my liquid mixture for a little kick. This is a great way to use up items that are about to expire!
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Moderator_Deanne
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345
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jul 20, 2008 10:33 AM
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> Deanne,
> Very welcome.
> If you "take the plunge" and make it, I'd love to
> hear the feedback, good or bad...
It probably won't be until fall, but I will let you know!
When you layer is there any particular order you've found works best for flavoring and/or cooking?
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Posts:
404
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jul 19, 2008 9:58 PM
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Deanne,
Very welcome.
If you "take the plunge" and make it, I'd love to hear the feedback, good or bad...
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Moderator_Deanne
Posts:
345
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jul 19, 2008 12:15 PM
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> Sure.... My mom called this "Ham Dish", simple and to
> the point I guess.
>
> Ham - bite size pieces
> Potatoes - sliced about 1/4 in, maybe thinner
> Onions - sliced the same
> Carrots - sliced the same
> Butter
> Salt & Pepper - I use Seasoned salt, whichever you
> like
> Milk or Cream - I use full fat milk or 1/2 & 1/2,
> sometimes a combination, makes a thicker, creamier
> "sauce"
>
> Sorry there are no amounts. It's just a matter of
> layering all the above, being sure to season EACH
> layer & dotting w/butter as you go. I like 3 or 4
> layers. So how much of any one thing depends on the
> size of dish you are using.
> Fill a little over 1/2 way w/milk and/or cream. Cover
> w/tin foil and put it on a cookie sheet or something
> to catch the overflow because it WILL overflow.
> Bake @350, covered, probably close to an hour. I
> uncover for the last 15 minutes or so to brown &
> crisp up the top.
> You could certainly add some cheese and brown that up
> also but I prefer the "plain & simple" version. Hope
> you enjoy...
> One last thing, if it looks like you should need to
> add liquid, which happens occasionally, be sure that
> what you add is not cold. Happy Ham Dish......
Thank you!
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Posts:
404
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jul 16, 2008 10:34 AM
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Sure.... My mom called this "Ham Dish", simple and to the point I guess.
Ham - bite size pieces
Potatoes - sliced about 1/4 in, maybe thinner
Onions - sliced the same
Carrots - sliced the same
Butter
Salt & Pepper - I use Seasoned salt, whichever you like
Milk or Cream - I use full fat milk or 1/2 & 1/2, sometimes a combination, makes a thicker, creamier "sauce"
Sorry there are no amounts. It's just a matter of layering all the above, being sure to season EACH layer & dotting w/butter as you go. I like 3 or 4 layers. So how much of any one thing depends on the size of dish you are using.
Fill a little over 1/2 way w/milk and/or cream. Cover w/tin foil and put it on a cookie sheet or something to catch the overflow because it WILL overflow.
Bake @350, covered, probably close to an hour. I uncover for the last 15 minutes or so to brown & crisp up the top.
You could certainly add some cheese and brown that up also but I prefer the "plain & simple" version. Hope you enjoy...
One last thing, if it looks like you should need to add liquid, which happens occasionally, be sure that what you add is not cold. Happy Ham Dish......
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Moderator_Deanne
Posts:
345
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jul 12, 2008 8:53 PM
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What's left can turn into a ham
> & potato casserole (my favorite)
Any chance I could get you to post your recipe for me? This sounds like something the kids would like.
Oh, and cornbread is heavenly on a cold winter day.
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Posts:
404
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jul 11, 2008 9:32 PM
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Had another thought as I was in the grocery store today, Cook's (or whichever brand you prefer, I think Cook's is the best) smoked, cooked ham shank or butt portion. When they are on sale I always pick one or 2 up. 1st meal would be simmering the shank or butt in enough water to cover 2/3 for 1-2+ hrs, depending on the size. Cool in the simmering water, slice & serve w/whatever you like. What's left can turn into a ham & potato casserole (my favorite), mac & cheese w/ham, ham salad, ham & eggs, ham pot pies, ham & shells & pea casserole, ham sandwiches, ham & cheddar spiked cornbread, so many uses. Last, but not least, the simmering liquid which WAS saved would be the base you use for split pea soup using the now carved up bone & a bag of split peas & sliced carrots & onions & celery. The reserved "ham water" along w/the ham bone, etc makes THEE best pea soup ever. My friends & neighbors can't wait for me to "boil" a ham because the know that they WILL be getting pea soup when I've exhausted all my other options.
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Posts:
404
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jul 6, 2008 11:34 PM
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rzdoucet.. as you can see, ask a question and you get a ton of ideas. All of these sounds useful, hope you think so too. My only suggestion, I may have overlooked it below (sorry), would be to buy a large turkey, more than 1 if you have the freezer space, when they are at their very cheapest, usually around the "turkey" holidays (better YET, just AFTER the turkey holidays - just take notice of the "use by/Good til dates"). Much meat for your pennies and you can do LOADS with the leftovers... Pot pies, soups, rice & gravy, straight up sandwiches, chili, tacos, vegetables & pasta, tons of stuff.....
Just a side tip, I never make any kind of poultry w/o brining it first, ever. Basic brine, 1 c coarse salt/1/2 c sugar, 1qt water. For a whole turkey, brine in the fridge overnite. Just a basic, multiply it up from there, add whatever else you might like. Hope you found some useful stuff, welcome....
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Posts:
2
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jul 6, 2008 11:29 AM
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I shop at Aldi's...granted you have to bag or box your own groceries but, once you get the hang of it it's not that much trouble...I have purchased reusable shoppping bags and a cooler bag...their Appleton Ribs are great
my family of 4 can eat on $250 every 2 weeks but, we do treat ourselves to dinner out on the weekends
Milk, egg, sugar and flour are the cheapest i've seen
can also purchase large bags of frozen chicken breasts
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Moderator_Deanne
Posts:
345
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jul 1, 2008 8:52 PM
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> recipes from my mother who raised seven children and
> you can subsitute items and we all love these
> recipes.
> #1 Brunswick stew ( she called it)
> try two pounds of Ground beef cooked drainded
> 1 can of kernal corn to 1 lb of meat
> add around 6 cups fo 8 cups water and beef base in
> the jar to taste.
> add salt & pepper to taste
> thicken with flour and water serve over bread.
> cheap and kids love it. and add onions opp.
I've heard of this but never tired it. I'm curious, Brunswick Maine? Close to home! I'm wondering if that's why I've heard of it.
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jun 30, 2008 9:37 AM
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recipes from my mother who raised seven children and you can subsitute items and we all love these recipes.
#1 Brunswick stew ( she called it)
try two pounds of Ground beef cooked drainded
1 can of kernal corn to 1 lb of meat
add around 6 cups fo 8 cups water and beef base in the jar to taste.
add salt & pepper to taste
thicken with flour and water serve over bread.
cheap and kids love it. and add onions opp.
Goolash
macaroni , ground beef, ragu or tomato sauce with seasonings salt & perpper, beef base with meat when cooking cheese on top velveeta works best.
go further hamburgers
ground beef
little beef base
1 egg and 1 slice of bread to 2 lbs of meat
chopped onions (opp.)
1 can of p&s muchrooms
2 tablespoons of a-1 sauce
form and cook med low heat with lid or in oven is great too.
we used to make them little put on small buns or rolls for drive in.
cooking for family teri
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Moderator_Deanne
Posts:
345
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jun 28, 2008 8:53 PM
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> Ialso have a large family and one income. I have
> found a local grocier that puts together a meat
> bundle for me. I tell them what I want and because I
> buy so much at a time I get a better deal. I usually
> spend 200-300 dollars on meat the bonus is that it
> lasts me 3-4 months so the only shopping I do is for
> vegies dairy and goodies
A lot of deli's will give discounts on bulk end pieces, too. I often get my cheese that way.
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Posts:
1,127
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jun 28, 2008 12:33 AM
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This was in my inbox tonight:
Creamy Chicken Risotto
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut up
1 can Cream of Mushroom with Roasted Garlic Soup (could use reduced fat)
1 can Chicken Broth
3/4 cup water
1 small carrot, shredded
2 green onions, sliced
1 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
Directions:
Heat oil in skillet. Add chicken and cook until browned, stirring often. Add soup, broth, water, carrot, green onions and cheese. Heat to a boil. Stir in rice. Cover and cook over low heat 25 min. or until done. Serves 4.
Thought you could toss in a couple of carrots, and extra rice and liquid to help stretch it a little farther.
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Moderator_Sky
Posts:
143
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Re: Cooking 4 A LARGE Family...On a TIGHT Budget
Posted:
Jun 27, 2008 9:35 PM
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> Ialso have a large family and one income. I have
> found a local grocier that puts together a meat
> bundle for me. I tell them what I want and because I
> buy so much at a time I get a better deal. I usually
> spend 200-300 dollars on meat the bonus is that it
> lasts me 3-4 months so the only shopping I do is for
> vegies dairy and goodies
That's a great idea. So many people seem to just take for granted the price tags. And if you have a butcher or smaller store in your area to negotiate with, your chances are even better on getting an amazing deal.
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