Living on a Budget

Living on a Budget

LIVING ON A BUDGET

 The aroma of a roast cooking in the oven, as you open the door from being gone, is a pleasant

smell. Fresh baked bread smells linger for a day or two after baking.

As a homemaker, I tried to cook and feed my family with wholesome food and stay within a

budget. Simple meals with the least amount of prepared additions was my goal. For many years we

raised gardens and had fruit trees. I learned to can and preserve those harvests. Garden produce always

tasted so good.

In our senior years, our doctors have told us to eat less salt, sugar, less processed foods and

exercise. As a homemaker I try to do that. The vegetables are usually frozen, canned, or fresh with

seasoning only during the cooking process. Onions and celery are always kept in my home to flavor

those foods. Whole grain breads are made on a regular basis

This afternoon as we entered our home there was a wonderful smell of meat cooking in the oven. Our local market has a sale quite often on round rump roasts. I browned a 3 pound roast on the cook top this morning, salted and peppered it, added 1whole sliced onion, 3 stalks of celery cut up, and

1-2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce. I also added about 1/2-1 cup of water. I took it off the stove

top and put it in the oven at 250 degrees. Four hours later it was ready. As I was browning the roast I

peeled and quartered 4 large potatoes and 6-8 carrots cut in half. I set them aside in a bowl of water.

Preparation time was 1 hour. When I removed the roast from the oven I put it back on the stove top and

turned on the burner. I drained the potatoes and carrots and dumped them into the pan with the roast to

cook an additional 15 minutes while I set the table and prepared the other items for the meal.

A loaf of bread, a salad, and a simple dessert such as canned peaches is all that you need.

Another vegetable could be added if needed. I did not make a gravy but put the juice from the roast in a

bowl with a gravy ladle. We like it that way.

The leftover roast, potatoes, and carrots are good for another meal. For us the roast may provide

another 3 meals because the meat was melt-in-your- mouth delicious. Suggestions for other meals

would be barbeque sandwiches, beef and noodle, and beef stew to name a few.

The roast was on sale for $2.99. I paid just over $9.00 for it. There is no bone and no fat. NO

WASTE! Compared to eating out or purchasing a package of chicken nuggets or a processed food it is

cheaper and healthier. It is healthier for you to eat the simpler foods which do not add the calories, salts

and preservatives to the diet. The processed foods seem to make me want to eat more and more often. I

was full after the meal of roast.

We have a freezer to store these items until I need them. I will watch sales and purchase a

replacement soon. I also do this with whole chickens. Many meals will be made from just one chicken.

Trying to plan and make meals that are healthy and a good value to prepare is a challenge but with

media information it can be done.

   Round rump roast, potatoes, and carrots.

In future writings I would like to set up a list of grocery items to keep in stock to have on hand
for hospitality. Whether it is having visitors for a meal or preparing a meal or dish to carry out for a
need.