Food Budgeting ~ How to eat well, but save more!

Think your food dollar doesn't go as far as it used to? You're right. In fact, for many people, rising food costs are creating a significant household hardship. It would be one thing if skyrocketing costs meant that we needed to forgo extravagant delicacies at the family dinner table. Unfortunately, staples like bread, milk, cereal, meat, poultry, and eggs are hardest hit.

There are a number of reasons for the crunch, including oil prices that cause the cost of food production and transportation to rise significantly. It's also a factor that corn prices have more than doubled and soybean prices nearly tripled recently, thanks in part to the boost in ethanol and biodiesel. Weather disasters have devastated some crops, and a weak U.S. dollar and high global demand for food all figure into the higher bottom line.

The outlook for food prices isn't promising, but that doesn't mean you need to sacrifice at the dinner table. While you may need to make some minor adjustments in your menu planning, shopping, and cooking habits, there's no need to forgo either flavor or health while tightening your food budget. In fact, by stocking up on some basic staples, seasonal produce, and spices, you can serve your family meals that are delicious, healthful, and frugal.

Eat fresh:

Fresh fruits and veggies are economical, not to mention good for you! Shopping on Wednesdays are a great way to save as most retailers come out with their sale ad. 

Stock up when on sale:

Buy in bulk when cheap. Make room in your pantry. In the end it will save you $ and allow you to mix and match different dishes for variety.

Clip coupons:

Many times it is worth spending extra time to clip the Sunday paper's coupons. Another way to save money, but also buy brands of items you wouldn't normally purchase.

What are some ways you save money for your family?

Chicken and Feta Cheese GOLD Wrap

Chicken and Feta Cheese GOLD Wrap

So good you'll make this over and over again!

2 (4 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 cup Brothers GOLD
8 sun-dried tomatoes (not oil packed)
1 cup boiling water
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
4 cups loosely packed torn fresh spinach
4 (10 inch) whole wheat tortillas
1/4 cup sun-dried tomato dressing

Directions
In a large resealable plastic bag, combine chicken breasts and 1/4 cup Brothers GOLD. Seal, and refrigerate for 4-6 hours.

Preheat grill for high heat. Combine sun-dried tomatoes and hot water in a small bowl. Set aside for 10 minutes, drain, and cut tomatoes into thin slices.

Lightly oil grill grate. Discard marinade, and place chicken on grill. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, turning once, or until done.

Cut chicken into strips, and place in a medium bowl with sliced tomatoes, feta, and spinach. Toss with remaining 1/4 cup Brothers GOLD. Distribute mixture between the four tortillas, and wrap. Either cut in half and enjoy cold, or place briefly back on grill until the tortilla turns warm and crispy. Enjoy!

Great Food....In Pictures

You Need These To Make The Above.....Hungry Yet?!

For The Love Of Great Sauce

When a barbecue is on the horizon, then great sauce is strictly called for. What's barbecue without great sauce? For the love of great sauce begins with Brothers. 

“All normal people love meat. If I went to a barbeque and there was no meat, “Yo Goober! Where’s the meat? I’m trying to impress people here Lisa. You don’t win friends with salad.” — Homer Simpson


“Grilling, broiling, barbecuing – whatever you want to call it – is an art, not just a matter of building a pyre and throwing on a piece of meat as a sacrifice to the gods of the stomach.” – James Beard, ‘Beard on Food’ (1974)

The Best Hot Chocolate Recipe Ever

Curl up on the couch with a snugly blanket, your favorite book and a cup of this delectable hot chocolate made with Brown Suga. AMAZING!

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup white sugar
1 pinch of salt
1/3 cup of boiling water
3 1/2 cups milk
3/4 t. vanilla extract
1/2 cup half & half cream
1 T. Brown Suga (each cup of hot cocoa)

Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add 1 T. of Brown Suga to each mug; stir well. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings if you desire. Enjoy!

Leah’s Brothers GOLD Heavenly Barbecue Meat Loaf Recipe

Fall is officially upon us (despite the 98 degree temps here in North Texas today)! Meatloaf is spectacular whenever and wherever, but I find that it's extra tasty when their is a chill in the air. Or in my neck of the woods, when the air conditioner quits running for hours at a time. Grab a jar of Brothers GOLD this weekend and cook to your heart's content! You're family (and your stomach) will thank you for it. I guarantee it. Enjoy!

This is the meat loaf your grandmother will WISH she had created, but will be glad that somebody did! We have been told by many that they will NEVER eat meat loaf any other way. In fact, it will make you think you’ve died and gone to meat loaf heaven! Make it and surprise your loved ones. It’s sure to be a hit. Makes 2 loaves and serves 6-8 appetites. For a smaller 4 person serving simply cut all ingredients in half. or make the whole dang recipe and freeze the other loaf. You’ll be glad you did. Preheat oven at 350 degrees.

4 lbs. lean ground turkey, note: “extra lean” makes a drier meat loaf
12-14 saltine crackers, crushed (The square single cracker portion)
1/2 cup of Brothers GOLD into loaf mixture and set aside 1/2 cup to pour on top of loaves after they have baked for 45 minutes. See below.
2 eggs beaten
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon of salt, optional, the crackers and BBQ sauce will salt

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Prepare a glass 9”x 12” baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Divide loaf mixture into two equal sized loaves and place both loaves into baking dish side-by-side. Place dish in oven on middle shelf and bake for 45 minutes. Remove baking pan from oven and slowly pour 3/4 cup of Brothers GOLD evenly over both loaves. Place baking dish back into the still heated oven for 15 minutes. Remove dish from oven and serve. Each loaf yields 4 sliced servings.

Baked French Toast

Baked French Toast

12 slices cinnamon bread or cinnamon raisin bread

1 pint half & half or light cream

2 large eggs

6 T. margarine

2 T. firmly packed brown sugar

2 t. vanilla extract

1 t. grated orange peel

1/4 t. ground cinnamon

1/8 t. ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In lightly greased 13x9-inch baking pan, arrange bread slices in two layers.

In large bowl, blend remaining ingredients with a wire whisk. Evenly pour over bread slices, pressing bread down until some liquid is absorbed and bread does not float. Bake 45 minutes or until center reaches 160 degrees and is golden brown in color. 

Serve hot and drizzle with warm Brown Suga. Add orange zest for color.

Makes 6 servings.

Kitchen Clean Up 101

We all love to spend time in the kitchen! But, how do you keep it squeaky clean while saving time? Here's some of the best clean up methods on the planet.

1. Wipe up spills in the refrigerator as soon as you notice them, and if you have time, do the rest of the shelf. Try to find time to do this once a month.

2. Go through just one refrigerator or pantry shelf when you have a moment and toss anything that's past the expiration date or that you'll never use again.

3. Take the time to toss out unused takeout disposable containers, glass jars and condiment packages you've collected and know you'll never use again.

4. Wipe fingerprints off all the kitchen cabinets. If you have wood cabinets, a good cleaning with oil (such as Old English) will make your cabinets sparkle and your kitchen smell amazing!

5. Sweep the floor well BEFORE mopping. This will help you avoid missing the little cracker pieces left behind by your sweet angel. :)

6. As you cook, rinse dirty utensils, pots and pans and put them in the dishwasher. You'll have the kitchen in good order when you sit down to eat, and you'll have less to clean up after dinner.

7. Ease the weekday morning rush by setting the table for breakfast before you go to bed. This helps tremendously when your kids are in school. Start your early mornings out right! Put out cereal boxes, sweeteners and other nonperishable items. Prepare the coffeemaker and set the timer.

Hunger is the best sauce in the world. ~Cervantes

Grocery Shopping Budget Know-How

Grocery shopping is one of the first places you can learn how to be frugal. I am amazed when I go to the grocery store how many times people are spending so much more money than myself and getting half the amount of stuff I have within my cart. So, how do I do it?

1) Clip Coupons - Set aside some time every week to go through your newspaper and clip coupons. I found that it's really helpful to organize them by category and keep them in a notebook. You'd be amazed how much money you can save a week for your family!

2) Grocery Ads - Dare to compare! Take a peek at your local grocery store ads each week for specials. Only buy the things you'll know you'll use. And when you do find something that your family loves and it's on sale, buy in bulk. Don't buy one package of pasta when you know you eat it often. Buy 3-5 boxes of the same product. The savings ad up!

3) Plan Ahead - Plan your meals ahead of time. If you walk the grocery store aisles in search of your weekly meals without planning ahead, 9 times out of 10 you are going to end up buying more than you need. Take a list of items needed to complete a week full of meals for your family and stick to it!

4) Cook & Freeze - Make meals ahead of time and freeze them. When you do so, you'll always have an outlet for a good, hearty meal. This will help avoid last minute fast food temptations when your child is late to soccer the list of errands seems endless. When you have something in the freezer, it's much easier to push aside the idea of spending money in a drive-thru.

What do you do to save time and money for your family when it comes to meals? Let us know!

Get The Grill Ready, Brothers Lovers!

Labor Day is only a few days away. It's the second most popular holiday for firing up the grill for good food and great fun with friends and family!

If you haven't picked up a jar of Brothers Gold for the main course and a jar of Brown Suga for a spectacular dessert, then it's time to find a retailer near you! Take a peek here...

In the meantime, check out this great website to learn more about what gear you need to have the best grilling party ever. You can thank us later. Happy Cooking!

The Importance of a Family Dinner

Family dinners? Who's got the time nowadays?

Studies show only about 1/3 of U.S. families eat dinner together most nights. The time-honored, slow-paced family dinner of past generations now looks more like a frantic pit stop, where family members simply refuel before beginning their evening activities. But consider this: Sitting down at the table together is still one of the best ways for families to grow and stay connected.

Making family dinners a priority is not easy, but the long-term benefits are well worth the effort. The family dinner is such a great way to catch up with your children and your spouse. It can give all family members a chance to share their lives and to receive encouragement and support. Regular family meals also provide children with a much-needed safe haven of stability in a world that is often confusing and utterly demanding.

Take time to make time to sit down at the dinner table with your family. You'll be glad you did.

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