Saving Money and the "what's for dinner" blues

Being new to the whole coupon scene I find saving any amount of money a good day. We don't really stock pile much food and the items that are on coupons we really can't have due to the Dairy allergy or just to much sodium. Prepacked foods that fall under the coupons most if not all have some form of dairy in it, or are just so unhealthy for toddlers that I can't justify purchasing it for when I am to lazy to cook.

I have been trying to cook simple, quick and of course dairy free meals. How has been possible for us since we live on pretty much a single income and I have been taking care of both our food allergy son but also his non food allergy big (15 months older) sister? Some days are a simple pasta dinners or more interesting crock pot meals, for days where i am either to busy or to tired to try to take care of dinner.

Here are some ways that I am able to save money and maybe some of them might help your or your friends family to be able to provide food.

1) Wic- Now I know that there is a stigma to this government program, but let me say that they have been a very important part to our success as providing food for both of our kids. My son was allergic to not only animal dairy but all animal dairy including my breast milk. We went through 6 different formulas till we were able to find one that he was able to keep down at least some of when he was eating. He was born with a few medical issues making feeding him and giving him nutrients he needed to survive. The most expensive of these trail formulas was $75 a bottle and the bottles were smaller then the size of a small Gerber formula container. Wic was always able to give us the formulas we needed and now that he  is over a year old they are now giving us his toddler formula as well. His current formula is $19 a can sure that sounds doable but he was going through 5 cans a month and still is that formula alone cost roughly $95. That is JUST his formula they also give my daughter her milk, beans, bread, eggs, juice, and we get a monthly allowance of $16 for fresh fruits and veggies. If you qualify for Wic and are having issues with being able to provide healthy vitamin filled foods I suggest really looking into this program. Because of them my kids and my family are able to eat fresher better foods in a processed unhealthy world.

2) Rewards cards- I use Winn-Dixie for a majority of my shopping. Though it is more expensive then Aldi which I also shop at and Walmart that I refuse to shop at due to quality, Winn- Dixie has a great baby perks system and the amazing FUEL PERKS. The perks system is really simple sign up for the free Winn Dixie card. I signed up for both fuel perks and baby perks. For every $50 or if you purchase items that have fuel perks attached you get money towards gas off at Shell locations. Baby perks gives you coupons every month for items that you purchase a lot plus coupons for Diapers, Wipes, baby food, and baby item/bath product every packet. As well as every $25 you get money towards baby perks. With this alone I save tons of money, not to mention reward members also get certain foods on sale like fresh fruits and veggies even meats.

3) Coupons and Coupons site- I also use coupons from coupons.com as well as coupons that come in the smart source we get in the Thursday paper. I also have started to use Saving star which has a fresh fruit or veggie as a featured product for coupons. Today the healthy item is 20% off broccoli. This site is connected to my Winn Dixie card so when I purchase the item it gets taken off at the register.

4) Pinterest- I bet some of you are thinking, "How can a site that makes you want to put pom poms on pine cones for a Thanksgiving centerpiece help you save money on food?" It is really simple and one of my biggest money saving secrets. When I go shopping I stop at the Meats section and see what is either on sale or cheap. Then I log onto pinterest through the stores wifi and type in the piece of meat and recipes. If I find something that sounds good, that I have either all the ingredients for or most of them, and if it is a dairy free or easily turned into a dairy free meal, I buy it. Not only does it keep cost down but keeps the kitchen interesting. Just yesterday I made a meal of Pork Neck bones in a Jamaican style int eh crock pot with onions, vinegar and spices. I only had to buy the ginger, onion and pork neck bones at the store everything else i had. The neck bones came 2 to a package it was $3.58 for one and the other was $3.18. It feed 6 people and the whole meal was under $9 for everything. And the most amazing part is that it was really really good and fresh.

Hope that this list of things you find helpful. I really love using pinterest. It works with all diets and that is pretty cool if you think about it.

In the end everything I do is so I can see these two amazing people smile and I know that we may not have much but I know that they are eating well and not all this unhealthy cheap easy foods. I don't like being on government assistance but I will do what ever it takes to keep my kids healthy. That is what is most important.

Dairy Free in the kitchen ~ Crock Pot Breakfast Tacos

Back when my husband and I lived in Texas we fell in love with breakfast tacos. Since being stationed to Florida we can't find one anywhere that is as amazing as those from San Antonio. So I decided to figure out how to make some dairy free of course for my little man.

CROCK POT BREAKFAST TACOS

Ingredients

1 dozen eggs
1/2 lb of shaved beef and pork (you can use all beef or all pork if you want to)
1/2 yellow onion
salt & pepper
1 lb frozen roasted tri-cut potatoes (I use Alexia 98% FF Smart classic)
1 cup original almond milk (or which ever milk you need to use just make sure it is unflavored)
Flour Tortilla Shells

Directions
1. Brown meat and onions together, Set aside.
2. Add potatoes to the crock pot
3. In a glass bowl add the eggs, salt and pepper, whisk together then slowly add the milk.
4. Put the meat onion mixture on top of the potatoes, stir. Then add the egg mixture evenly.
5. cover and cook on low for 7 hours.
6. place tortilla shell on a plate spoon the egg mixture into the middle of the shell, roll up and enjoy.

Served 6 with extras.

Sorry no pictures, sadly phone battery decided to die, The whole reason for this meal today was because we were taking a trip to Tampa for my little guy's allergy appointment, so it was a crock pot dinner for us. We left at 1130 am and didn't get home till after 630pm

Dairy Free in the Kitchen ~ Easy baked salmon

Now this recipe is most likely the easiest way too cook salmon in the oven. I also cook it in the steamer, but since I was not able to cook this meal myself ( I had a meeting to go to) and my mom is not the worlds best cook I thought it was the best way to go. Everyone loved this well every adult, the kids enjoyed the side of veggie Rotini pasta. This recipe will yield really delicious salmon and incredibly crispy skin. Think of it as a salmon skin chip.

SIMPLE SALMON WITH CRISPY SKIN

Ingredients

Salmon fillet (doesn't matter how many or how much)

Olive Oil

garlic powder

dill

pinch of salt

Directions

1. Place tin foil on a cookie sheet

2. Place salmon onto the tin foil

3. Add salt garlic and dill to the salmon (use your eyes and your taste to add what you want)

4. Drizzle with olive oil

5. Place in the cold oven 

6. Turn oven on 400 degrees and keep the salmon in the oven for 25 min.

That is it. Simple and yummy. The key is the salmon going into the oven while it is cold. 

Dairy Free in the Kitchen~ Veggie Rotini with Skinless Beef Kielbasa

This meal here is by far the most successful meal I have made, it is also by far the easiest, which is pretty great to me. All you need is 5 ingredients and for my family of 4 it cost roughly 1.50 a person. I don't include the spices since I would have no idea how to calculate that cost.  

VEGGIE ROTINI with SKINLESS BEEF KIELBASA

Ingredients

1 package of skinless beef kielbasa 

1 box of your favorite veggie medley rotini pasta (or any pasta that your kid likes just get the veggie version hidden veggies while eating pasta)

garlic powder

onion powder 

paprika

1. put water in a pot and boil it. While waiting for water to boil cut kielbasa into circles no more then an inch thick.
2. put pasta in boiling water and cook based on the packages directions
3. sprinkle the garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika into a skillet and put on medium high heat, place the kielbasa circles flat in the pan on top of the seasonings and cook about 3 min.
4. flip the kielbasa circles over and cook till meat reaches color you like. (if you like crisper edges cook longer)
5. drain pasta and put into a large bowl.
6. Without draining pour the kielbasa and its juices on top of the pasta. Toss and serve.

Dairy Free In the Kitchen ~ Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Last night for dinner we have had so far our most successful dairy free meal. Dinner was Rotini veggie pasta with skinless all beef kielbasi and roasted Brussels sprouts. Everyone ate up all the pasta, my son was not interested in the meat but he did try the sprouts, I just think they were to thick for him to chew, but he kept trying. I gave him and his sister some watermelon for trying something new.

Today I am going to share with you the Brussels sprout recipe that i tried last night that was a major success with my picky eater husband and my I won't try anything green daughter that they both loved. And Completely dairy free. Brussels sprouts are a semi time consuming side to make and it takes 20-25 min to bake so plan accordingly so that other things will finish around the same time.


Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients
about 1lbs fresh Brussels Sprouts
garlic powder
olive oil
Tin foil

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. line cookie sheet with tin foil
3. wash, trim the bottoms of, remove any wilted leaves, and cut in half the Brussels sprouts
4. place sprouts and any leaves that separated but are still good in a bowl and sprinkle with garlic powder, and olive oil, mix with a spoon or hands
5. place sprouts flat side down on cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 min. depending on how browned you like it.
6. Enjoy!

I only wish I made more since it was used as a bargaining chip with my 2 year old daughter to get her to eat her pasta. CRAZY!