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Frugal Fridays–Feeding My Family for Fifteen (or Less!)

 

 

Last night Susannah made a yummiful soup!   It’s called:

Cheese and Potato Chowder

(from a magazine one of her grandmas gave her–she can’t remember which one!)

We called it "Susannah’s Tweaked Potato Soup", because she tweaked it and added more things to make it yummy!   She also didn’t use the prepared canned potato soup, which makes the little description really funny!

 

 

"This hearty soup tastes like you made it from scratch!"   LOL!!! 

 

 

She did decide next time she could dice her own potatoes, cutting the cost even further!!!

 

 

So here is our version!

 

 

Susannah’s Tweaked Potato Soup

 

6 C. milk

2  (10 oz.) cans condensed cream of potato soup (look at the recipe below)

1 pkg.  frozen Southern-style hash browns

2 C. Shredded cheddar cheese (she used part  mozzarella cheese because we were just about out of the cheddar)

1lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled

1/3 C. sliced green onions

 

Mix milk and potato soup in large saucepan. Stir in hash browns.  Bring to a boil on high heat, stirring occasionally.  Reduce heat to medium-low; add cheese, bacon, and onion.  Simmer 10 minutes, stirring frequently.    Serves about 12

 

Condensed Cream of Potato Soup

(makes 2 cans)

6 T. butter

1/3 C. flour

1/2 t. salt

dash of pepper

1 medium potato, cooked, skinned and mashed

2 1/2 C. milk

 

In a medium saucepan, melt butter.  Add flour and cook until thick.  Stir in salt, pepper and potato really well.  Add milk and cook until soup is thick. 

 

 

Since we were out of white flour, and I forgot my cell phone when I left for the store, she was resourceful and looked up a recipe that used all whole wheat flour. 

 

Honey Whole Wheat Bread 

(from Wildflour by Denise Fidler)

 

18-20 C. whole wheat flour = approximately 5 pounds

 

In heavy-duty mixer bowl, mix slightly until blended: 

6 C. warm water  (120-130 degrees)

2/3 C. honey

2/3 C. oil

5 C. whole wheat flour

4 t. lemon juice

3 T. yeast

 

Cover and let sponge for 15 minutes (make sure you remove the dough hook!)  This develops more flavor but is optional.

 

Then add:

2 T. salt

Add salt and enough remaining flour (quickly) until dough cleans the sides of the bowl.  Stop and touch dough, if it’s very wet, add another cup or two of flour and then start timing the kneading process for 5-7 minutes.  Shape into five greased 8"X4" pans.  Cover and let rise for 15-30 minutes or until it rises 1-2 inches above the pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.  Cool on wire rack.  For a softer crust, brush with butter after baking.   Makes five loaves.

 

Now I’m going to add a tip for how NOT to waste toilet paper!!!   First, you immediately put away the 24 roll pack of toilet paper, because if you don’t….

 

The 2 year old might lock himself in the bathroom.  

 

And he might spy that toilet paper.

 

And this might be the result!

 

 

That’s six rolls, if you can’t tell by the mess!  If you look closely, you can see his older brother with his mouth wide open in the mirror!  (He was the informer—"I-hayah locked himhelf in the batroom and ih making a meh with the toyliet paper!"–since he was on the outside of the locked door, we wonder how HE knew?!)

 

The next day, the older brother helped the younger, then tattled, and yes, we lost another 4 rolls!

 

My frugal tip?

 

Put the toilet paper away where the boys don’t see it and can’t find it!!!!!

2 Responses to “Frugal Fridays–Feeding My Family for Fifteen (or Less!)”

  1. watalulu says:

    Good Morning Trisch, I will certainly try this potato recipe. "I never met a potato I didn't like". lol Except in New Orleans. We lived there for a year and they have the crawdad boils, which includes, corn on the cob, potatoes, and some other stuff that I can't remember, oh, they put in crawdads too. They put in a pack of seasoning called 'crab boil'. I don't care for it. It makes everything tastes the same and the poor potatoes soaked up the flavor and 'ick'. But Susannah's recipe sounds delightful.

    Have a great day.

  2. needhisgrace says:

    Boy, can I relate to the toilet paper incident!! My Littles have performed that trick a couple of times!! Any luck trying to salvage any of it?

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