Favorite Summer Recipe -- Peach Ice Cream

Purchasing an ice cream maker.... is it worth it? I say "YES!" Here's why:

1. Save Money -- Have you seen the price of ice cream lately? Making your own ice cream can be significantly less expensive than the comparable store-bought ice cream.
2. Size Matters -- Like many grocery products, ice cream containers are shrinking. A lot. That means you are paying the same amount for LESS product.
3. Control Over Ingredients -- No high fructose corn syrup in this ice cream!
4. It's FUN -- Kids love to measure ingredients, press the buttons on the blender, and watch the ice cream being made right before their eyes. It's like magic!

Now, get out your stretchy pants. Here's Mark's famous recipe for peach ice cream. Please note that he takes his ice cream quite seriously. He does not mess around.

Homemade Peach Ice Cream

For peach syrup:

3 Large Peaches, pitted and diced

1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar

For Ice Cream:

1 Cup Half and Half

1 Large Egg

3 Cups Heavy Cream

3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar

1 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract (not imitation!)

For Peach Syrup:

Add pitted and diced peaches to blender and blend until liquified. Transfer to a small saucepan. Add 1/4 cup sugar and bring to a boil. Boil until mixture has reduced and thickened. Chill in the refrigerator.

For Ice Cream:

Combine the rest of the ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to ice cream machine and run cycle according to manufacturers instructions. Add the peach syrup the last minute of processing. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and let the ice cream continue to firm up in the freezer overnight. Serve with caramel topping.

Emily, do not be alarmed. We'll be sure to save some for you when you get home *burp* ...er....maybe.

What's in your pantry?

Since I only do grocery shopping once a month, a well-stocked pantry is a necessity. Here are some of our favorite healthy and inexpensive pantry foods:

1. Oatmeal
2. Brown Rice
3. Whole Wheat Pasta
4. Dried Beans
5. Potatoes
6. Canned Tuna
7. Peanut Butter
8. Canned Tomatoes

I'm very curious to find out what you keep in your pantry. Leave a comment and share your ideas with us!

Top 5 Things to Buy in Bulk

If done properly, buying in bulk can save a substantial amount of money. Check unit prices to make sure you are getting a good deal. Here are some of our family's top picks for stock piling and buying in bulk:

1. Toilet Paper -- I would say paper goods, but we have replaced paper towels and napkins with cloth instead. Toilet paper is usually a better buy in bulk, and with a good stock pile you will have the added bonus of being prepared for an emergency.
2. Shampoo -- Check beauty supply stores for prices on shampoo by the gallon. If you are worried that kids will not be able to use such a large bottle, try adding a pump or pour into a smaller bottle as you run out.
3. Peanut Butter -- This can be significantly less expensive when purchased in bulk, but check unit pricing to make sure. 
4. Cheese -- American cheese has a very long shelf life, and if you have a big grilled cheese eater in your family buying in bulk is the way to go. For other hard cheeses, buy in large blocks, shred or grate desired amount and then wrap the rest of the block in plastic wrap then aluminum foil before putting back into the fridge.
5. Honey -- Did you know that honey never spoils? If it crystalizes, simply warm it up a bit to bring it back to life. I have found this to be a better buy when purchased in bulk and never have to worry about running out for using in tea, baking, etc.

Tip -- Studies have shown that people tend to use larger quantities of items when purchased in large containers. Even though you have 4 pounds of peanut butter, try not to use more than you normally would to make a sandwich, or you could be negating your savings.

Has your family tried buying in bulk? I would love to hear about it! Leave a comment and share your ideas with us!

Like coupons for organics? Try Mambo Sprouts!

I love finding coupons for organic items, and if you have not already signed up for Mambo Sprouts, you might want to give it a try. Click here to sign up for their FREE newsletter which includes up to $35 in savings for healthy food items (usually organic milk, bread, eggs, butter, etc.)  Most coupons are for $1-1.50 off!

For printable coupons on organics, see this post.

Free Menu Planner

Here is the worksheet I use to create our weekly menus. It is free for download, and if you post it on your blog, I would really appreciate a link back to Frugal Family Fun Blog. Thanks so much!

It is simple, but it works for us. To get more menu planning ideas, see this post.

Meal Planner

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Menus Cooking & Menus budget save money

Want to be extra frugal? Print out the worksheet and use a sheet protector, write with dry erase markers, and your menu planner is reusable!

The Secrets to Once a Month Grocery Shopping

If you have never tried once a month grocery shopping, February is the perfect month to start!  With just 28 days, if you are already accustomed to shopping every other week, once a month shopping for this month will not feel like much of a stretch.  Here are some tips to get started:

1. Leave the Kids at Home -- Do not attempt to schlep the kids to the grocery store for a once a month trip.  Ask a trusted neighbor, or hire a babysitter for a few hours, if needed. You will save enough money to make it worthwhile to hire a babysitter.
2. Plan Your Menu -- Match sale ads and coupons to plan your monthly menu around those items.  See my related post Frugal Meal Planning 101 for more information.
3. Go Shopping with a List -- Only buy items on your list. If you pick up any items that are not on the list, place them in the front basket of your cart. Before you check out, review the items in the basket, choose one, and put the other items back on the shelf.
4. Buy Meat in Bulk -- Many grocery stores feature "loss leaders" and you may be able to purchase meat in bulk at deeply discounted prices.  Set aside 1 week's worth and freeze the rest in family-meal-sized portions.
5. Stock the Pantry -- Keep a well-stocked pantry with budget-friendly foods purchased at the lowest possible price. Some examples are rice, potatoes, beans, and canned tuna. 
6. Stock the Freezer -- You may find it cheaper to purchase fresh produce (in season) and freeze it yourself.  Keeping meat in the freezer will ensure it will stay good for the entire month.
7. Use Fresh Produce in the Order it Will Perish First -- Some fruits and vegetables stay fresher longer than others.  Try to use up bananas, grapes, cucumbers, and strawberries during the first week or two.  Apples, oranges, carrots, potatoes, onions, and even eggs can generally last one month if stored properly.
8. What About Milk? -- Milk is the only exception where I ask my husband to pick some up at the store about half way through the month. However, it may be worth purchasing a few gallons of organic ultra-pasteurized milk since this will last a full month.

Is your family trying once a month grocery shopping for the first time this month? I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment and share your story with us!

6 Tips for Handling Picky Eaters

Are your kids picky eaters? Are you preparing several dinners each night? Finding ways to handle picky eaters can be a huge help towards keeping a low food budget. Here are some tips that worked with our little picky one (who is not so picky any more!).

1. Do not keep junk food in the house. Avoid overly salty or sugary processed snacks. If there is no junk food available, the kids cannot eat it.
2. Keep snack-sized portions of fruits and vegetables on hand. Kids have small stomachs and need to snack frequently to accommodate growing bodies. Keep a snack tray in your refrigerator filled with pre-washed and pre-cut fruits and veggies. Store in snack-sized zip lock bags for quick snacks on the go.
3. Try not to cater to your kids during mealtime. No child ever starved while being offered food. If the adults are eating it, the kids can too. Under very few circumstances are exceptions allowed: food allergies, spicy foods, dietary restrictions, etc.
4. Introduce new foods several times. I have found that kids need to try the same food several times before deciding if it is good. This could be due to any number of factors, but do not give up on a healthy food the first time.
5. Presentation is everything. For meals you can serve the same food, but make it look a little cuter. Use straws to make fruit kabobs, or cookie cutters for sandwiches. Get creative!
6. Get the kids involved. Kids love helping out in the kitchen, and if they help prepare the meal they are much more likely to eat it!

Our pre-washed, pre-cut, self-serve snack tray filled with carrot and green pepper sticks, orange segments, apples, cheese slices, and low-fat ranch dressing.

Have a tip for handling a picky eater that I forgot to add? Leave a comment and share your ideas with us!

Frugal Meal Planning 101

For many households, food can be one of the highest monthly expenses (second to rent or mortgage). Fortunately, there are several tricks to slashing your grocery bill while still maintaining a healthy diet.  Meal planning is one technique, and you may find it works well for your family. If you have never tried to reduce your food bill before, this may be a good place to start. You can begin by just planning meals for one week, and try increasing this to two weeks to help limit the number of trips you make to the grocery store.

First, draw up a chart for each day of the week Sunday-Saturday. Next, list a week's worth of breakfasts for your family. Here's an example of one week worth of breakfasts for our household:

Sunday: Banana Nut Waffles

Monday: Scrambled Eggs and Whole Wheat Toast

Tuesday: English Muffins with Peanut Butter

Wednesday: French Toast and Sausage

Thursday: Homemade Granola Cereal

Friday: Breakfast Burritos - scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, and sausage wrapped in a whole grain tortilla

Saturday: Pancakes and Low Sodium Bacon

(We usually drink orange juice, water, or hot tea)

Next, draw up the same chart, but list lunch items for one week. Here's an example from our household:

Sunday: Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Soup

Monday: Tuna Melt on Whole Wheat Bread, Apple, and Fat Free Yogurt

Tuesday: Mini Pizza on Whole Grain Tortilla

Wednesday: Bean Burrito with fat free refried beans, cheddar cheese, and salsa

Thursday: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Friday: Loaded Baked Potato with leftover chili, cheddar cheese, and low fat sour cream

Saturday: Leftover Homemade Buffalo Chicken Pizza

(we usually drink seltzer water, juice, or hot tea)

Getting hungry yet?  Another tip -- Do not do the grocery shopping when you are hungry. The best time to go is after you have had a good meal, or at least a snack to tide you over. Why? When you are hungry, you are much more likely to pick up impulse purchases which can wreck havoc on your food budget!

Now it's time to think about dinner.  Here's a one week example from our household:

Sunday: Broiled Salmon, Brown Rice, and Green Beans

Monday: Blackened Cajon Pork Chop, Roasted Potatoes, Honey Glazed Carrots

Tuesday: London Broil, Baked Potato, and Petite Peas

Wednesday: Beef Fajitas, Spanish Rice, and Fat Free Refried Beans

Thursday: Homemade Chili with Corn Bread

Friday:  Lemon Pepper Chicken, Brown Rice, Broccoli

Saturday: Homemade Buffalo Chicken Pizza

(we usually drink water, skim milk, or hot tea)

The next step is to the list the ingredients for the week onto a shopping list, and compare your list to the items you already have in your refrigerator, pantry, or freezer. Try to only buy what you need so no food is wasted. Cross off whatever items you already have at home, and the remaining items will become your official shopping list for the week. 

Tip -- Some ingredients can be used for more than one dish. For example, our family rarely finishes a London Broil in one dinner, so the leftover meat is used for Beef Fajitas the next evening. Similarly, we usually have some leftover pizza from dinner, so we will have this for lunch the following afternoon. You may want to try cooking a slightly larger dinner and having leftovers for lunch the next day.

Have you tried meal planning? I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment and share your stories with us!

Coupon Alert

Tip -- Be sure to pick up a copy of today's newspaper for some great coupon inserts!  The paper for the first weekend of the year usually contains a large number of coupons, and this year is no exception.  Some gas stations may sell the Sunday paper on Monday at a discount, so you may want to stock up on 2 or 3 copies.

Coupon Giveaway - Last Chance to Enter

My very first giveaway is almost over.  The coupon giveaway ends at 6pm EST, so be sure to get your entry in.  You could win 50 coupons (many are for organic items)!  Details here.

FYI:  Another giveaway starts soon!

Advanced Coupon Strategies

Are you looking for ways to save even more money at the grocery store? Have you used coupons in the past? Would you like to learn how to maximize your savings? Learn how to save tons of money using these advanced coupon strategies.

Sunday Paper -- One of the best ways to accumulate a nice stash of coupons is to purchase more than one copy of the Sunday paper. When an item that has a long shelf life goes on sale and you have more than one coupon for it, stock up. This way you are buying groceries at the best possible price.

Size Matters -- When you come across a coupon that does not specify the size of the product, always purchase the smallest possible size to maximize your savings and pay the least out of pocket. Try going to the trial size section of the store and matching coupons there to get some great products for free!

Match the Sales Flyer -- Do not use your coupons too soon. Most stores place the items on sale about 4-5 weeks after the coupon has been published in the Sunday paper. Match the sales flyer with a coupon and you can save big.

Buy one Get one Free -- These are some of my favorite ways to use coupons. Find out the exact B1G1 policy for your local grocery store. For some stores you must purchase one item to get one free, and others have the item at 50% off. If you must purchase one to get one free, you can use 2 coupons. Matching coupons for B1G1 free items means you are saving more than 50%!

Internet Coupons -- Check with your local grocery store. Most stores now accept internet coupons and these can be great ways to save a ton of money. As an added bonus, you can print more than one copy. If you do not want to print coupons out on your home printer, some stores such as Target will let you print store coupons from the gift registry kiosk. Visit CouponMom.com for more information.

eCoupons -- If you do not have the time to clip coupons, or you sometimes forget to bring coupons with you to the store, consider using eCoupons. Many grocery stores now accept these, but check with your local store to find out the exact policy. These can be as simple as linking a coupon to your store club card to automatically save you money, or you can download coupon codes to your cell phone. Visit CellFire.com for more information on eCoupons.

uPromise -- If you would like to add to your child's college education fund, consider signing up for a free account at uPromise. By linking with your credit card or store club card, merchants will automatically credit your child's college savings account for purchases made in store or from the uPromise website-- and the savings add up quickly! You can ask grandparents, aunts and uncles to contribute as well.