How Much Do Your Recipes Really Cost?

[Intrepid_Chef]

I heard that Marla was on TV talking about recipes that cost $2 to $4 per serving, and later saw them in the PC news wire.

And my first thought was, "Love ya dearly, Marla, but where are you shopping, honey?"

Maybe it's because I was raised to be frugal, stock up on staples when they are on sale and shop at discount stores, but I cannot FATHOM spending $24 for ingredients in ONE recipe. Usually, that's how much I spend in an entire shopping trip where I buy ingredients for several meals. Also, some of the items may cost $1 or more ... but it contains enough to make several recipes (like carrots and green onions, for example.)

So I thought it would be fun to talk about how much some of your favorite PC recipes cost you!

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

OK ... here's what the Pork Noodle Skillet costs a cheap chick like me:

Ramen noodles: About 25 cents a package ... about a dollar for all 4

Carrots: About $1 for a package that contains at least 4 carrots

Green onions: About $1, again, the package contains more than I need for this recipe.

Red Pepper: Usually on sale for $1 or less

Toasted Sesame seed oil: $7.99 but thankfully ... It contains enough to make this recipe many, many times over ....

I omit the asian seasoning because I don't have it

Chicken ... I usually find this on sale for under $2 a pound

So, excluding the over-priced sesame oil .... I can make this puppy for $8 flat. Add another $5 for more chicken and ramen noodles and I can make it again before the remaining veggies go bad.

 

[chefann]

I think the $2 to $4 per serving is an estimate, and intended to illustrate how much cheaper it is to eat at home than to eat out. And some people shop on their way home from work, getting ingredients that aren't necessarily on sale at the time. Red bell peppers, for instance, are usually a lot more than $1 each.

 

[stacywhitlow]

I agree. Where do you find a red pepper for only $1? They are at least $3 around here.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

It is important to note that the recipes are $2 or less per serving, not per recipe.

The Asian Pork Skillet is 6 generous servings when made as written, so at $8 it is much less than $2 per serving.

The Deluxe Cheeseburger Salad is another that is very inexpensive.

 

[vwpamperedchef]

I agree. Where do you find a red pepper for only $1? They are at least $3 around here.

If you go to the supermarket the SAME day you are cooking the recipe, I suggest you ask your produce dept if they have a reduced produce rack! I always check there first...I can usually get a 4 pack of red, green, yellow OR orange peppers for less then $2! Same with bananas, eggplant, artichokes, etc. You name it --- I can usually find it there. (I think its 49 cents a lb for reduced produce in one market I shop at).

At least 3 supermarkets in my area have the reduced produce rack. As long as you eat in a few days its fine!

 

[Kitchen Diva]

OK ... here's what the Pork Noodle Skillet costs a cheap chick like me:

Ramen noodles: About 25 cents a package ... about a dollar for all 4

Carrots: About $1 for a package that contains at least 4 carrots

Green onions: About $1, again, the package contains more than I need for this recipe.

Red Pepper: Usually on sale for $1 or less

Toasted Sesame seed oil: $7.99 but thankfully ... It contains enough to make this recipe many, many times over ....

I omit the asian seasoning because I don't have it

Chicken ... I usually find this on sale for under $2 a pound

So, excluding the over-priced sesame oil .... I can make this puppy for $8 flat. Add another $5 for more chicken and ramen noodles and I can make it again before the remaining veggies go bad.

HA! Chicken here is $6.99 to $7.99 for a pacage of three small breasts! keep in mind that these are three single breasts....not a pair of three breasts which would actually be 6 breasts. If I go with bone in and skin on, I can get three breasts for $5.99 to $6.49. Normally our packages of clucker meat (what I call chicken) are 16 to 24 ounces! A pound of 80/20 ground beef is almost $4.00, and don't even get me started on how expensive bacon and steaks are! And a bag of approx 6 carrots is about $1.89+ here.

Yesterday I took DH to Wal*Mart and we bought enough food for 5 suppers, and some lunchmeat- for lunches. We spent $121.00- and we bought crap in my opinion. For the exception of the hotdogs and hamburger for burgers, we'll be eating a family sized frozen lasagna (not as healthy or as yummy as home made) corn dogs, soup and pizza's.

I'm used to making a nice, healthy, balanced meal with three items (protien-veggie and carb/startch) which costs more, as I use fresh ingredients and nothing prepackaged.

I commend you for being able to find your food at such reasonable prices. I'm so disgusted with food costs it makes me wanna spit.! 18 eggs at a local store (where I will only go to if desparate) is $4.00! FOR EGGS! It used to be 0.89 cents for a dozen! Thankfully I found 18 eggs at Wal*Mart for under $3.00-

So as we were leaving Wal*Mart he said is this how we'll have to eat to save money, and I said, yes- until we both get jobs, I'm sorry! I still have standards and won't buy hamburger helper... LOL Oh, and A red, yellow or orange pepper here in my town is about $4.99 a pound. If you buy a package with one green, one yellow nad one red you'll pay about $6.00 for those three peppers!

 

[Kitchen Diva]

OK ... here's what the Pork Noodle Skillet costs a cheap chick like me:

Ramen noodles: About 25 cents a package ... about a dollar for all 4

Carrots: About $1 for a package that contains at least 4 carrots

Green onions: About $1, again, the package contains more than I need for this recipe.

Red Pepper: Usually on sale for $1 or less

Toasted Sesame seed oil: $7.99 but thankfully ... It contains enough to make this recipe many, many times over ....

I omit the asian seasoning because I don't have it

Chicken ... I usually find this on sale for under $2 a pound

So, excluding the over-priced sesame oil .... I can make this puppy for $8 flat. Add another $5 for more chicken and ramen noodles and I can make it again before the remaining veggies go bad.

Yes, but if you knew how many little sesame seeds needed to be smooshed to make an 8 to 10 ounce bottle of sesame oil, you wouldn't think it was over priced! Think about all those poor little seeds that gave their all for your oil! :cry:

 

[MissChef]

Yes, but if you knew how many little sesame seeds needed to be smooshed to make an 8 to 10 ounce bottle of sesame oil, you wouldn't think it was over priced! Think about all those poor little seeds that gave their all for your oil! :cry:

LOL!!!! Too funny! Say what you want, Kacey, it's still expensive! I'm with Di on this one!
I do think Ohio has a little cheaper prices then a lot of states do, here in Washington, it can be very expensive sometimes especially for ingredients that I need for a show, and don't need them personally, and at other times, it's not so bad. I do shop sales a lot, even for my shows! But for us, I'm very thrifty (cheap!LOL!) but there are times I spend close to 600 a month or more on food.... depending on the sales and just exactly what I'm buying... I do buy a lot of fresh food. It wasn't so bad before but with the cost of fuel, everything is raising in price. The one thing I think is cool is something that a friend from church said to me and IMHO, it is so true. She said "Isn't it amazing how we have favor in a store when we tithe and give offerings? It seems the things we need just happen to be on sale!" And you know when I got to thinking about it, that is so true! To me, that is proof of the God moving in my life and that He's always taking care of me and my family!:angel:

 

[janetupnorth]

Kacey - Be a queen of coupons too! My mom sends me tons and I use them. Get to know your local stores, ours seems to have a cycle of things on sale. Like milk is on sale once every 3-4 weeks. Lunchmeat, cheese, sour cream...the same way. I try to plan meals when things are coming on sale.Also, I buy boneless skinless chicken breasts at Sam's Club frozen rather than fresh, or wait until there is a huge sale at the store then freeze them. I got corned beef for DH for $.99/lb. last week. We tossed 3 packs in the freezer. We also bought 1/2 cow last fall. Money up front, but I have AWESOME meat for the year. It helps not to buy hamburger each week!!!!Kacey - if you have a list of common things you like to buy - brand names or want to create one, PM it to me. I'd be glad to send some coupons off to you once in awhile that my mom has brought me or keep an eye out for them for you. 1 coupon well covers the postage and every penny counts! I just talked to my friend this a.m. and we're already planning on carpooling to town this summer. I HAVE to work everyday and with all our schedules, the only real time to get family shopping in is Saturday mornings before we have to do stuff at camp. We're going to take 1 vehicle in for both families, do our shopping together and then head back. 1 trip to down costs each family AT LEAST $8 in gas so it will help. $32 in one month is something!

 

[jbachen]

I know this has been discussed on here before, but it sounds like everyone needs to try grocerygame.com! I signed up under Chefann, and I do not want to steal her referrals, so if you sign up please put her down as referring you. When I first signed up I told a friend about it, and she said she already compares what is on sale that week with the coupons in the Sunday paper, but the grocery game does much more than that. They actually have databases that track sales trends so you don't just buy something when it is on sale, but when it is on the lowest sale possible. I am still in my 4 week trial, and already got a tube of toothpaste for .29 last week. And I have not even built my supply of coupons or stock up deals yet - and those are the ways you save the most money. I highly recommend checking it out!

 

[jbachen]

Janet, I LOVE your ideas, too, especially about carpooling to the store! I have never looked into this, but aren't there coupon exchanges out there, too, where you can swap the coupons you won't use with the ones you will use from other folks? I am thinking that combined with the grocery game could really save some bucks!

 

[MissChef]

I know this has been discussed on here before, but it sounds like everyone needs to try grocerygame.com! I signed up under Chefann, and I do not want to steal her referrals, so if you sign up please put her down as referring you.

When I first signed up I told a friend about it, and she said she already compares what is on sale that week with the coupons in the Sunday paper, but the grocery game does much more than that. They actually have databases that track sales trends so you don't just buy something when it is on sale, but when it is on the lowest sale possible.

I am still in my 4 week trial, and already got a tube of toothpaste for .29 last week. And I have not even built my supply of coupons or stock up deals yet - and those are the ways you save the most money. I highly recommend checking it out!

I love the grocerygame.com!! Love it! I have saved so much money, there has been times, that I have such good coupons that they have actually paid me to buy there stuff! LOL, because the price is negative by the time I'm done with the coupons!
Great advice!

 

[lacychef]

What's grocerygame.com? Might have to check it out...
I am so horrible with coupons; my mom clips 'em for me sometimes, but I never remember to bring them to the store!

 

[janetupnorth]

I don't use the grocerygame.com at all. With one store in town other than Walmart, it doesn't save me any more than reading the store flyer would. Plus the store sends its weekly specials to me via E-mail so it is very convenient.Also, be wise, don't buy JUST because it is on sale. Buy what you need not more. If you throw it in the end it is more of a waste. Some things are great to go generic, others taste like crap. Try ONE and see if you like it. If not, stick with name brand and use coupons, generics don't usually have coupons. Like bags...I use off-brand trash bags because I found some with good quality. Our local generic sandwich bags suck so I use a coupon and buy Ziploc. In the long run, I'm still better off...

 

[janetupnorth]

Oh, and check locally - some stores WILL NOT take printed coupons.Oh, and check your area...I entered my zip and only Walgreens came up - sorry store is WAY too small to make it worth it...For people in larger areas, it would be very beneficial if used properly....oh and one other point...sometimes paying 10 cents more on 1 item, saves you a trip across town to another store with it cheaper. Plan wisely and don't chase to save 10 cents and waste the gas. It's a pick and choose and overall savings that will matter to you.

 

[KateD]

I heard that Marla was on TV talking about recipes that cost $2 to $4 per serving, and later saw them in the PC news wire.

And my first thought was, "Love ya dearly, Marla, but where are you shopping, honey?"

Maybe it's because I was raised to be frugal, stock up on staples when they are on sale and shop at discount stores, but I cannot FATHOM spending $24 for ingredients in ONE recipe. Usually, that's how much I spend in an entire shopping trip where I buy ingredients for several meals. Also, some of the items may cost $1 or more ... but it contains enough to make several recipes (like carrots and green onions, for example.)

So I thought it would be fun to talk about how much some of your favorite PC recipes cost you!

I know what you mean - I read the email and I thought to myself "If $2-3 per serving was a "good" price, I would be at My Girlfriend's Kitchen all the time!"

I don't really consider myself cheap, and my husband wouldn't even give me frugal (he thinks I am an impulse buyer... he's right), but those figures seemed high to me.

Speaking of prices per serving for favorite recipes, one of our favorites is the roasted chicken with 40 cloves of garlic (don't remember the real name; on the PIG for the DCB)
Chicken - $7 for two fresh chickens (not even fryers!) at Sam's
Lemon - $1
Garlic - $.50 per bulb/ $1 per recipe
Paprika, Rosemary, Salt & Pepper - all in the spice rack, but fresh Rosemary is free from garden or about $3 if you buy fresh or a jar dried at grocery
GRAND TOTAL: $12.00 (IF you count both chickens, and IF I buy Rosemary, otherwise $5.50) for 6 official servings.

In my family, that's a big dinner for me, DH, DD, and SIL, plus enough leftover chicken for a very meaty pot pie for later in the week or the freezer.

One thing I do which I didn't realize everyone didn't do is plan my menus for the week, so that I use all of perishables and use up things in my fridge/pantry. I guess if I had to count the entire pack of lettuce and entire jar of pickles and entire pack of rolls for Deluxe Cheeseburger Salad it would up the cost and cost per serving.

 

[jbachen]

What's grocerygame.com? Might have to check it out...
I am so horrible with coupons; my mom clips 'em for me sometimes, but I never remember to bring them to the store!

Definitely check it out. They basically publish a list every week, based on store flyers, sale trends, and Sunday coupons, which tells you when to stock up for great prices (non-perishables, of course). Eventually, as you stockpile stuff at the lowest prices, you are only buying perishable stuff from week to week, and you save money. You can get a 4 week trial for only $1, but keep in mind they estimate it takes about 12 weeks to get your stockpile up to full potential. Also keep in mind they do not just compare the flyer to the coupons - the keep a database of sale trends, so they know if the sale is really the best deal you will get for the item. Oh, and remember to put chefann in as your referral, so she gets free weeks!

Sorry it didn't make a difference for you, Janet, but it seems to be working well for me!

 

[janetupnorth]

Definitely check it out. They basically publish a list every week, based on store flyers, sale trends, and Sunday coupons, which tells you when to stock up for great prices (non-perishables, of course). Eventually, as you stockpile stuff at the lowest prices, you are only buying perishable stuff from week to week, and you save money. You can get a 4 week trial for only $1, but keep in mind they estimate it takes about 12 weeks to get your stockpile up to full potential. Also keep in mind they do not just compare the flyer to the coupons - the keep a database of sale trends, so they know if the sale is really the best deal you will get for the item. Oh, and remember to put chefann in as your referral, so she gets free weeks!

Sorry it didn't make a difference for you, Janet, but it seems to be working well for me!

No problem - it is where you live!
I just happen to be where there is only 1 store listed so it doesn't do what I can't already do for free.

Like I said, in larger cities and to help people figure things out it works well.

 

[chefdiana2007]

I tired the grocerygame.com and my zip code isn't even on there. The other larger towns around me are, but I try to shop on my home from work to save trips back to town, we live 20miles out. We also grow a lot our own food, beef, eggs, lots of produce in the summer, and I have learned to can and freeze. But still prices are high. Braum's, a ice cream and dairy chain here in Oklahoma has a bag with a yellow, red and green pepper for 2.99. So I always buy my peppers there when I get milk,the milk is cheaper and the store in on my way home. And with a teenage boy who drinks 2-3 gals per week it all adds up LOL. I shop sales and use coupons and do rebates some too. We have boneless skinless chicken breasts on sale for 1.49 at one local market and I stocked up. Also, check in the meat dept. sometimes they have marked down meat that is still good. My friend's husband is a butcher and his store pulls meat from the day before that didn't sell and they mark it way down. I bought some marked down Tbones for 2.99 a lb. (we are getting another beef next month) lol. Plus my DH and DS's loooovvvee to fish and hunt and so we have that as well.

 

[chefann]

Oh, and remember to put chefann in as your referral, so she gets free weeks!

I have that under my non-PC email, so the email address is [email protected] for that.
Thanks for the plug, Jean.

 

[Kitchen Diva]

Kacey -

Be a queen of coupons too! My mom sends me tons and I use them. Get to know your local stores, ours seems to have a cycle of things on sale. Like milk is on sale once every 3-4 weeks. Lunchmeat, cheese, sour cream...the same way. I try to plan meals when things are coming on sale.

Also, I buy boneless skinless chicken breasts at Sam's Club frozen rather than fresh, or wait until there is a huge sale at the store then freeze them.

I got corned beef for DH for $.99/lb. last week. We tossed 3 packs in the freezer.

We also bought 1/2 cow last fall. Money up front, but I have AWESOME meat for the year. It helps not to buy hamburger each week!!!!

Kacey - if you have a list of common things you like to buy - brand names or want to create one, PM it to me. I'd be glad to send some coupons off to you once in awhile that my mom has brought me or keep an eye out for them for you. 1 coupon well covers the postage and every penny counts!

I just talked to my friend this a.m. and we're already planning on carpooling to town this summer. I HAVE to work everyday and with all our schedules, the only real time to get family shopping in is Saturday mornings before we have to do stuff at camp. We're going to take 1 vehicle in for both families, do our shopping together and then head back. 1 trip to down costs each family AT LEAST $8 in gas so it will help. $32 in one month is something!

I've been doing coupons, but last week there was only one 3 page coupon circular in the Sunday Paper- and not one contained a coupon of an item I use. Same with our local stores. They did have a lot of buy one get one, but again, on items like beef jerky and potato chips. I bought my chips, but I don't need beef jerky.

I'll pm ya when I get a chance. I'm off to update my resume and build a job specific one. Remember the days when you only needed one resume to get a job? LOL

 

[lkprescott]

I heard that Marla was on TV talking about recipes that cost $2 to $4 per serving, and later saw them in the PC news wire.

And my first thought was, "Love ya dearly, Marla, but where are you shopping, honey?"

Maybe it's because I was raised to be frugal, stock up on staples when they are on sale and shop at discount stores, but I cannot FATHOM spending $24 for ingredients in ONE recipe. Usually, that's how much I spend in an entire shopping trip where I buy ingredients for several meals. Also, some of the items may cost $1 or more ... but it contains enough to make several recipes (like carrots and green onions, for example.)

So I thought it would be fun to talk about how much some of your favorite PC recipes cost you!

It's a national average. Kinda like when they say that regular gas is a certain amount, yet in many places (like California) it's much higher and in others.. lower. So a 'high average' that illustrates still that it's cheaper than say, fast food is helpful.

As for me... I buy as cheaply as possible now. I had been doing a local grocery store [Redners] which is the lowest store in the area (other than Walmart but I refuse to go there) and they support local products and produce when they can... HOWEVER... after a receipt that dropped my jaw I've gone back to going to the dent and ding store for non-perishables and to Aldi's for lots of other stuff... and today I tried out Amelia's... it's a combo of the two... some cheap off brand, cheap outlet brands and some stuff that's dinged and damaged for way cheap... So far I estimate I've saved 50% on my groceries...

As for the recipes... haven't tried them for pricing. I don't think of making PC recipes for dinner... go figure. LOL.. I should... then I can give real $ figures during a show to reflect local conditions here.

 

[Kitchen Diva]

LOL!!!! Too funny! Say what you want, Kacey, it's still expensive! I'm with Di on this one!
I do think Ohio has a little cheaper prices then a lot of states do, here in Washington, it can be very expensive sometimes especially for ingredients that I need for a show, and don't need them personally, and at other times, it's not so bad. I do shop sales a lot, even for my shows! But for us, I'm very thrifty (cheap!LOL!) but there are times I spend close to 600 a month or more on food.... depending on the sales and just exactly what I'm buying... I do buy a lot of fresh food. It wasn't so bad before but with the cost of fuel, everything is raising in price. The one thing I think is cool is something that a friend from church said to me and IMHO, it is so true. She said "Isn't it amazing how we have favor in a store when we tithe and give offerings? It seems the things we need just happen to be on sale!" And you know when I got to thinking about it, that is so true! To me, that is proof of the God moving in my life and that He's always taking care of me and my family!:angel:

Oh, don't get me wrong, I think specialty oils are ridiculously priced...I was just trying to drum up some sympathy for the poor sesame seeds... It's like a total body mamogram for them!:yuck:

 

[Tig]

Wow!!! Some of you have really cheap places to shop!

Milk here alone, is $7.11 for a gallon, a block of supermarket brand cheese is $6. Banana's are .80/lb, Chicken breasts you can usually get for about $8 per poud on SALE! ... you get the point. Man, sometimes I really miss living in the U.S! I remember my grocery bill for a month for 2 was around $150 a month. Here, its around $700 a month

 

[Kitchen Diva]

Wow!!! Some of you have really cheap places to shop!

Milk here alone, is $7.11 for a gallon, a block of supermarket brand cheese is $6. Banana's are .80/lb, Chicken breasts you can usually get for about $8 per poud on SALE! ... you get the point. Man, sometimes I really miss living in the U.S! I remember my grocery bill for a month for 2 was around $150 a month. Here, its around $700 a month

I'm happy if I can keep our grocery bill at $150.00 per week!

And as far as the grocerygame goes- they only have Walgreens for my zipcode and I live in a big city.

 

[jbachen]

I'm happy if I can keep our grocery bill at $150.00 per week!

And as far as the grocerygame goes- they only have Walgreens for my zipcode and I live in a big city.

Aw, that is too bad - because I really think they are saving me money! I wonder how they do it... I am wondering if one person actually keeps the database for all the different stores, or if she pays people to keep the databases in their area. Maybe you could look into it, and find a job and get cheaper groceries all in one shot??

And you are welcome for the plug, Ann... Thank you for letting me know about the site!

 

[chefann]

They do have locals who update the lists. Colleen's sister does the Meijer list for the Detroit area. I don't think it's a highly paid position, though - probably just a free membership at the site or a pittance.

 

[Kitchen Diva]

You can't do much with a pittance...I tried once.

 

[chefann]

I have 2 Pittascines who live with me. They cost more than a pittance to maintain.