Careful shopping
By Staff
Suzanne Langcuster
We have entered a new phase of life lately.
Not only has gas gone up, groceries have also.
Cooks are getting in gear to look for reasonably priced items we can use to prepare our meals.
Using our newspapers and magazines, we search for items that are on sale.
Remember as you cut back on costs not to cut back on health food choices for your family.
Include your protein serving, at least three or four fruits and vegetables and carbohydrates.
Try to make your meals out of the best buys at the grocery for each week. You won't believe how you can save by doing this.
Also, when there is a sale on staples you use often, consider purchasing several, or as many as you are allowed to purchase regarding the terms of the sale.
Canned food and non-perishable specials are a big help if you bake a lot and need a lot of flour.
Flour can be stored in tins or your refrigerator. The same is true for sugar. Many items can be stored in tins and keep until you need them.
When bottled juices are on sale, this is a good time to store some on your shelves. This goes for colas, too.
Many cooks freeze milk they get as a sale item and powdered milk is a great help. Use it for your cooking, making sauces, cakes, biscuits, gravies and other dishes.
We have found out that powdered milk is good to drink if you let it get cold or add a little chocolate syrup.
It will really help you cut down on the cost.
When I began keeping house, the best help I found was to watch other people shop.
Older ladies who had been grocery shopping for years guided me toward bargains.
Some brands are cheeper than others and have the same ingredients. Only the brand name is different. Check the prices on the different brands and you may find some hidden treasures.
You know, prices might not go down so we must use our knowledge to get the most for our dollar.
Cooks are great when it comes to making something out of nothing.
They can take a frugal pot of soup and make a feast to feed a whole family.
And what is better than dried beans and cornbread with potatoes on the side?
Suzanne Langcuster is a food columnist for the Franklin County Times
