A meatloaf is on the menu for tonight but last night, when I was returning ice cream to the freezer, I saw a package of beef skirt and fajitas sounded so good that I took the meat out of the freezer. I am a bargain shopper! When I get to Kroger or Brookshires, I head first to the meat markdown section. Often there’s nothing there that interests me but every now and then, I hit the jackpot. The beef skirt was something I had found marked down.
Beef Skirt Label
It was $7.97, marked down to $5.57. If we went to local restaurant for fajitas, it would cost at least $9 each. From this $5.57 package, we should get a dinner for two and a lunch for two.
Before taking the meat out to thaw, I made sure that I had limes for the marinade (lime juice, olive oil, garlic, cumin powder and cilantro). I also made sure we had onions and bell peppers, which we keep on hand. I thought we had a package of flour tortillas in the freezer from our last trip to HEB and, yes, we did. Lastly, I thought there was a package of guacamole in the fridge and yes, there was.
Guacamole
Yes, I buy the guacamole already made when I get it on sale.
I figure the cost of our total meal will be:
Meat – $5.57
Marinade – .45
Flour Tortillas – .50
Onions & Peppers – $1
Guacamole – $1.25 (there are 2 packs in the box and I got the box for $2.50)
Pinto Beans – .40
Salsa – $1 (It’s salsa I made last year from tomatoes I grew)
Total – 10.17
Price per serving – $2.54
Yes, it costs some amount to prepare it but considering our water comes from our own well, and we pay no sewer bill, I don’t count anything for water/sewer. We figure that our cost of propane is less than $1/day and into that figure goes our heating, water heating and stove.
If I didn’t have all the ingredients needed, and had to make a trip to the grocery store, add about $3.00 for gas. I love keeping a well stocked pantry.
One thing that was a hard lesson for me is that some things, like lemons, limes, cilantro — I always keep a few on hand. If they go bad, it was less expensive for me to throw out a lemon or a lime, than to have to go to the grocery store when I find that I need one and don’t have it. I rarely throw anything out though.
thank you for your last paragraph on the lesson learned about lemons etc…..i LOVE having them (a few fresh things like you mentioned) on hand. i always end up tossing something out, but it is usually at minimal cost. but, i still beat myself up over it somewhat. i can now release myself of my guilt of being a bad steward…..MUCH cheaper to toss one or two things than to run to the grocery store again and again–and i KNOW i would not end up getting out of the store with only the one ingredient i went for! and, an old lemon down the garbage disposal now and again sure is nice for freshening it up–silver linings!
Judy, we are having fajitas tonight as well. I had leftover peppers, got the meat at 50% off yesterday (also skirt steak).
A tip….We have lemon and lime trees and so do neighbors. I squeeze/juice them and freeze in ice cube trays and put into zip locks in the freezer. I have fresh juice all year long. I have both regular lemon juice and meyer lemon juice and lime juice. Only have to buy a lemon or lime when I want to garnish something which is usually fish or a margarita!
Love the idea of squeezing and freezing! Also, if you had just one lemon or lime that needed to be used, how about a glass of fresh lemonade or limeade?
Or you could squeeze that lemon when you see you aren’t going to use it and before it goes off and freeze the juice in a container that can be added to.
Since we live in the Midwest and don’t have citrus trees, one thing I keep on hand is a container of the dry lime juice crystals so it’s always available!
I love the rationalization in the last paragraph. Haven’t thought about it in that way, but makes total sense!
Avocados freeze well, as does Guacamole. I’m like you, I shop once a week and use two freezers to store “special buys”.
Judy how to you freeze flour tortillas?
I agree with thanks for the last paragraph. It killed me this morning to toss a green pepper that was the last one of 6 I had purchased say 4 weeks ago. It was starting to rot, but still look good on at least half of the outside. I cut it and it had spots of black even on the good side. I found enough clear areas for my breakfast burrito, but tossed the rest. I like fresh peppers,but also freeze some for cooking.
I didn’t know you could freeze the flour tortillas. Thanks.
that meal sounds yummy! i’ll have to ask my local butcher if they carry skirt steak, since i don’t think i’ve run across it before.
Judy
Your dinner sounds delicious. Did you k now you could also freeze your cilantro? So you could have all the ingredients for your fajita meal all in the freezer waiting to go. I get those guacamole packs all the time also—I freeze them and use them as needed. Sure is better than letting them go to waste. Have a wonderful evening.
Good work! You know, I always buy my lemons and limes at Costco, because they’re organic and I can get a whole bag of them for what it would probably cost me for two in the grocery store. Yes, I have tossed a few at the end of a bag, and I’ve felt bad about doing it. I saw someone post on Facebook the other day that, if you freeze your lemons and limes, you can just grate what you need, rind and all, and get way more vitamin C in the process. Not the best option when you need just the juice, but I think the idea may keep me from tossing the extras before they go bad!
Judy! SSSSsssshhhhh!!!! The word’s getting out about that marked-down meat and it’s getting harder & harder to find! I used to receive grossed-out looks when I’d buy meat that was marked down and to many appeared “spoiled”, but my uncle the butcher taught me back in the olden days that “green” beef is the tenderest you can buy. So that ‘sale’ area in the meat dept. is the first place I hit every week.
As for that pre-made quacamole, it’s often on sale here for $1.00/pack. I buy a half dozen at that price and freeze them; they’re still perfectly edible when we thaw them out later. It doesn’t seem possible to buy a good avocado in Columbus, OH so I’m extremely grateful for Wholly Guacamole. MMMmmmmmm
I have a lemon tree that sometimes over-produces, so I wash the lemons well [I use soap, water, splash of white vinegar... then rinse well], and toss them whole into the freezer. When needed just grate and use; also let come to room temp and squeeze. I always keep some in the freezer because they make wonderful and colorful “ice cubes” in the punch bowl or iced tea pitcher. As a last resort, i cut the “almost bad ones” into pieces and run them down the garbage disposal… it cleans it very well and leaves the whole kitchen smelling delightful!
I enjoy your posts… you have a great blog!
I need to show this to my husband! He would go to the grocery every dang day if he could… Plus, when I make a dish “extra large” so we can have leftovers, he has his leftovers as a 2nd helping, instead. So, that basically means we don’t have many leftovers. Grrr!
BLM