Thanks for the link. Read through the whole thing again. It was quite a trip down memory lane. It was bittersweet reading the words of members who don't come around anymore or who have died.
What did your parents do for Budget Friendly Meals?
- Thread starter Claire
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Linda0818
Head Chef
Now I want Johnny Marzetti 
Linda0818
Head Chef
Oh my gosh, I'd forgotten all about the Swiss Steak. My mom would make that, using ground beef. She would always make it in her electric skillet.
Speaking of Swiss Steak - does anyone have one of those meat tenderizers? The ones with needles that pierce. Not pounding it but actually making holes. I heard that they work quite well.
to me the Swiss Steak I got from a butcher would be passed it thru a machine (sort of like a pasta roller) but full of sharp prongs that would tenderize the meat.
Not being a steak buyer nor cooker, I haven't really looked recently. I assume they are still around?
to me the Swiss Steak I got from a butcher would be passed it thru a machine (sort of like a pasta roller) but full of sharp prongs that would tenderize the meat.
Not being a steak buyer nor cooker, I haven't really looked recently. I assume they are still around?
Linda0818
Head Chef
Yeah, that's what we call "chopped" steak, which is great for making country fried steak, that sort of thing. However, I haven't seen it in my grocery store for a long time. In fact, I looked for it a couple of months ago specifically to make country fried steak, which was a request from my son. Couldn't find it anywhere.
I just remembered that my mom would make Swiss Steak with cuts of round, not ground. Ground was used for Salisbury.
Aunt Bea
Master Chef
We call it cube steak in this area.
I like them for pork and for chicken that is going to be breaded.
I’m not familiar with a machine for home cooks ours was always passed through a machine at the butcher shop.
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Yes, I recognize the term cube steak. It is a "slap chop" type of hand held gadget.
Edit:
Silly me, of course there are a ton of them on Amazon!
Edit:
Silly me, of course there are a ton of them on Amazon!
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Linda0818
Head Chef
Did I miss something?
emilymh2018
Cook
I live in Minnesota, so it was always a hot dish of some sort. For those not in Minnesota, hot dish = casserole.
Linda0818
Head Chef
Yep. It is now.
I used to splurge on nice foods once in a while to make something new and 'fancy', but I can't afford to do that anymore, so I just stick with our classic favorites that are pretty basic, but good. Things like oven-fried chicken and mashed taters, one-pot meals (like our one-pot spaghetti and chicken & noodles), the occasional breakfast for dinner, etc.
This thread is almost a year old, I'm aware. But it still applies, especially now, with so many people struggling just to put food on the table. I've seen a slight decline in food prices, but some of them are still way up there and I'm wondering if they'll ever come down again. More than likely, they will not. This is the new norm.
It is a bit weird but some of the things I used to consider 'expensive' are not rising in price so much (but not talking about meats here!). It is the things I used to considered everyday foods, vegetable being big in that category, that seem to have risen so much.
As you say Linda, I don't think those are going to go down either.
As you say Linda, I don't think those are going to go down either.
Linda0818
Head Chef
I know! It's crazy. Lettuce Is $2 a head for iceberg. It used to be 79 cents. 99 cents at the most. And I paid $4 for a cantaloupe. I was like, seriously??? But I REALLY wanted cantaloupe (because these days I usually only buy what I need, leaving the 'wants' on the shelf) and the pre-sliced was even more expensive. So I reluctantly paid the $4 for it.
Stupid cravings
But you're right, produce is pretty ridiculous right now. Even frozen vegetables have skyrocketed. Honestly, though, don't even get me started on the cost of frozen foods. My blood pressure will go up, lol.
Even taking into consideration the differences in our dollars. Iceberg lettuce $2.99 on special. Canteloupe $4.00 on special, is usually 5 or 6.
Linda0818
Head Chef
Whoa! That lettuce!
The cantaloupe, yes, that was on special here as well. But $3 for a head of lettuce on special is robbery. It's iceberg lettuce, for crying out loud!!!
Welcome to my world.
