Falcon-

My favorite meal for the end of a Boundary Water trip- canoing, portaging, and camping in a chain of lakes on the MN/Canadian border- I haven't gone since I was 8 months pregnant with #3, 11 years ago, but it is that cabbage, ramen noodle, almond salad- toast the almonds and sesame seeds, toss the dressing and chop the cabbage on a rock, and it tastes very fresh.  Cabbage stays fresh and doesn't mind the nightly bonking from bear hanging the food pack.  I used to pack a few potatoes, an onion, and cabbage for fresh food, sometimes celery wrapped in tin foil can take it for three or four days. Raisins, of course, but those don't really count. 

I miss camping but will go again soon.  Youngest is one this summer, a few more years.  Will start with milder camping, it is dangerous to be several days out with little kids.   

latenightleader:

Jenn- It would be nice for you to get under $600- are you interested in posting in the Cooking and Shopping for July?  It's nice to compare notes and keep on track.  Also there is help with morale!  We are also planning on a couple pantry challenge weeks, to stay out of the stores, I think you are in the one this week. 

Yes, I'm all in for July!!  I really need to be.  The formula savings will be huge . . . some months has been as high as $150 but usually around $130.  The other $650 or so goes to food, the CSA we belong to, household and pet items, diapers, etc.  I hope she transitions well to milk, that will make it much easier!  I love that your one likes the pink milk . . . that's cute!  DS hated milk at first but I added carnation instant breakfast and slowly reduced it until he would drink regular milk (he was drastically underweight and needed all the calories and vitamins he could get).  My goal for July is to be under $600.  Lately it's just been adding up on me!!

Thanks for the support!  I haven't had a chance to check on the pantry challenge for this week but I've done great!  Made a fantastic curry tonight-a completely found meal!

I LOVED Bounary Waters, too! I went...jeez, about 11 or 12 years ago, too, for 9 days. It was an amazing May, the coldest they'd had in many years, and the Northern Lights were pink and purple and so bright it paled the moon. Also, no mosquitos (ticks, though...oh, the ticks).  I'd love to get back there! That salad sounds great, btw. We didn't take any fresh foods because they were just too heavy and space-constumptive for two people, but I'm going to try the cabbage idea on our next shorter trip.

Name of the book: The Well-Fed Backpacker. The author is still alluding me, but I'll hop onto Amazon later and see if I can find it. Another really good book is The Healthy Trail Food Book, and again the author alludes me (I had to email my friend to get the names of the books I' recommended to her--I still can't find my copies, ergh!).

Hi again - as I am new to this - can someone tell me how we could do another thread - one on camping/backpacking - or is there one that I just can't find?  Would love to keep discussing stuff, but feel bad using a thread intended for something else

thank you - still get confused navigating this site sometimes (all the new windows opening)  Will start a new one.

wow never thought of dehyrated burgers!    I think I am going to start tracking household, pet, and food separately. I am spending over $600 a mth and would like to see if the fiqures in my mind are the same as on paper!   to much money going out.

have to work on the leftovers waste problem too.  too much going in the garbage.

Martha, I am thinking about tracking my actual groceries separately from household, pets, etc.  In my head, I think I know where the money is going but things often look differently on paper.  I wonder if I am spending more on non-food items than I think I am?

Falconinburgundy:

Make your own yogurt

Falcon-would you be willing to share just how you do this?  We love plain yogurt and eat a lot of it here but when I researched how to make it myself, it seemed very complicated and I got discouraged.  There was a lot of info about making sure that you maintain certain temperatures for many hours while it is cultured as otherwise it will breed bacteria and such.  So I didn't pursue it.  I looked into a yogurt maker but decided that it wasn't worth the money and that maybe I would ask for one for Christmas or my birthday or something.  Would love any tips that you have though!  Thanks in advance!

mrsggb2:

Budget $1400

You are feeding a lot of mouths and I think that you have to expect your bills to be higher on some fronts because of this.  It sounds like you are doing what you can though-and you are also including dr visits and such in your budget; those really add up!

I would second finding a replacement for cold cereal if possible.  Either hot cereal or toast and fruit or even eggs would be less costly in that they are more filling and the cost per serving would likely be less.  I only keep Cheerios here (a huge box from Costco) but it isn't for everyday.  In fact, we only pull it out if we are in a hurry and I haven't made bread and don't have time to cook some oatmeal or pancakes (from a mix also from Costco).  Whenever we do eat the Cheerios, my mind starts ticking with the cost of the cereal plus the milk (especially as I only buy organic milk!) and knowing that everyone will be hungry again in a couple of hours.  Cold cereal is an absolute last resort here and thus our big box usually lasts several months.  Also, when my DS goes through a hungry time, I make a lot of muffins and quick breads subbing in 1/2 whole wheat flour and also make a lot of beans (he loves them, you can't beat the price and they are really filling).  I will cook the dried beans and then make them into other dishes (if you undercook them a bit, you can freeze them for later use and they will thaw really well).

One other note on the milk . . . and you are probably already doing this . . . but when I pour a cup for DS, I only pour 1/2 to 2/3 of the cup.  If he finishes, he can have more if he wants it but I hate leftover milk sitting in the cup.  If he doesn't finish, I put it in the fridge for the next meal-can't stand pouring it out!

Otherwise, my budget is pretty high too so I don't have a huge amount of advice to offer!