Make Your Own – Chicken Broth

The first of many “Make Your Own” posts will be Chicken Broth. This is as easy as can be and turns out great when you need a chicken base for soup or to make those “cream of whatever” soups!

First, you need the bones, leftover meat, veggies, and broth from ANY meal. OR if you buy a rotisserie chicken from the grocery, throw the leftovers of that in the crock pot and make this yummy broth with that too!

Take all the leftovers and put them in your crock pot. Throw in any extra root vegetable like parsnips, potatoes, carrots etc. Season however you like. For my first try I just added salt and pepper and a bay leaf. My friend told me she adds a few whole peppercorns. Get creative and add your favorite spices!

Now, add water until all bones and veggies are submerged.

Put your crock pot on low and leave it on overnight.

In the morning, your house not only smells AMAZING, but your chicken broth is DONE! The liquid should turn a medium dark brown color.

All you have to do now is strain the mixture. I got 2 bowls and put them side by side.

One bowl had a strainer setting on top of it. I ladled spoonfuls from the crock pot to the strainer. As the broth leaked through the strainer, the bones and veggies were left in the strainer. Then I dumped the strainer into the second bowl. By the end I had 3 FULL cups of chicken broth (or about 24 oz).

I kept the carrots for snacks for my toddlers and kept the celery to make Cream of Celery Soup.         

Well I already calculated the chicken when I made my Whole Chicken Crock Pot meal so I’m considering the bones, chicken and veggies FREE (plus spices). I was just going to throw out the bones anyway right?

Let’s talk prices—>

I added 2 cups baby carrots to make this broth which cost $0.84.

SOooooooo… 3 cups of chicken broth cost me a whopping $0.84. Compare that to 2 cups (14 oz can) of Swanson or even store brand chicken broth at $1.00 or more and you are saving big time AND you know exactly what ingredients are in your chicken broth. This was not a difficult feat because the stuff cooked while you were sleeping! HA! Gotta love that!

Tell me how your broths are turning out! What creative concoctions are you coming up with?

The Best Pork Loin Crock Pot Meal Ever!

I don’t really do resolutions…

I just choose to make a change and then jump in head first! Sooooo… one of the things I will be working on this year is how to save more money at the grocery store. I don’t mean more couponing (although I do use some coupons)… I mean figuring out ways to make healthy and delicious meals for less than $5. Yep. An entire meal that feeds 4 or more (2 adults and 2 toddlers at least) for $5 or less.

Hence the name Five Dollar Dinner!!

So last night I made this amazing Pork Loin Crock Pot Meal that I talk about constantly with the locals. It’s basically the most tender pork loin ever and the veggies taste like candy! Sounds like a winner right?!?!

Click HERE for a printable version of the recipe and breakdown of calories.

Here is the breakdown of cost. * * * Please keep in mind these prices will vary by store, location and sale cycles. * * *

3 lb pork loin – Typically $2.50 per pound but I found it for close to $2.00/ lb – $6

Butternut Squash – I have seen these for $1 or cheaper in season but got this one for $1.50. It was a good pound and a half-er!

2 small pears – I used a conglomeration of pears from a local “Pick Your Own” Farm that had a $1/lb sale on all their pears. I canned most of what I got. Each jar is about a pound and half so 2-3 small pears. So $1.50 for the pears I used. Pears go on sale throughout the year for $1- $1.75/ lb so catch a good sale when you are planning this meal!

14 oz chicken broth – I used a can of Swanson Chicken Broth this time but will start making my own every time I cook a bone in chicken or buy a rotisserie chicken from the store. (Post coming on that later!) I got this can for major cheap right before Thanksgiving for $0.29. However $0.50 is usually a good price and is the price I used in my calculations.

2 Tbsp Honey – I use only local honey (I believe in the “it helps your allergies” talk…) but it is a bit more expensive. So my 2 Tbsp of honey cost $0.62 where you could probably get it for around $0.33/ oz at like Walmart or Kroger.

2 Bay Leaves – Usually I won’t count spices toward the cost of making a meal simply because these are things I just ALWAYS have handy in my spice cabinet but for bay leaves I could figure it per leaf. So for 2 bay leaves, it’s $0.26.

This entire crock pot meal cost $10.38 to make. Wait a minute (you’re thinking). I thought this was the $5 Dinner Blog. Well yes it is. Ya see, this meal is really 2 meals plus a lunch. Soooooooo… $4.44 for meal 1, $4.44 for meal 2, and $1.48 for the leftover lunch! WOOT WOOT!!

Wow people! 7 servings. Under $5 per meal. 440 calories per serving.

That’s a good Five Dollar Dinner!