Good for you! We usually buy a half a beef. It takes the two of us about 2 years to get through it. We share generously with family. Price is based on hanging weight. But there is waste, so weigh your boxes of cut beef when you get them to determine the finished price per lb. It’s expensive for hamburger but cheap for steaks and roasts. It all works out in the end. And the quality can’t be beat. We bought a half a beef in December of 2019 and were so thankful to have it for the lockdown when things were hard to get.
I love this FrufalFit show I get it one of my TV’s and now on my phone.She said her family was on a trip to South Dakota that is my home state . I was born and raised in Hot Springs where the Evans Plunge the natural springs are. I
I wish I would have had you in the 1970,s I had 3 sons a husband who drank like a fish so I gardened, baked bread, canned the tomatoes into everything. We had wild meat that I made into everything. Found chokecherrys made jelles and syrup. Found apples out in the wild and Made them into pies, jelly so likevYouvsay look for things and you have Gold.
I just discovered your channel less than a week ago and a) IM HOOKED. Content + personality = winning combination b) how are you universally someone I want to BOTH be friends with and I want to be one of your kids. (I’m 30, is this just how it feels to be 30?!)
half a cow is a lot, but it is a great purchase. Not only are you supporting a local farmer but you also will be able to feed your size family for approximately 8 months or more, especially if you spread it further.
So proud that I guessed the reason for the freezer clean out! We purchase a quarter of a cow about once a year and it is usually around 150 lbs give or take! But this is one way that we save significantly on our groceries! The last one we bought averages $2.50/lb which is less than half the store price for ground beef alone!
My hubby and I purchased a1/4 of a cow back in March. We’re still eating the ground beef! The steaks went first, they were so tasty! I think you did a smart thing!💕
My husband made chili last night. So many "little bits" made their way to the pot. And it was Awesome! Plus we have 2 extra meals to put in the freezer.
I gave up using a spoon rest, my utensils never fit and I always make more mess. I get those 2 pack thin clear cutting boards from the Dollar Tree. Keeps my counter cleaner. Easy to clean off. They also make great surfaces for messy crafts.
@@susanhendrix8701 I don't understand. Please explain. Are you laying the spoon across the two handles? What about when you need a lid? or Sliding them through the handles so they are next to the flames?
I use little appetizer plates as my spoon rests. It can hold multiple utensils and I have them stationed around the kitchen. Since I don’t use the plates regularly, it’s a good re-purpose. And I always have the option of using them as they’re supposed to be used. Easy to clean too since they’re just plates. :)
One tip for the microwave. Put your container near the edge of the tray, if it turns. It will thaw faster, warm faster. The “waves” bounce around the inside so you have a chances of hitting more waves as it spins.
I like to use brown sugar with my chili or tomato items I make. Also, my family doesn't like onions, so I use a lot of onion powder as a base for flavor. I think almost every savory dish would benefit with onions.
Oh please do more of these videos. It is inspiring to get motivated to clean out. It is so easy to forget and not want to deal with what you have in the freezer and it piles up. I love seeing what you have in your fridge and freezer because it looks just like mine.
We had 6 people in our family growing up and our parents ordered half a cow -- literally a "side of beef" -- once a year. We had a tall freezer but in capacity probably similar to your chest freezer. There was still room for chicken and frozen veg in the freezer as well. And that chicken pot pie looks amazing!
My husband and I purchased half a cow in May and it has been so great! Quality meat at a very great price! We ended up with 281 pounds of meat, but it will depend on the size of the cow. As always, thanks for another great video!
If you want to make it sweeter but don't want to use a sweetener like sugar or Stevie, you can use vinegar or wine. Sounds counter productive and I'm not100% certain why it works but when I need to make sauce and I don't have 7 hours to let it simmer, it works great!
I love these types of videos! You motivated me to use what I have. I’m making stuffed green peppers for dinner tonight. The peppers are from my garden.
My cousin buys half a cow every year , she has a regular freezer and a chest freezer and is good on space. They also have room left over for deer meat.
Been there, done that after cutting up jalapenos. It took several days for my eye to recover. 😖. Now I wear safety goggles when cutting up peppers and onions. / In Pennsylvania the chicken pot pie would be called meat pie or casserole. Our traditional pot pie is the Pennsylvania Dutch or Amish version, typically more like a thick soup or stew with homemade, thick, wide noodles. It can be made with chicken, beef or ham.
Absolutely love how you casually mention that you bought half a cow..lol Not that unusual here in TX but sounds wierd when someone on UA-cam says it! Good luck with the freezer Tetris you will be playing with that meat delivery!!
You will not regret that cow. We have done that twice and love it. It took up most of our small chest freezer. It just depends on the size of the cow. The beef is fantastic.
I truly love to watch you cook. You cook like I cook. I am 60 years old and we are only two at home now. I don't do huge cooking anymore but I do when I want to freeze Foods. I love your style.
I did a full inventory of my freezers last week. It was enlightening. I hadn’t done that since last year. I had done partial inventories where I made a list of all the proteins, but not all the other things. As a gardener and farmers market enthusiast, I kinda have a lot of “fruit” for making pies and quickbreads and such. Between the concord grapes, sour cherries, pumpkin puree, peaches, rhubarb, and strawberries I could make 20 pies. That’s probably 4 times more pies than I make in an entire year. The kids won’t mind the 8 batches of zucchini bread/muffins that they’ll be eating by next summer.
Have you tried dehydrating fruits…makes yummy snacks and powders to add to baked goods giving you more room in the freezer. I bought a Garden Master dehydrator for $100 and it’s great and has a lot of silicone trays for fruit….can’t afford the expensive one all the bloggers endorse…
@@carriem7832 I got my dehydrator at Walmart years ago. That brand has gone through a redesign where the hole in the middle is flat so a circle shaped screen can go on each tray. My old one I have to use a donut shaped screen. I would love to have the fancy dehydrator or the even fancier freeze dryer, but #budget. I will have to think about drying some of those fruits. They wouldn’t make for nice individual pieces of dried fruit, but those concord grapes would make for a yummy leather after britzing the skins.
@@jenniferlynch643 we do it and split the cost and the meat with a family member. We didn’t do it this year because our relative couldn’t afford it this year due to some unexpected medical bills. I would recommend finding a friend, relative or neighbor you could split the cost and the meat with.
Make stewed tomatoes with the tomatoes from your garden. Tomatoes peeled, celery, onion, and green pepper. Teaspoon of salt tablespoon of sugar and parsley. Cook for about 20 minutes. Let cool and freeze. They are delicious.
I am really enjoying your channel and I love how you waste NOTHING. We are trying so hard to be less wasteful in my house, and I find your videos inspiring. Thanks so much for the great content!
Thank you for the ideas!...using a can of flaky biscuits over my “freezer clean-out” chicken pot pie. And, cleaned out 2 partial bags of mixed frozen berries and the rest of my 8 oz brick of cream cheese for the dessert crisp. Yum!! 😋
When I lived in WY, I bought half a pig twice. The first one was excellent. The second, from a different source wasn't that good. After that I would get meats from Butcher Box. Unfortunately, there is no Butcher Box in Alaska but I did find a place called Delta Meats, about 100 miles from me who sells humanely raised meat. They also process game meats. I put myself on a list for a half a pig and a quarter of a beef. The person I talked to (at the beginning of the summer) said it would be a long time coming and to not think she had forgotten about me. Bought a 15 cubic foot freezer that is just sitting in my garage turned off and waiting. Hope I don't have to wait much longer. I don't like eating factory farmed meat but what can I do? I'm a card carrying carnivore.
I tend to go 2 or 3 weeks without grocery shopping and just go for milk, juice, and a little fruit for the kids on a weekly basis. This weekend was one of the big shopping weekends so the fridge, pantry, and freezers are full! Can’t wait to clean ours out too
half a cow could be anywhere from 300-600 pounds depending on how big the cow was. :) hope you get some roasts an try some new roast recipes! i only ever seem to make the mississppi one and it's getting old....
I would LOVE it if you could walk us through how you make your crushed red pepper flakes!! Are they a specific pepper? Do you use the oven, dehydrator, etc?
We bought a half a cow last year, it was 692 pounds. It just really depends on the size of the cow lol. It was a massive cow (dad raises cows and pigs)
The crescent roll topping you used in place of crust was a very good idea! I never thought of that. Some times I have extra crescent rolls to use. This will be an excellent way to use them!
I use grated carrots in place of sugar in my tomato based dishes like chili and lasagna. It helps to cut the acid and I use up the last few carrots in the fridge.
Buying half a cow is a huge frugal tip. It ends up being very inexpensive to buy in "bulk" and the meat tastes so much better. Also , it makes meal planning so easy.
It usually depends on the cow at the time of processing but roughly about 160-210lbs of beef. We usually go with a quarter beef because we don't eat that much red meat and it will last us most of the year. It's so worth it though. The beef tastes so much better and usually comes out way cheaper than the grocery stores per pound.
Your short cuts in the kitchen are awesome. Sometimes people don't have time to make a crust by hand or feel they arent that great at it. These options give people a shortcut that is still making your dinner mostly from scratch is still better and healthier then any if the quick in the freezer isle
Christine…just a little tip for you: when I make the cheesy part of my lasagna, my recipe calls for eggs, Parmesan, parsley and ricotta ( I always substitute cottage cheese, but I process it fine). I think the eggs and the parm in there makes it especially good and it’s thinner in consistency, so easier to spread, the eggs give it body and the parm makes it taste wonderful and the parsley makes it pretty! This is just a little different take but thought you might like to try it! I had four kiddos of my own and always made ( and make!) my lasagna sauce from scratch! It’s a little time consuming but, as you do, if you make in batches ( or as I do, my family has grown to 20!), it’s enjoyed by all and a labor of love!!🥰
I use 12 instead of 2 eggs, parsley if I have it, a combo of Parm, mozzarella, ricotta and cottage cheese, Italian seasoning, and some milk. I just mix it with a spoon; I'm too lazy to process it.
@@helenmak5663 oh Helen, I just throw things in! I brown 2pounds of ground meat, many times just hamburger, sometimes hamburger/sausage. Sometimes I add Italian sausage. Then add a chopped onion and 2-3 minced cloves of garlic. I will usually add a generous amount of Italian seasonings and brown up all the meat. Drain off the fat then I usually use at least one or two 28 oz can of whole or crushed tomatoes. If it looks dry, maybe some tomato sauce snd perhaps some water. Salt, pepper, onion, garlic powder, more Italian seasoning to taste. Let simmer for a few hours. This is the base sauce. For the cheese middle, 2 containers of cottage cheese, blended smooth, 4 eggs, at least a cup of Parmesan cheese( maybe 2). Then lots of shredded mozzarella. This makes 2 9x13…. Start with some meat sauce in bottom and layer like normal. Build from there. End with mozzarella. Bake for at least 45 min 325-350, maybe an hour? Depends on the color. If you don’t want to boil the noodles, make sure the sauce is loose or you add a little water to the dish. It’s really easy to make. Just takes time. Hope it turns out for you!!🥰
@@kimeverhart6253 Hi Kim, thanks for the detail instructions on lasagna sauce. I will definitely try it cos my adult children love to order lasagna at restaurants. They will be thrilled if I make it. Thank you again for your kindness.
We get a 1/4 of a cow and it ranges between 90 to 120 lbs depending on the cow. . I have a stand up freezer and the 1/4 cow takes up most of the freezer space. I get the cow in the spring and in the fall I get 1/2 a pig.
I just made homemade chili yesterday with our garden tomatoes and homemade tomato sauce too haha. On the menu for today is oxtail, beef short ribs and mashed potatoes, carrots and acorn squash yummy 😋
It depends on how big the cow is obviously, but normally a half beef is around 200-250 pounds. We buy a quarter every 4 months and it fills 2 shelves in my stand up deep freeze-around 125 pounds of beef.
Many years ago I was skiing in Vermont and had the BEST bowl of chili. This was at an inn and when I asked the owner what she put in it she said peanut butter. It made it so creamy and it did not taste like peanut butter just rich. I use a heaping tablespoon for a family of six.
It’s definitely chili season. Thanks for sharing your recipe. I’m feeling inspired. I’m also ready to make soups. Happy Fall everyone leaves 🍁 🍁 🎃 🍜. Have a fun race Christine 🚴
Depends on the weight of the beef before it is processed, but ballpark after the excess is trimmed and cut is around 160-180 pounds for 1/2 of a beef, sometimes more and sometimes less.....at least here in Texas :)
I use a bread plate instead of a spoon rest. Fits all different sizes of utensils, and multiple ones. And it goes in the plate slot in the dishwasher. We love a multi-tasker. We used to raise a cow and have it butchered once a year from the 50's (grandparents) until the early 2000's (grandparents and I.) Half a cow is a lot, sometimes up to 400lbs (some of them were big boys,) but judging from your other videos, you'll have the space between your 3 freezers. How's your Tetris game? 😜 I kid, you'll get it sorted just fine.
I love your videos! We bout maybe a 1/4 of a cow months ago and it is the best thing ever! Could you do a video about how you handle all your fresh tomatoes? Like your prosess for freezing them?
Love seeing speedy in your videos. The hot sauce you use in the chili is so yummy.I definitely doing a freezer clean out.the pot pie that you made with crescent rolls on top looks really good.
Im all for crust cheating but if i do scratch i use your shared fail-proof pie crust from an older youtube video! It works everytime, in Ontario, Canada in a dry apartment with electric heating. With whole wheat or white flour or a combo of both. With butter flavoured lard (you used), or margarine/veg oil - ive tried both! It never fails!! Thank you so much christine, LOVE your videos 🤗
It must be a seasonal thing cause I am doing the exact same thing right now! I have been on a "use what we have" mission for 2 weeks now. Made a list on my phone and have been tracking what I have used up by crossing it out on the list! Also, since it is hunting season we need room for harvested meat! Lastly, I find with the arrival of fall all the like soup/stew essentials are on sale too so it has been a combination of using up what I have and a stock-up of winter essential food items.
We filled our 3’x6’ standup freezer when we got half a cow… 😳 BUT we did get all the bones for dogs, so that was a shelf. I still have a lonely brisket and it’s been in there 2 years!
Beef cattle are about 1500lbs-2000lbs depending on if they only eat feed or grass fed as well. So a full is 1500lbs+ when they go to the butcher so half is 750lbs but you lose about half the weight after it’s processed so a half a cow ends up being about 300+lbs take home(for your freezer). But a full cow going to market is around 1500lbs-2000lbs. It hurts when they step on your foot let’s just say that 🤣 hopefully that wasn’t too confusing.
I remember when I was lid my dad would but a half cow for our freezer. I come from a family of 6 and now it's mostly just me. I still cook big and freeze a lot of meals. I give away a lot food to friends especially if my freezer is kind of full. It's crock pot season and I love a good soup and crusty bread. Sometimes I even make my own.
Love these videos! They remind me of all the things I can make without going to the store. And yes, the bananas! I have only three frozen ones, but still they need to be made into a loaf.
I buy a whole cow once a year for my family of 6, we are all adults or almost adults. Works out to $4 a lb for everything cow and butcher, plus we get dog bones!
My husband came home from work about a month ago, and was like "So I bought a whole pig today..." I've been wanting an upright freezer for a while, but I didn't want to spend the money. So much for that! We now we have pork to last a year!
We often get a half cow and have another one coming soon. You're family will love it! I'd have to look at my paper work for pounds, but we are a family of 4. You can definitely go through it as a family of 6.
WOW do your young ones handle the spicy well?!!🤯 and yes I was one of the lucky ones the growing up in my hometown TexMex City and my middle school we were lucky and got rice AND cornbread with chili bowl day in the cafeteria!!!😍😋🤤🤤🤤 ALWAYS got seconds to take home for my dinner! 😁😁😁❤️🙏🏼❤️💯
We live in Texas & it’s still in the 90’s here, so not chili weather yet. I’m so ready for cooler weather & to cook different meals. All of your recipes look great!
Half a cow is usually in the 150-200 lb hanging weight and a little less when fully processed. It really just depends on how much the actual cow weighed.
Could you do a video about your garden and how to for beginners? Like how to start and the time of the year when to start planting depending on the veggie or fruit.
Mary on Richard's phone from Florida. It's kind of crazy the way things have turned out in the world of purchasing beef. In the '60s and '70s we couldn't afford to buy beef from the grocery store. So the neighborhood would get together go down south and buy a 2-year-old steer right out of the pastor basically walk in say we'll take that one processor is there to do the dastardly and take the order for how everybody wants their portion cut. 4 weeks later my dad would be the pickup guy to go to another town and pick it up and distribute it to everyone it was cheaper and it was totally 100% grass-fed organic because that's the only way they raised them then.
🤭 size depends on cow but average approximately 800 lbs, I was blessed enough to get ours 3 weeks ago by local farmer $4.00 lbs × over 850 lbs. Was definitely worth it cost wise.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
"I may have purchased half a cow..." LOL Oh, how I love you.
Good for you! We usually buy a half a beef. It takes the two of us about 2 years to get through it. We share generously with family. Price is based on hanging weight. But there is waste, so weigh your boxes of cut beef when you get them to determine the finished price per lb. It’s expensive for hamburger but cheap for steaks and roasts. It all works out in the end. And the quality can’t be beat. We bought a half a beef in December of 2019 and were so thankful to have it for the lockdown when things were hard to get.
Like oops, that accidentally happens right?? :)
Friday is payday. The freezer is full, the pantry is full, and the fridge is empty. You have perfect timing.
Same here I needed this video too
I love this FrufalFit show I get it one of my TV’s and now on my phone.She said her family was on a trip to South Dakota that is my home state . I was born and raised in Hot Springs where the Evans Plunge the natural springs are.
I
I wish I would have had you in the 1970,s I had 3 sons a husband who drank like a fish so I gardened, baked bread, canned the tomatoes into everything. We had wild meat that I made into everything. Found chokecherrys made jelles and syrup. Found apples out in the wild and Made them into pies, jelly so likevYouvsay look for things and you have Gold.
I just discovered your channel less than a week ago and a) IM HOOKED. Content + personality = winning combination b) how are you universally someone I want to BOTH be friends with and I want to be one of your kids. (I’m 30, is this just how it feels to be 30?!)
Haha I feel the same way!! Haha been here you a while but I rarely miss a video!
I hope you do a video when you get your half a cow. It would be interesting!
I always throw my fresh tomatoes in the blender before pouring in my chili. It helps with the skins and big chunks
I love watching you cook, nothing exact nothing perfectly measured, so fun and free like cooking should be
half a cow is a lot, but it is a great purchase. Not only are you supporting a local farmer but you also will be able to feed your size family for approximately 8 months or more, especially if you spread it further.
That's the plan!
"It's gonna be fine." Words to live by. 😉
So proud that I guessed the reason for the freezer clean out! We purchase a quarter of a cow about once a year and it is usually around 150 lbs give or take! But this is one way that we save significantly on our groceries! The last one we bought averages $2.50/lb which is less than half the store price for ground beef alone!
My hubby and I purchased a1/4 of a cow back in March. We’re still eating the ground beef! The steaks went first, they were so tasty! I think you did a smart thing!💕
My husband made chili last night. So many "little bits" made their way to the pot. And it was Awesome! Plus we have 2 extra meals to put in the freezer.
I gave up using a spoon rest, my utensils never fit and I always make more mess. I get those 2 pack thin clear cutting boards from the Dollar Tree. Keeps my counter cleaner. Easy to clean off. They also make great surfaces for messy crafts.
I stopped using spoon rests too & use wax paper to rest my cooking utensils on the stove.
The holes on the handles of the pots and pans are made for the handles on spoons.
This is a brilliant idea 💡
@@susanhendrix8701 I don't understand. Please explain. Are you laying the spoon across the two handles? What about when you need a lid? or Sliding them through the handles so they are next to the flames?
I use little appetizer plates as my spoon rests. It can hold multiple utensils and I have them stationed around the kitchen. Since I don’t use the plates regularly, it’s a good re-purpose. And I always have the option of using them as they’re supposed to be used. Easy to clean too since they’re just plates. :)
One tip for the microwave. Put your container near the edge of the tray, if it turns. It will thaw faster, warm faster. The “waves” bounce around the inside so you have a chances of hitting more waves as it spins.
Great tip! Thank you
Wow! How cool 👍🏾
Genius!
And I guessed your reasoning for the freezer clean out! 😁My son just purchased a quarter of a 🐄 and it was 101 lbs of beef.
Ha, I was thinking a half cow has to be at least 200 lbs. Good guess.
I like to use brown sugar with my chili or tomato items I make.
Also, my family doesn't like onions, so I use a lot of onion powder as a base for flavor. I think almost every savory dish would benefit with onions.
my base for almost every dish (savoury) is garlic and some form of onion. Best flavour enhancers after salt.
Onions are literally in everything i cook . Even breakfast my eggs
@@raquellambropoulos279 love a good onion and red pepper omelette with a side of bacon.
I would disown my family if they didn't like onions. 😉😁😄😄
Oh please do more of these videos. It is inspiring to get motivated to clean out. It is so easy to forget and not want to deal with what you have in the freezer and it piles up. I love seeing what you have in your fridge and freezer because it looks just like mine.
I just did a forced fridge clean out cook last week when my garage fridge decided to die.... Man this looks like alot more fun when u do it lol!!
That’s a real life produce drawer. Everyone’s looks like that sometimes! That pot pie looked yummy but I’m feeling chicken n dumplings this week.
I made the Kodiak chocolate muffins this weekend and added salted caramel chips i found at Trader joes.
We had 6 people in our family growing up and our parents ordered half a cow -- literally a "side of beef" -- once a year. We had a tall freezer but in capacity probably similar to your chest freezer. There was still room for chicken and frozen veg in the freezer as well.
And that chicken pot pie looks amazing!
My husband and I purchased half a cow in May and it has been so great! Quality meat at a very great price!
We ended up with 281 pounds of meat, but it will depend on the size of the cow.
As always, thanks for another great video!
That a lot of meat!
@@FrugalFitMom yes it is!
It was way more than we were expecting when we initially agreed to it, but it nice having the stock in the freezer!
If you want to make it sweeter but don't want to use a sweetener like sugar or Stevie, you can use vinegar or wine. Sounds counter productive and I'm not100% certain why it works but when I need to make sauce and I don't have 7 hours to let it simmer, it works great!
I just did an inventory for my 3 freezers and identified meals from the items. I have at least 3 weeks worth of meals! Thanks for the recommendation
I love the crescent dough as a crust on chicken pot pie!
IKR? I’m using flaky biscuits on mine tonight. Great way to use them and my extra veggies.😋
Good Morning! Great to see you this blessed day! U always have awesome ideas! God bless you and ur beautiful family.
I love these types of videos! You motivated me to use what I have. I’m making stuffed green peppers for dinner tonight. The peppers are from my garden.
My cousin buys half a cow every year , she has a regular freezer and a chest freezer and is good on space. They also have room left over for deer meat.
1:54 I love how Speedy woofed when you were rattling off all the kinds of chili meat. Like, "Meat? Yes please!" :)
I'm thinking it was the pork 🤔😋
Been there, done that after cutting up jalapenos. It took several days for my eye to recover. 😖. Now I wear safety goggles when cutting up peppers and onions. / In Pennsylvania the chicken pot pie would be called meat pie or casserole. Our traditional pot pie is the Pennsylvania Dutch or Amish version, typically more like a thick soup or stew with homemade, thick, wide noodles. It can be made with chicken, beef or ham.
Great minds. I used up some random ingredients and made chili with penne last night.
Absolutely love how you casually mention that you bought half a cow..lol
Not that unusual here in TX but sounds wierd when someone on UA-cam says it!
Good luck with the freezer Tetris you will be playing with that meat delivery!!
😁
Freezer Tetris😂I got a pig one year and yes, it's a real thing 😂😂😂
I entirely underestimated how big half a cow is last year
Instead of sugar, you should try adding brown gravy. 1 packet for a small pot and 2 for a large. Adds delicious flavor and cuts the acidity
You will not regret that cow. We have done that twice and love it. It took up most of our small chest freezer. It just depends on the size of the cow. The beef is fantastic.
I truly love to watch you cook. You cook like I cook. I am 60 years old and we are only two at home now. I don't do huge cooking anymore but I do when I want to freeze Foods. I love your style.
I’ve been trying to clean out my freezer too and use what I have. I don’t like to waste food. It’s too expensive. Thanks for sharing!
I did a full inventory of my freezers last week. It was enlightening. I hadn’t done that since last year. I had done partial inventories where I made a list of all the proteins, but not all the other things. As a gardener and farmers market enthusiast, I kinda have a lot of “fruit” for making pies and quickbreads and such. Between the concord grapes, sour cherries, pumpkin puree, peaches, rhubarb, and strawberries I could make 20 pies. That’s probably 4 times more pies than I make in an entire year. The kids won’t mind the 8 batches of zucchini bread/muffins that they’ll be eating by next summer.
Same here! Converting to freezer jams (1year or gifts!)! Extra fruits will become fruit juice, personally blended 🤣
Have you tried dehydrating fruits…makes yummy snacks and powders to add to baked goods giving you more room in the freezer.
I bought a Garden Master dehydrator for $100 and it’s great and has a lot of silicone trays for fruit….can’t afford the expensive one all the bloggers endorse…
@@carriem7832 I got my dehydrator at Walmart years ago. That brand has gone through a redesign where the hole in the middle is flat so a circle shaped screen can go on each tray. My old one I have to use a donut shaped screen. I would love to have the fancy dehydrator or the even fancier freeze dryer, but #budget.
I will have to think about drying some of those fruits. They wouldn’t make for nice individual pieces of dried fruit, but those concord grapes would make for a yummy leather after britzing the skins.
My husband and I just got half a cow on Saturday. It was about 300lbs, and filled my entire standup freezer with meat.
Wow i would love to do this but no way do i have the room lol
@@jenniferlynch643 we do it and split the cost and the meat with a family member. We didn’t do it this year because our relative couldn’t afford it this year due to some unexpected medical bills. I would recommend finding a friend, relative or neighbor you could split the cost and the meat with.
@@jenniferlynch643 this is also in Canada, so it could be a lot less wherever you live.
I just did inventory of my pantry and freezers this weekend. Was able to meal plan for 18 meals 😀
WOW
Make stewed tomatoes with the tomatoes from your garden. Tomatoes peeled, celery, onion, and green pepper. Teaspoon of salt tablespoon of sugar and parsley. Cook for about 20 minutes. Let cool and freeze. They are delicious.
Holy cow! Good for you! 😍I had the opportunity to do the same a few years ago, loved it! Enjoy
You made me curious so I looked it up. A half of a cow is approximately 220 pounds. Love your clean out videos and I'm jealous of your freezer.
Great video! Great ideas to use up things you already have. No food waste!! Yay!!
I am really enjoying your channel and I love how you waste NOTHING. We are trying so hard to be less wasteful in my house, and I find your videos inspiring. Thanks so much for the great content!
Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to see what half a cow looks like in little packages all over your counter!
My sister is a homestead owner and she purchases 1/2 a cow at a time it’s usually between 250-300lbs
Thank you for the ideas!...using a can of flaky biscuits over my “freezer clean-out” chicken pot pie. And, cleaned out 2 partial bags of mixed frozen berries and the rest of my 8 oz brick of cream cheese for the dessert crisp. Yum!! 😋
When I lived in WY, I bought half a pig twice. The first one was excellent. The second, from a different source wasn't that good. After that I would get meats from Butcher Box. Unfortunately, there is no Butcher Box in Alaska but I did find a place called Delta Meats, about 100 miles from me who sells humanely raised meat. They also process game meats. I put myself on a list for a half a pig and a quarter of a beef. The person I talked to (at the beginning of the summer) said it would be a long time coming and to not think she had forgotten about me. Bought a 15 cubic foot freezer that is just sitting in my garage turned off and waiting. Hope I don't have to wait much longer. I don't like eating factory farmed meat but what can I do? I'm a card carrying carnivore.
I learned to use a quality balsamic vinegar in my tomato sauces! So good!
Hello from Texas! Always love seeing Speedy, and great ideas, Christine 😊
I tend to go 2 or 3 weeks without grocery shopping and just go for milk, juice, and a little fruit for the kids on a weekly basis. This weekend was one of the big shopping weekends so the fridge, pantry, and freezers are full! Can’t wait to clean ours out too
half a cow could be anywhere from 300-600 pounds depending on how big the cow was. :) hope you get some roasts an try some new roast recipes! i only ever seem to make the mississppi one and it's getting old....
I would LOVE it if you could walk us through how you make your crushed red pepper flakes!! Are they a specific pepper? Do you use the oven, dehydrator, etc?
I love cleaning out the freezer/pantry videos! That lasagna looks amazing Christine!
Plus, you're the only US UA-camr who pronounces Worcestershire sauce properly 😂
It took some practice!
@@FrugalFitMom to be fair, some of us UK people still struggle with it 😂
Awesome I am freezer cooking for the month right now to . I’m having fun now I can watch you as I’m cooking!
We bought a half a cow last year, it was 692 pounds. It just really depends on the size of the cow lol. It was a massive cow (dad raises cows and pigs)
😳
The crescent roll topping you used in place of crust was a very good idea! I never thought of that. Some times I have extra crescent rolls to use. This will be an excellent way to use them!
I love your line “it’s gonna be fine” I need to make the my new motto
I use grated carrots in place of sugar in my tomato based dishes like chili and lasagna. It helps to cut the acid and I use up the last few carrots in the fridge.
Monday is the perfect day for this inspiration!! Thank you!!
Buying half a cow is a huge frugal tip. It ends up being very inexpensive to buy in "bulk" and the meat tastes so much better. Also , it makes meal planning so easy.
depending on the size of the cow it could be about 200 lbs of meat and bone unless there processing it for you
I’m with you on adding sugar to tomato sauces, that’s what my mom did and that’s what I do! Love how you made the Chicken Pot Pie!
It usually depends on the cow at the time of processing but roughly about 160-210lbs of beef. We usually go with a quarter beef because we don't eat that much red meat and it will last us most of the year. It's so worth it though. The beef tastes so much better and usually comes out way cheaper than the grocery stores per pound.
Your short cuts in the kitchen are awesome. Sometimes people don't have time to make a crust by hand or feel they arent that great at it. These options give people a shortcut that is still making your dinner mostly from scratch is still better and healthier then any if the quick in the freezer isle
Christine…just a little tip for you: when I make the cheesy part of my lasagna, my recipe calls for eggs, Parmesan, parsley and ricotta ( I always substitute cottage cheese, but I process it fine). I think the eggs and the parm in there makes it especially good and it’s thinner in consistency, so easier to spread, the eggs give it body and the parm makes it taste wonderful and the parsley makes it pretty! This is just a little different take but thought you might like to try it!
I had four kiddos of my own and always made ( and make!) my lasagna sauce from scratch! It’s a little time consuming but, as you do, if you make in batches ( or as I do, my family has grown to 20!), it’s enjoyed by all and a labor of love!!🥰
Hi Kim, would you mind sharing homemade lasagna sauce recipe? Thanks!
I use 12 instead of 2 eggs, parsley if I have it, a combo of Parm, mozzarella, ricotta and cottage cheese, Italian seasoning, and some milk. I just mix it with a spoon; I'm too lazy to process it.
@@helenmak5663 oh Helen, I just throw things in! I brown 2pounds of ground meat, many times just hamburger, sometimes hamburger/sausage. Sometimes I add Italian sausage. Then add a chopped onion and 2-3 minced cloves of garlic. I will usually add a generous amount of Italian seasonings and brown up all the meat. Drain off the fat then I usually use at least one or two 28 oz can of whole or crushed tomatoes. If it looks dry, maybe some tomato sauce snd perhaps some water. Salt, pepper, onion, garlic powder, more Italian seasoning to taste. Let simmer for a few hours. This is the base sauce.
For the cheese middle, 2 containers of cottage cheese, blended smooth, 4 eggs, at least a cup of Parmesan cheese( maybe 2). Then lots of shredded mozzarella.
This makes 2 9x13….
Start with some meat sauce in bottom and layer like normal. Build from there. End with mozzarella. Bake for at least 45 min 325-350, maybe an hour? Depends on the color.
If you don’t want to boil the noodles, make sure the sauce is loose or you add a little water to the dish. It’s really easy to make. Just takes time. Hope it turns out for you!!🥰
@@kimeverhart6253 Hi Kim, thanks for the detail instructions on lasagna sauce. I will definitely try it cos my adult children love to order lasagna at restaurants. They will be thrilled if I make it. Thank you again for your kindness.
@@helenmak5663 , I forgot to tell you, add some parsley to the cottage cheese mixture!!🤭 it makes it look prettier!
We get a 1/4 of a cow and it ranges between 90 to 120 lbs depending on the cow. . I have a stand up freezer and the 1/4 cow takes up most of the freezer space. I get the cow in the spring and in the fall I get 1/2 a pig.
I just made homemade chili yesterday with our garden tomatoes and homemade tomato sauce too haha. On the menu for today is oxtail, beef short ribs and mashed potatoes, carrots and acorn squash yummy 😋
It depends on how big the cow is obviously, but normally a half beef is around 200-250 pounds. We buy a quarter every 4 months and it fills 2 shelves in my stand up deep freeze-around 125 pounds of beef.
Love seeing your garden! We are done for the season now
Many years ago I was skiing in Vermont and had the BEST bowl of chili. This was at an inn and when I asked the owner what she put in it she said peanut butter. It made it so creamy and it did not taste like peanut butter just rich. I use a heaping tablespoon for a family of six.
Now that sounds intriguing!
It’s definitely chili season. Thanks for sharing your recipe. I’m feeling inspired. I’m also ready to make soups. Happy Fall everyone leaves 🍁 🍁 🎃 🍜. Have a fun race Christine 🚴
It's still to warm in east TN and I'm craving some chili! We're in the low to mid 80s this week
Depends on the weight of the beef before it is processed, but ballpark after the excess is trimmed and cut is around 160-180 pounds for 1/2 of a beef, sometimes more and sometimes less.....at least here in Texas :)
I use a bread plate instead of a spoon rest. Fits all different sizes of utensils, and multiple ones. And it goes in the plate slot in the dishwasher. We love a multi-tasker. We used to raise a cow and have it butchered once a year from the 50's (grandparents) until the early 2000's (grandparents and I.) Half a cow is a lot, sometimes up to 400lbs (some of them were big boys,) but judging from your other videos, you'll have the space between your 3 freezers. How's your Tetris game? 😜 I kid, you'll get it sorted just fine.
I love your videos! We bout maybe a 1/4 of a cow months ago and it is the best thing ever! Could you do a video about how you handle all your fresh tomatoes? Like your prosess for freezing them?
Love seeing speedy in your videos.
The hot sauce you use in the chili is so yummy.I definitely doing a freezer clean out.the pot pie that you made with crescent rolls on top looks really good.
Im all for crust cheating but if i do scratch i use your shared fail-proof pie crust from an older youtube video! It works everytime, in Ontario, Canada in a dry apartment with electric heating. With whole wheat or white flour or a combo of both. With butter flavoured lard (you used), or margarine/veg oil - ive tried both! It never fails!! Thank you so much christine, LOVE your videos 🤗
It must be a seasonal thing cause I am doing the exact same thing right now! I have been on a "use what we have" mission for 2 weeks now. Made a list on my phone and have been tracking what I have used up by crossing it out on the list! Also, since it is hunting season we need room for harvested meat! Lastly, I find with the arrival of fall all the like soup/stew essentials are on sale too so it has been a combination of using up what I have and a stock-up of winter essential food items.
We filled our 3’x6’ standup freezer when we got half a cow… 😳 BUT we did get all the bones for dogs, so that was a shelf. I still have a lonely brisket and it’s been in there 2 years!
Girl you are so creative, thanks so much 👍👍👍
Beef cattle are about 1500lbs-2000lbs depending on if they only eat feed or grass fed as well. So a full is 1500lbs+ when they go to the butcher so half is 750lbs but you lose about half the weight after it’s processed so a half a cow ends up being about 300+lbs take home(for your freezer). But a full cow going to market is around 1500lbs-2000lbs. It hurts when they step on your foot let’s just say that 🤣 hopefully that wasn’t too confusing.
I remember when I was lid my dad would but a half cow for our freezer. I come from a family of 6 and now it's mostly just me. I still cook big and freeze a lot of meals. I give away a lot food to friends especially if my freezer is kind of full. It's crock pot season and I love a good soup and crusty bread. Sometimes I even make my own.
Love these videos! They remind me of all the things I can make without going to the store. And yes, the bananas! I have only three frozen ones, but still they need to be made into a loaf.
“Simmer down.” While making chili - made me laugh.
Chili looks amazing with all those fresh veggies! 🍅🥕🌶🍅🥫👍🏻👍🏻😋
It was!
I buy a whole cow once a year for my family of 6, we are all adults or almost adults. Works out to $4 a lb for everything cow and butcher, plus we get dog bones!
My husband came home from work about a month ago, and was like "So I bought a whole pig today..." I've been wanting an upright freezer for a while, but I didn't want to spend the money. So much for that! We now we have pork to last a year!
We purchased half of a grass fed cow and it was about 100 pounds ground plus many Steaks and roasts. Close to 300 pounds total.
We often get a half cow and have another one coming soon. You're family will love it! I'd have to look at my paper work for pounds, but we are a family of 4. You can definitely go through it as a family of 6.
I hear your voice sounds like you caught a cold. The weather is changing!! I hate winter brrrrrr - love from Canada :)
Thanks for the inspiration! Not sure why it seems so hard to come with recipes when I'm starring at a freezer full of frozen food
I never figure out what I want from the freezer early enough to get the meat thawed
WOW do your young ones handle the spicy well?!!🤯 and yes I was one of the lucky ones the growing up in my hometown TexMex City and my middle school we were lucky and got rice AND cornbread with chili bowl day in the cafeteria!!!😍😋🤤🤤🤤 ALWAYS got seconds to take home for my dinner! 😁😁😁❤️🙏🏼❤️💯
If you ever come across Cincinnati Chili seasoning packets, get a few and give it a try in your chili. Excellent over spaghetti.
We live in Texas & it’s still in the 90’s here, so not chili weather yet. I’m so ready for cooler weather & to cook different meals. All of your recipes look great!
I’m in texas too, but it was under 90 the other day so I made chili lol
Half a cow is usually in the 150-200 lb hanging weight and a little less when fully processed. It really just depends on how much the actual cow weighed.
Could you do a video about your garden and how to for beginners? Like how to start and the time of the year when to start planting depending on the veggie or fruit.
Mary on Richard's phone from Florida. It's kind of crazy the way things have turned out in the world of purchasing beef. In the '60s and '70s we couldn't afford to buy beef from the grocery store. So the neighborhood would get together go down south and buy a 2-year-old steer right out of the pastor basically walk in say we'll take that one processor is there to do the dastardly and take the order for how everybody wants their portion cut. 4 weeks later my dad would be the pickup guy to go to another town and pick it up and distribute it to everyone it was cheaper and it was totally 100% grass-fed organic because that's the only way they raised them then.
🤭 size depends on cow but average approximately 800 lbs, I was blessed enough to get ours 3 weeks ago by local farmer $4.00 lbs × over 850 lbs. Was definitely worth it cost wise.
Love the references to your garden. Could you show us what you grow??? Thanks!!
Liked how the kitchen towels hanging on the handle of the oven matched the colors of the crisps. 😄
I LOVE this! Now I want To check my fridge and freezer and see what I can Make. Thank you for sharing!