Prairieland Food

Archived Prairie Paks, Specials, Recipes and News.

This website is a Community Service, work in progress.  Aiding Prairieland Food to gain more visibility and exposure for those in Kansas, Southern Nebraska and Northern Oklahoma.

This site brought to you by Derby KS host site, BEK and Buddy Services

Prairieland Food is a purchasing consortium, non-profit organization (not government or state funded!) that helps feed families, the elderly, students and anyone who may need a break on food prices from what their local grocery stores charge.  About a 50% savings overall each month on healthy, nutritious foods.

Purchasing multiple Prairie Paks and Special discounted food packages, families can really save each month on some otherwise high dollar foods.  Prairieland Food accepts SNAP (food stamps) as well as other payment types.

IF YOU are located in Kansas, Nebraska or Oklahoma, think about starting a PLF host site near you.  You’ll not only save money for your family but for your neighbors too. And  you’ll help build a stronger community!

If you have volunteers in your group, club, troop, church, or organization they can benefit from their volunteer efforts with discount food packages!

Sunday Dinner From Prairieland Food #plfrecipe

Sunday Dinner From Prairieland Food

It dawned on me while preparing our Sunday dinner that almost all ingredients in this meal are from our Prairieland Food Prairie Paks or specials. What better time to snap a few pictures and show you the incredible value you may glean by turning in your volunteer hours (to any entity) for about half off grocery store prices utilizing monthly discounted food packages from Prairieland Food.

This was not intentional but since most all our meats come from Prairieland Food and many of our fresh fruits and vegetables too, it seemed like a no brainer to make this meal a good example of the great food and magnificent price breaks we receive.

First off, we purchase a minimum of two (2) prairie paks each month and usually a special or two (sometimes more). Our freezer is almost always full with good meats and veggies from Prairieland Food so actually, for people who have to budget for everything, we eat really well.

Today’s menu consisted of:  6 stuffed pork chops – baked potato casserole – broccoli, cauliflower, carrots – sliced kiwis and garlic potato bread. OH! We had company coming.  Enough food for six hearty appetites.

Total Cost is at the end of this article. Guess (go ahead!) how much this meal would cost if you prepared it from scratch by purchasing all the ingredients at the grocery store.  Guess now, but don’t peak down there!  You need to understand what a great meal this was before you find out the final, actual cost.

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The Potatoes – (we love ‘em) – Eileen’s Baked Potato Casserole with Cheddar Cheese.

My baked potato casserole consisted of 8 baked potatoes (not baked) (from January 2012 Prairie Pak), peeled, quartered and cut into 1/2 cubes. Steamed ’till cooked well – 1/2 stick of real butter and about 1 cup of sour cream.  Tossed up together with a little basil salt, pepper and chopped chives, as shown below:

OOps! I decided I wanted to go a little further and add some of the cheddar cheese (December 2011 Prairieland Food Special) so I shredded a pile to mix in the casserole:

Topped it all off with more shredded cheddar cheese. Then it was time to heat it all up in the oven and melt the cheese on top a little. about 15 minutes at 300 degrees.  Because the cheese is real, hard sharp cheddar, it does not melt like soft cheeses do and I did not want to scorch my casserole on the bottom!  It was lovely and my grand-sugar liked this the best, well, except for the kiwis! She loves those.

SO, for this dish the two main ingredients, potatoes and cheddar cheese came from Prairieland Food at a cost of  $7.41. This price includes $2.00 for ingredients not provided by Prairieland Food.

Mixed Vegetables – Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots – ALL fresh from Prairieland Food.

In December we received 2 bags of baby carrots with our 2 Prairie Paks ordered. We used one but kept the other in the refrigerator crisper. The Broccoli and Cauliflower came in our Prairie Paks for January. We just chopped it all up; steamed in a large steamer pot, and added a little chopped chives along with a bit of butter. My DIL remarked she could sure tell the difference of my fresh veggies as compared to the frozen kind she usually buys.

The cost of the vegetables total comes in at — (drum roll please!)  $6.24 (this includes the butter and chives too).  We still have some fresh left for another meal on some other day.

The Fruit – Kiwis! Always yummy.

We peeled and sliced all 10 kiwi’s we received by way of the two January Prairie Paks. A lovely side dish of fruit for everyone:

Yikes! Blurry picture, but the only one I took, so blurry it has to be.  Our kiwi’s came in at a cost for 10 at $4.16 through Prairieland Food. Perfectly ripe and delicious.  Try getting 10 kiwis at the grocery store for that price!

The MEAT! Six (6) Stuffed Pork Chops.

I cooked these on top of the stove with enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan. Glass lid on with about 1/4 heat on electric stove top. Cooked about 30 minutes, turned, cooked another 30 minutes (covered).  This cooks them through, but I wanted a grilled look so I drained the pan of all juices, added a bit of olive oil again, turned the heat up to medium to brown both sides.

The pan I used is a chicken fryer so is bigger than a normal frying pan – It’s 11 inches wide with straight sides and is 3″ deep. These pork chops completely filled the space when I put them in the pan, but of course, shrank a tad with cooking.  Still, one is all anyone could eat.  This is the priciest part of our meal.  The stuffing was generous and delicious.

And this was a price we don’t usually pay for meat with Prairieland Food.  It was a January 2012 Special coming in at $21.00 for the six. I choose these this month as we thought:  #1, we could actually afford it for a change, and #2 it has been awhile since we bought something of this quality.

So that’s our Sunday Dinner from Prairieland Food and it come in at a mere $38.81.  UNDER $40.00 for a meal, for six people. When was the last time you were able to do this?

I thank my lucky stars each day when I am preparing our meals here at home that we have a program like Prairieland Food in Kansas.  I truly don’t know what we’d do without the discounted food packages.

SO, how was your Sunday Dinner?

Prairieland Food Recipe Blog – 2011 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,300 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 22 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Money Saving Tips for Food Shopping

Guest Post: This post was written and provided by guest post writer, James Lander. Lander is a regular contributor for couponing and deals site, Couponing. Turn to this website for top-retailer coupon information, couponing etiquette and more.

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Every year Americans spend an impressive 478 billion on groceries alone. The average household stuffs at least 100 dollars a week into the cavernous pocket of their local store – relying on them for everything from diapers to midnight snacks. When it comes to the relationship between grocer and consumer, we are the embarrassingly dependent partner. It’s safe to say that if our local grocery store were our significant other, our friends would tell us to leave it. There are ways, however, to ensure you are not taken advantage of. You just need to commit to a bit more work than you may be used to. Nevertheless, when you realize that you could be saving up to three thousand dollars per year by shopping smart, you’ll probably change your tune.

Don’t go in half-prepared.

You know the flyers you wrinkle your nose up at and toss away? The grocery advertisements you line your birdcage with? If you are seriously interested in saving money on food, these previously ignored papers need to become your study material. You simply won’t be able to save money if you don’t know how much your products are worth. Reading these flyers will give you a clear idea of how much your chosen items are retailing for across the board and prepare you to recognize when it’s really a sale, not a scam.

Arm yourself with lists.

Before you go through those glass doors, before you are assaulted by pretty displays and delicious smells – know what you really need. As soon as you set foot in the store, you are at the mercy of in-store marketing and manipulation. Don’t let advertising erode your resolve. Having a carefully planned list, detailing the things you actually need and will use, has been proven to help curb your spending. It is so easy to fill your cart with things you ‘didn’t realize you need’ only to come home with a grocery bill almost double what you had budgeted for.

Attack with Coupons.

The use of coupons has reached an unheard of level of popularity due to an odd mix of the current financial crisis and TLC’s half hour of ‘Extreme Couponing’ hysteria. People are realizing that the little papers they had shunned previously can save significant amounts of money when used properly. Many consumers are ‘stacking’ their coupons by waiting for the product to go on sale in the store and then combining the sale price with a manufacturer’s coupon. This can result in savings of 80% or more for seasoned couponers. As you are perusing the flyers, take the time to clip any coupons that are relevant to your lifestyle.

Hit them where they’re weakest

Although you may be disturbed by the idea of a ‘discount’ grocer, there is no need to turn your nose up and spend the extra money for status. Discount grocery stores such as Grocery Outlet, Food Basics and Price Chopper offer the same food you’d purchase at mainstream stores with a 30% discount or more. The product is still perfectly fine, but may have been overstocked by other stores or slightly damaged in transit (it’s like the Nordstrom Rack of grocery stores!). When the produce is in season it is just as lovely as in other establishments and if you don’t mind a cheaper cut of meat, you can enjoy massive savings on your protein portion.

Take no prisoners.

If you don’t fancy the idea of cheap meat and produce, you can always ‘work the system’ at a conventional or high-end grocery store. Most meat is still fresh and edible for up to five days after the expiry date listed on the package. If you purchase the discounted meats, there’s an excellent chance that with a quick freeze, it will still be delectable a few weeks down the line. If you choose to take advantage of these steep discounts, be sure you transfer your meat into a freezer bag before storing it away. Actually handling (and smelling) your purchase is the best indication of whether your dinner needs to be fried up right away or if it can last for a few extra days.

Unless you are one of the lucky (and industrious) few with a vegetable garden in your backyard and a barn full of animals, you are largely at the mercy of the grocery store. If they were to close their doors, the majority of us would eventually starve. If they were to raise their prices to a ridiculous amount, the majority of us would eventually pay it. More and more, consumers are learning the importance of being proactive when it comes to shopping. After all, if saving 50 a week eventually puts 2600 back in your wallet, is there really another option?

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Thank you James Lander and Couponing.com.  Great tips to remember! Don’t forget, if you are a volunteer (in Kansas, Nebraska or Oklahoma), in any respect, you qualify for The Prairieland Food Discount Food Program.  Happy Couponing!

Spinach Dip Spread #plfrecipe

Eileen’s Spinach Dip Spread

Recipe from the Kitchen of Eileen Brown – Derby KS

I’ve been making this recipe for the Holidays since the 70′s.
Yeah, a really long time.

It is a simple, tasty recipe that presents elegantly as well, served in
a hollowed out round loaf of bread. Passe? Not really, as good taste
is just that, a matter of taste, not trends. This is the appetizer my
family favors over many others.

Ingredients
3 – 10 oz pkgs frozen chopped spinach.
1/2 to 1 cup chopped parsley (dried can be used)
1 cup chopped green onions.
2 cups real mayonnaise
2 cups sour cream (with chives if you wish)
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Preferred Bread to use:
1 round loaf swedish rye bread, whole.
1 round loaf swedish rye bread, sliced.

Spinach Spread Preparation:
1 – Thaw spinach in refrigerator overnight.
2 – Spread spinach thinly and evenly on paper towels or kitchen
towel and twist to wring out ALL the liquid. Spinach must be
as dry as possible to the touch.
3 – Place spinach in bowl and toss with salt and pepper.
4 – Add all remaining ingredients of parsley, green onion,
mayonnaise and sour cream; mix well with spoon.
5 – Mixture should sit for two hours or overnight for best
flavor.
6 – If spread seems a little dry after rest time, add a tsp. of milk
(one at a time) to soften the mixture to spreadable texture.

Presentation:
1 – Hollow out whole round loaf of swedish rye bread. Place an
amount of the spread in the newly created “bowl” of the loaf.
2 – Add a couple of serving knives or spoons and place on a
platter.
3 – Cut the sliced bread into smaller pieces and arrange
around the loaf. You can include scooped pieces from the
whole loaf too.

Other breads may be added for flavor variation:
Pumpernickel, french, italian, german rye, etc.

Other Variations:
For carb conscious folks add a plate of vegetables for dipping too.

This recipe makes enough for a crowd. You will be filling the bowl often.

A hearty and healthy recipe your family and friends will
Ooh and Aah over – never fails!

Microwave Potato Chips #plfrecipe

Microwave Potato Chips

Recipe Submitted by Eileen Brown Derby KS

This can be found all over the internet however, we’ve been making these on New Year’s Day, when time in the kitchen is easy and not rushed. Not exactly a traditional food item but so much more healthy than packaged potato chips.  And of course, no matter how we want to eat right, there is nothing quite as good as potato chips with a sandwich for lunch.

It’s been many years ago that I found this online.  I printed it out and put it in my big kitchen notebook where I keep recipes from magazines and now those I find on the internet that I actually like and make in my own kitchen.

Blurry photo but snapped just a few minutes ago.  I guess I should have taken several to make sure one was sharp and clear. At any rate, my recipe is two printed pages with photos.

As you can see in the second pic down at left they use a mandolin to slice the potatoes.  I do too, and it is the best way to get uniformly sliced potatoes for this effort.

A Note here: This can be a tad time consuming if you have a small microwave for heating only.  In my kitchen there is a large microwave for cooking so I have a bit of  an advantage.  But, if you are making potato chips for one or two people, the time is cut down considerably.

This is also a great thing to do with kids.  They love to spend time helping in the kitchen so you can task them with this as “little kitchen helpers.”

Preparations:
Yukon Gold or red potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed.
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt

01 – Slice potatoes into thin (1/8-inch) rounds.
02 – Toss the slices in a medium bowl with oil and salt to coat evenly.
03 – Coat a large microwave-proof plate with cooking spray.
04 – Arrange some potato slices in a single layer on the plate.
05 – Microwave, uncovered, on High until some slices start to brown, 2 to 3
minutes depending on potato thickness and microwave power.
06 – Turn the slices over and continue microwaving until they start to
crisp and brown around the edges, 2 to 4 minutes more.
07 – Check frequently and rearrange slices as needed to prevent scorching.
08 – Transfer the chips to another plate and allow to cool completely.
09 – They will crisp more as they cool.
10 – Repeat with the remaining potato slices.

Potatoes should be golden or slightly browned to be really good, so be sure to adjust cooking times after the first batch.  I almost always overcook the first batch!  Also, I sometimes do peel the potatoes, depending on which type of potatoes I have on hand.

On New Year’s day (this time) I’m gonna write down the time it takes on the recipe I already have in my kitchen notebook. I don’t know why I’ve not done this before!

We receive potatoes almost each month in our Prairie Paks from Prairieland Food so have nice potatoes on hand most all the time.

Enjoy!

Prairie Pak and Specials for January 2012

Here Is What’s On The Menu!

Order by January 16

Friday Pick-up – Jan 27 —  Saturday Pick-up – Jan 28

 

Prairie Pak – $25.00

Lean Ground Beef – 1 lb
Beef Summer Sausage – 7 oz
IQF (individually quick frozen) Chicken Breast Filets – 1lb
Breaded Flounder – 1 lb
Stouffers Cajun Shrimp Alfredo – 24 oz
Potatoes – 3 lb bag
Cauliflower – 1 head
Broccoli – 1 stalk
Lettuce – 1 head
Apples – 4
Oranges – 4
Kiwi – 5
Due to market conditions and to maintain quality items are subject to change

*Meat Only – $14.00
All the meats from the Prairie Pak only.

*Fruit & Veggie Pak – $12.00

All the fruit and vegetables from the Prairie Pak only.

January Specials.

Special #1 “Super Bowl Wing Ding” - $20.00

2 (4.7 lb bags) Breaded Boneless Chicken Wings
2 (20 oz) packets of BBQ Sauce

Special #2 “Tony’s Pepperoni Hot Pockets” - ONLY $17.00

24 (4.5 oz) Pepperoni Hot Pockets
(individually wrapped)

 Special #3 “Hog Wild” – ONLY $19.00

6 (8 oz) Stuffed Pork Chops
(each individually wrapped)

Special #4 “Sirloin Steaks” – ONLY $21.00

6 (8 oz) CHOICE Sirloin Steaks

*CHOICE Item~ “Breakfast Burritos“ – ONLY $17.00
24 (4 oz) Sausage, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Burritos

*Requires purchase of Prairie Pak or Special before this item becomes available to order.

Due to market conditions and to maintain quality items are subject to change.

Christmas Countdown to Gift Giving – 2 – Crafty Hands

17 days until Christmas arrives.

This is one of the best times of year to teach Charity to Children.  But as they say ‘charity’ starts at home.  Give yourself or a family member a gift that will keep on giving.

The Family Christmas Tree Skirt.

  For households with little ones this is a twist on the “little hand in plaster” that many parents cherish.  And it is a take on “lending a helping hand” for families who may volunteer all year long.  Make a Christmas tree skirt to hand down to generations to come, or as a start up for a family with a tiny wee one.  The only limitation is your imagination.  We also saw a suggestion to add tiny feet, how sweet!

1 – Most any tree skirt you choose will work fine but felt or felt pieces work
really well too.
2 – Gold, silver or glitter paint, a non-toxic type.
3 – Place paint in saucer and have child coat palm with paint.
4 – Carefully place little palm on fabric. Voila! Instant art.
5 – Add child’s name and date to each print or pair of prints.
6 – Add parent handprints too, as a family is not complete without
Mom and Dad, eh?
Parent hand prints can be added later, after the gift is given, so
keep those paint supplies handy.

Variation For a Crafty Stitcher – Applique

We especially like this idea and it could be used for wall hangings too,
as a Christmas gift for new parents or families.
1 – Buy or make a tree skirt to whatever dimensions you choose.
2 – Trace tiny hands, right and left onto plain muslin or other fabric.
3 – Embroider the outlines, add the child’s name and date; embroider.
4 – Cut out your work either in a circle or other shape.
5 – Applique (stitch) onto the tree skirt.
6 – Use glittery thread to add a little sparkle.

Whatever you decide to do and to give this Christmas Season, as always, make it from the heart.

From all of US to all of YOU:

The Christmas Birthday

Christmas Cheer

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas

Christmas Morning Casserole #plfrecipe

The Christmas Morning Casserole – A Make Ahead Recipe

Recipe submitted by Eileen Brown – Derby KS

Ingredients
6 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 lb. pork sausage, browned and drained.
1 cup biscuit baking mix
2 cups milk
1 tsp oregano

Directions:
1 – Brown the sausage and drain.
2 – Mix together all ingredients.
3 – Pour into a 13 x 9 x 2 casserole dish.
4 – Cover and refrigerate overnight.
5 – Bake uncovered in preheated 350 oven.
6 – Bake about one hour.

Notes:

We like to have hash browns or American country
fries with this breakfast casserole and there is
plenty of time to do this while the casserole is in the
oven. Serves about 10 or 6-8 if you overeat.
An easy thing to do with this yummy recipe.

The Prairie Pak often comes with pork sausage or
turkey sausage and the turkey sausage is also
perfect in this recipe. Prairieland Food discount
food packages cover a lot of area with this type of dish,
at our home.

Enjoy your Christmas morning more by preparing ahead!

Christmas Eve Salad #plfrecipe

Christmas Eve Salad

Recipe Submitted by Eileen Brown – Derby KS

I’m not sure where this recipe came from.  I’ve had it among my favorites for so long but with no notes as to whom might have passed it along.  A variation does say you can substitute jicama for the apples but we always have plenty of apples so apples have always been used.

Ingredients
1 head romaine lettuce, torn in bite-size pieces (about 6 cups)
1 (13 1/4 oz) can pineapple chunks, chilled.
2 unpared apples cored and sliced.
2 bananas, sliced.
2 oranges, peeled and sectioned.
1 (8 oz can) whole beets, chilled, drained and sliced.
3/4 cup coarsely chopped peanuts.
Seeds from one pomegrante.
1/2 cup salad or olive oil.
3 Tblsp. Lime juice or vinegar. (I sometimes use wine vinegar).
1/2 tsp. sugar. (large pinch)
1/4 tsp. salt. (small pinch)

Directions
1 – Use a shallow but large salad bowl.
2 – Place romaine in salad bowl.
2 – Drain pineapple but reserve juice.
3 – Dip apple and banana slices (as you go) in pineapple juice to
prevent darkening.
4 – Place pineapple chunks, apple, banana, orange and beet slices
on top of romain.
5 – Sprinkle with peanuts and pomegranate seeds.
6 – Shake together oil, lime juice (or vinegar), sugar and salt.
7 – Pour over salad and toss gently.

Recipe Notes:
- I have also substituted the fresh oranges with canned, drained
mandarin oranges.
- Another substitution is sweetener for sugar, which makes this
a good diabetic recipe.
- I have added red onion rings to this and thought that quite a
good addition. Little kids don’t much like the onions though.
- The suggested substitution of jicama leads me to believe this may
be a Mexican recipe of origin. At any rate it is a nice refreshing
fruit and vegetable salad that does not include whipped topping.

Enjoy!

— To make this even more convenient, we receive apples,
oranges and sometimes bananas in our Prairie Paks from
the Prairieland Food discount food program. Nice

Christmas Countdown to Gift Giving

22 days until Christmas arrives.

Giving gifts of love to ones family and friends can be as easy as baking something fresh and delivering it in a Christmas Tin.
Many folks bake at Christmas even when they do not enjoy this activity the rest of the year.

Additionally, homemade gifts are cherished and kept, almost always by the recipients. It is particularly nice when the present comes from a child in your family. The gift actually means something and will more than likely adorn the wall, mantelpiece or shelf of a loved one for years to come.

Who has time for this? Many folks simply do not have the time these days and making the time, when there is only 22 days left to go, means jockying sometimes already full Christmas party schedules. So, with this in mind here are a few tips to shop from home using your computer, to help you stay warm while shopping. Don’t forget that orders have to be made, shipped and then wrapped, so take an afternoon very soon to shop online.

· Personalized t-shirts, hats, mugs, etc. are a great way to make what is usually a pretty standard Christmas gift into a more enduring and meaningful gift. The process for arranging this sort of gift is fairly easy and can be done in most cases simply by sending off a relevant photo. The end result shows the actual effort you put in.

· To make a point with a personalized Christmas gift why not go for a private license plate? For a new motorist or a seasoned driver with a new car, a personalized plate would be a perfect gift. You can also buy those “sayings” plates for the other end of the auto.

· A photo frame of the digital variety is a great modern take on a classic heartfelt present. By loading up the frame with snapshots of friends and family, you can take the hassle out of the technology for a loved one and give them a gift that will always be fresh.

· Since everybody likes to relax at home over the Christmas period, giving the gift of chocolate is always a winner. On Christmas morning a refined chocolate present, with a personalised message, from a good chocolatier is a great way to give a custom gift.

Lastly, take an afternoon to do the baking we talked about earlier – cookies, candies, and items that will keep well in a tin should be on the menu.

Whatever you decide to do and to give this Christmas Season, make it from the heart.

From all of US to all of YOU:

The Christmas Birthday

Christmas Cheer

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas