Getting out the door each morning can be a challenge, especially now that school is starting up again.  With this in mind, we’ve pulled together some of our favorite ideas for getting out the door with a good breakfast in hand.

 

Oatmeal-On-The-Run!
Instant oatmeal is a filling and comforting breakfast.  Put the oatmeal with your kids' favorite toppings in small, repurposed jars (jam and condiment jars are great for re-use) on the weekend, then all they have to do is grab and go the next morning with a little hot water and a stir.

Ingredients (per jar)
½ cup instant oatmeal
¼ cup any of the following to taste: raisins, dried chopped apples, crushed walnuts or pecans, blueberries, strawberries, etc.
¼ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. sugar, brown or white

You will need ½ cup boiling/very hot water to add to the jar.  Stir and add more water depending on the consistency desired.  Warning: jar will be *hot* so wrap in paper towels to protect hands, or combine and stir in jar and then pour into a bowl to eat.

Serves 1.


Eggs-A-Go-Go!
Kelly, one of our resident bargainistas, came up with this fantastic make-ahead idea.

Ingredients
8 eggs
¼ cup diced onion
½ cup chopped spinach
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Cooking spray

Coat a standard 6 cup muffin tin evenly with non-stick cooking spray or olive oil and set aside.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Beat eggs until fluffy.  Add in veggies and cheese and mix until combined.  Spoon into the muffin tin evenly.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 22 minutes, or until eggs are fluffy and rise above the top of the muffin tin.  Let cool completely, and store overnight in the fridge.  Warm up for 30 seconds in the microwave for a quick and very easy breakfast.  (And you get protein and veggies!)  These last about a week in the fridge.

Serves 6.

Enjoy the last warm days and cool evenings of summer with these inexpensive party and cookout tips.

Grilled Vegetable Kabobs

Vegetable kabobs are delicious, healthy and very easy to make.  Here’s our favorite recipe.  (You can use almost any kind of firm vegetable.  These are our favorites.)

2 zucchini, cut into 2" chunks
2 yellow squash, cut into 2" chunks
8 oz. fresh mushrooms, cleaned
2 red and green bell peppers, cut into 2" chunks
2 medium red onions, cut into wedges
2 ears sweet corn, cut into 2" chunks
16 whole cherry tomatoes
8 oz. teriyaki sauce

Wash vegetables except mushrooms. Brush mushrooms clean. Prepare vegetables according to recipe. Cook corn in boiling water for about 10 minutes. Toss vegetables in teriyaki sauce. Thread vegetables onto skewers. Place on grill over medium-hot heat. Baste occasionally with teriyaki sauce. Grill 20 minutes or until tender.
Serves 8.

You can also add cubes of beef, pork, or chicken to get in some protein.  Grocery Outlet has a bunch of tasty options for you to try.  Just make sure the kabobs are cooked through, and then enjoy with this easy Cilantro Yogurt Dipping Sauce.

 

Cilantro Yogurt Dipping Sauce
1 ½ cups plain whole-milk yogurt
¾ cup finely chopped cilantro
4 ½ tbsps. fresh lemon juice
1 ½ tsps. finely chopped garlic
¾ tsp. cayenne
1 tsp. salt

Stir together all ingredients, then chill, covered, at least 30 minutes (for flavors to blend). Bring to room temperature before serving.

 

 

For dessert, you can have fruit kabobs.  Fruit can also be grilled, or eaten fresh on skewers.  Kids love stringing their own skewers and dipping them in our tangy and sweet yogurt dipping sauce.  Try strawberries, oranges, blueberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes, and chunks of banana (sprinkle a few drops of lemon juice to slow down the browning process for the banana if you’re not going to serve immediately).  

Fruit Dip
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. whipped topping
2 cups confectioners' sugar

Let cream cheese soften to room temperature. Combine all ingredients in a large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed until smooth.  Serve immediately. 
Serves 8.


Top off your party with some frugal, fabulous Sangria.  

Sangria
1 bottle dry red wine
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 lg. lemon, sliced
1/2 lg. orange, sliced
2 c. club soda, Sprite, or Seven-Up

In large pitcher, combine all ingredients except club soda. Chill in refrigerator from 2 to 24 hours. Just before serving, add 2 cups club soda to pitcher. Serve over cracked ice in large glass goblet with a slice of lemon and orange.

Monica, owner of the Rancho Cordova Grocery Outlet, will be demonstrating how to make a restaurant-quality steak with ingredients from Grocery Outlet on the news.  Here is her recipe for your reference:

Restaurant-Style Marinated Top Sirloin Steaks
This marinade adds flavor and tenderness to lean top sirloin steak.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup light soy sauce
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup very finely chopped onion (add coarsely chopped onion to small food processor, if you have one, and pulse until almost pureed)
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
Pinch of cayenne red pepper

4 or 5 top sirloin individual steaks (about 5 ounces each), trimmed of visible fat

Preparation:

1. In an 8-cup measure, whisk together balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, honey, olive oil, pepper, Worcestershire, onion, salt (if desired), and cayenne.

2. Place steaks in a shallow glass dish and cover with the marinade. Turn to coat both sides well. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for up to two days.
3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Lightly coat the grill grate with canola cooking spray or oil. Add steaks and grill 5-7 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the steak and the desired doneness. Throw away any leftover marinade (because it has raw meat juices in it).

Enjoy your delicious steak!  Serves 4-6.

Victor was our most prepared, even-keeled chef.  He came in early to scope out Grocery Outlet and see what our product offering was before he crafted his dish.  Victor is from Puerto Rico, and wanted to pull together a classic dish with tastes of his home.  His dish, Mojito Mofongo, is a dish of mashed plantains with rice.  He paired it with shrimp cooked in salsa.  The dish impressed our judges with its flavor, elegance, and presentation. It was closest to the caliber one would expect from a fine restaurant.  Just goes to show that good preparation and planning pay off!

 

Victor scopes out the Crown Hill Grocery Outlet.

 

 

Victor's ingredients.

 

 

Victor zesting a lemon while STAR 101.5's Jill Taylor interviews him.

 

Alex was outgoing, funny, and had some fantastic culinary ideas.  The judges liked his concept of Chicken Thighs with Beurre Blanc (a sauce made from butter and white wine) and thought his dish was refined, but he got points knocked off for execution.  The judges wanted the rice to be a little more cooked, so when you make his recipe, be sure to check the rice.

 

Though Alex didn't win first place, he made a delicious dish that was inexpensive and paired well with wine.  He's also the only chef who used wine to cook with in his dish. 

Click here to view Alex's recipes.

Click here to see his receipt.

Josh Schimmel-Bristow was our 3rd place winner with his Lemon Chicken with Parslied Rice Pilaf.  Josh was an engaging, personable chef with admirable knife skills.  I was impressed with his talent in the kitchen and his take on classic comfort food.  Of all the recipes, I think his meal would appeal most to our customers with families—it's the most kid-friendly and would make a fantastic fall or winter dinner.

 

 

Josh comes in just under his $20 budget, even with wine and half and half!

 

Prepping the chicken and vegetables.

 

 

 Lemon Chicken with Parslied Rice Pilaf

Click to download a PDF of Josh's recipes.
To see Josh's receipt, click here.

While all of the dishes scored very well, there can only be one winner.  Stay tuned for Alex and Victor's dishes!

On June 5th, Grocery Outlet hosted a Fresh & Frugal Chef Showdown at our Crown Hill store.  Our premise: 3 student chefs from the Art Institute of Seattle compete for tuition money by creating a restaurant-quality meal for a family of 4 (plus wine!), using ingredients solely from Grocery Outlet.

This event was a fantastic example of what creativity and frugality can do when combined.  Our chefs created and executed delicious meals, and they all came in under their goal of $20.  We're even going to post the receipts to prove it!

Follow along this week as we post their dishes and recipes.  In the meantime, here are a few pictures from the competition.

 

 

 

 

Canned food sometimes gets a bad rap.  There’s a misunderstanding about the freshness and nutritional value of canned fruits and vegetables, but much of this bad press simply isn’t true.  Canned fruits and vegetables are comparable in nutrition to those that are cooked fresh or frozen.  In fact, just like frozen food, canned fruits and vegetables are picked and processed at their peak, which seals in nutrients.

Also, canned foods are convenient: since the food inside is usually already cooked, it lessens your cooking time, allowing you to get food on the table faster.

Grocery Outlet has long promoted the benefits of canned food items, and we’re here to show that you can create gourmet-style meals in your kitchen that are healthy, cheap and easy to make.  Here's our first recipe, an easy asparagus soup that you can make in minutes.

 

 

 

Asparagus Soup

Ingredients:
1 (15 ounce) can asparagus
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Blend the asparagus, with liquid, in a blender or food processor until completely smooth.
2. Heat asparagus and chicken broth together in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in milk, and bring to a low simmer. Stir in butter to finish, and season to taste with, Parmesan, salt and pepper.

Serves 4.

 

For more delicious recipes, click here to download our Cooking from Cans recipes.  We've even included a dessert! 

Remember: just because it's inexpensive doesn't mean it's any less delicious.  Enjoy!

Who doesn’t love a good appetizer?  When you’re hungry and waiting for dinner, a delicious starter can really hit the spot.  At Grocery Outlet, you can satisfy your guests and not empty your wallet.  Here is a brief selection of our favorite cheap and easy appetizer recipes to surprise and delight friends and family.

 

Pistachio Goat Cheese Balls
1/2 cup shelled salted pistachios 
6 ounces goat cheese, softened
2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

Toast nuts in small skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 3 minutes; chop finely.  Combine goat cheese and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Drop mixture by heaping teaspoons onto a parchment-lined baking sheet; refrigerate 15 minutes.  Roll into balls, and then roll in chopped nuts.  Refrigerate, tightly covered, up to 1 day.  Serves 10, makes 30 balls.


BLT Bites
48 whole cherry tomatoes
1 lb bacon (cooked and crumbled)
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3 green onions (chopped)
3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh parsley (snipped)

Cut a thin slice off the top of each tomato.  Scoop out and discard the pulp (I use the handle end of a small teaspoon, or use a melon-baller).  Invert tomatoes on paper towels to drain.  In a small bowl, combine all remaining ingredients and mix well.  Spoon into tomatoes.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Serves 12, makes 48.


Tomato and Basil Bruschetta
6 roma tomatoes, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 1/4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
8 slices Italian bread, cut about 1 inch thick
2 tablespoons grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese

Whisk together chopped garlic, vinegar, salt, pepper, and basil.  When combined, slowly drizzle in oil.  Add tomatoes and let sit for 20 minutes at room temp.  Toast the bread.  This can be done either in the toaster (if it's got really wide slots) or under the broiler (if using this method watch closely so it doesn't become a brick).  When the bread is toasted rub each piece, on one side, with the whole garlic pieces.  Place the bread on a cookie sheet and top with tomato mixture.  Sprinkle on a little cheese and broil until the cheese melts.  Serve immediately.  Serves 4.


Nearly all the ingredients in these recipes can be bought at Grocery Outlet at a significant value.  Other ideas for appetizers would be chopped vegetables with guacamole and hummus, chunks of fruit with sweet yogurt dip, nuts, crackers and cheese.  We’ve got a significant selection of all of those items, so shop your local Grocery Outlet to save while you stock up for holiday parties!

Staying healthy during Halloween
If you’re trying to stay away from the candy and junk food during Halloween, we have some great tips on how to have a healthy Halloween.  Wondering what to do with all those pumpkin seeds you dug out of your pumpkins? Turn them into a delicious, easy, and healthy snack!  All you’ll need is:

Pumpkin Seeds
Olive Oil or Butter
Seasoning of your choice

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Rinse off the pumpkin seeds, then toss seeds with olive oil or melted butter, enough to coat. Sprinkle them with a seasoning of your choice (some ideas: salt, pepper, garlic salt, cayenne pepper, or Cajun seasoning). Spread seeds onto a baking sheet and place in the oven for 30-40 minutes, tossing occasionally, or until golden brown.  Enjoy!

Healthy Tip: pumpkin seeds are a great source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids.  They also help promote prostate health (for the men in your life!).





Throwing a party at your haunted mansion?
Every Halloween party needs jack-o-lanterns, so why not come to Grocery Outlet to get them for bargain prices!  Follow this tip when picking out pumpkins to carve: look for the lighter colored pumpkins—the lighter the skin, the softer and riper the pumpkin is, making it easier to get your knife through.

Save money by making your own fake blood from grocery store ingredients:
Corn Syrup
Water
Flour or Corn Starch
Red Food Coloring
Blue Food Coloring (optional)

Mix 3 parts corn syrup with 1 part water, to make as much blood as you want. Drip red food coloring in to reach desired color, if you want a deeper more realistic shade add a few drops of blue food coloring. Whisk in flour or corn starch to create the thickness you want. Let sit for about 5 minutes, and then have fun applying!  

You can really creep out your guests with this recipe.  It’s called blood and guts, and it’s a great dinner meal!

Blood and Guts
more commonly known as spaghetti and meatballs:

1lb Ground Beef
¼ cup diced yellow onion
1 clove crushed garlic
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
½ cup breadcrumbs
Salt and Pepper
Olive Oil
1 Jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1package Spaghetti noodles

Start by combining your meat, egg, onion, garlic, milk and salt and pepper. Use your hands to combine. Then slowly add the bread crumbs little by little, combining as you go. After all the bread crumbs are added and you have reached the correct consistency start forming meat into small (about 1 inch) balls. Coat the bottom of a frying pan with olive oil and turn to medium heat. Once the oil is hot, place the meatballs in the pan, brown on each side for 2-3 minutes. Empty the jar of sauce into a pot and turn to medium heat. Once the meatballs are finished, remove them from the pan and put them in the pot of sauce; let simmer for at least 30 minutes. When ready to eat, prepare a package of spaghetti noodles by following the directions on the package. In a large serving dish combine the sauce and meatballs with the cooked spaghetti and mix together. Mix some grated parmesan with a few drops of green food coloring and then sprinkle over the blood and guts!  Ew!

Crazy Costumes
Feeling crafty? Try making a cheap and easy present costume. All you need is a box, wrapping paper, some string, and ribbon. Just cut the top and bottom out of the box, and wrap it in gift wrap. Attach the string on each side of the box, like suspenders. Once you are finished with that, put the box on and add ribbon to your hair, and voila, you’re a present!

As the weather chills and the leaves start to fall, come back inside for family dinners.  A warm, satisfying meal together is the perfect way to celebrate the change of seasons and transition to cooler temperatures.  We’ve put together some delicious recipes and ideas for this time of year that will fill up your soul without emptying your wallet.

Ham with Cheesy Shells
You can make this in your slow-cooker or Crock-Pot!

Ingredients:
12 oz. diced ham
1 can cream of mushroom soup
8 oz. grated cheddar cheese
Black pepper to taste
1 cup frozen vegetables, cut broccoli or mixed vegetables
3 cups cooked small pasta shells or macaroni
1/4 cup of low-fat evaporated milk

In a 3 ½ - 5 quart Crock-Pot or slow cooker, combine ham, soup, cheese, and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours. Add frozen vegetables 30 minutes before serving. Add milk to thin; add hot cooked pasta then serve.  

Serves 4.


Other frugal fall meal ideas:
- Host a taco bar!  Set out plates of tortillas, cooked chicken or ground beef, grated cheese, sour cream, salsa, lettuce and tomato, and let everyone make their own tacos.
- Baked potato bar—same idea, different spin.  Bake up a  potato for each family member and load it up with cheese, sour cream, chopped chives, cooked veggies, chili—whatever they like.  Hearty and filling, and the vegetables give it extra nutritional value too.
- Get your kids in on the action.  Help them brainstorm a 5 ingredient-or-less meal, shop for it with you, and then make it together.  Kids like being included and if you keep the ingredients and prep low, it should be pretty easy going.  Ideas we have: spaghetti with meat sauce, mac ‘n cheese with a side of steamed veggies, English muffin pizzas.  Have fun!

At Grocery Outlet we understand how challenging it can be to feed your family with wholesome, affordable food, while still keeping mealtime interesting and fun.  We have created two brochures detailing how to feed a family on $3-a-day per person.

The First $3 A Day Brochure has a week’s worth of healthy, delicious meals and snacks. The easy-to-follow recipes and daily meal plans provide variety, nutrition, and above all, a great value!

Our second brochure, 3-A-Day for Everyone builds on the first brochure with recipes organized by meal, so you can mix and match.  We hope this provides flexibility and more ideas to help you prepare healthy, enjoyable meals for your family.

We also encourage your creativity, so if you have any great ideas to share or ways to improve upon these recipes, please contact us!