If you are feeding a family, and still trying to stretch a grocery budget, it may be hard to justify buying steaks. However, I find that my grocery store runs frequent specials on less expensive types of steaks (cheap cuts), making them no more expensive than chicken or turkey. Once in awhile, our family enjoys a feast of red meat, and you can use some simple marinades to make cheap steak tasty and tender.

A simple marinade for a cheap steak can make it look like you spent a lot of money and are an expert chef!

According to experts, a marinade needs 2 things:

• Acid – This breaks down the tough connective tissue so the steak will be tender.
• Emulsifier – This soaks into the meat, so the marinade will affect the taste and texture all the way into the meat.

Some common acids that are used in marinades are citrus juice, wine, beer, coca cola, and vinegar. The emulsifiers are usually oils like olive oil, sesame oil, or canola oil.

In order to really let your own mixture do its thing, you really should cover your meat, and then put it back into the fridge for about 6 hours. If you are really pressed for time, I would advise you to let your meat soak for a minimum of 2 hours.

Use Your Creativity!

A simple concoction I like is simply made by mixing a can of coca cola (amazing powers of tenderizing) with a half cup of oil. I like to add in a little garlic, ginger, and onion powder. Then I let the meat marinade for 6 hours in the fridge. If I’m pressed for time, I use very thinly cut steak, and I just fry it in a pan with a little more oil, some sliced onions and mushrooms. I can be a one dish meal, or a salad and some rice makes a very filling feast!

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Everybody loves frozen sweet treats, but many of them are loaded with calories. We have some ideas for sweet frozen treats that are simple enough for kids to make, and also will help your kids contribute to a healthy diet.

Make Your Own Frozen Yogurt Pops!

Simple buy your favorite flavor of regular yogurt, some small paper cups, and some popsicle sticks. Spoon the yogurt into the paper cup, and then cover the cup with pastic wrap. Insert a stick into each cup. You will need to break a small hole in the plastic wrap. Stick these treats in your freezer, wait a couple of hours, and then enjoy them when you need some frozen yummies!

Frozen Bananas

Frozen bananas are great. There is some sort of synergy here between the banana and the freezing that makes it almost taste like banana ice cream. Peel a couple of bananas, put them on a plate, and freeze them over night. Enjoy! If you do not think you will eat them right away, you may want to stick the bananas in a freezer bag or cover them with plastic wrap. After the bananas are frozen, you can also dip them in yogurt or syrup. We like to take a little chocoate syrup, mix it with chopped nuts, and use that as a dip!

Freeze Pops

Just about any drink can make a popsicle. Of course, you can buy them already made, but kids seem to enjoy the satisfaction of making them at home. You can also buy a plastic mold for them, but small paper cups and popsicle sticks work well too. Try sugar free drink mix, sodas, or anything you think of.

Why Bother To Make Healthy Treats

We find that kids are more likely to enjoy health food that they had a hand in preparing. Besides, it is probably more economical to prepare you own treats than it is to buy them. You will also help your kids learn their way around the kitchen by starting with some simple foods that they enjoy.

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