Take a few minutes to compare products and the various cuts of meat and poultry when you’re trying to decide what to fix for dinner. Your wallet (and your taste buds) will thank you.
CHICKEN TENDERS
About the only time I buy boneless skinless chicken breasts is when I make my own chicken “nuggets” for a quick and tasty meal. I think the bags of frozen nuggets are FOWL, in the WORST sense of the word! (What part of the chicken IS a “nugget”, anyway? ) The other day, my Fareway Grocery Store (the ONLY place to buy meat!) had a AWESOME deal on boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $1.69 per pound. The same day, they were selling chicken “tenders” for $2.99 per pound. As I stood there laughing, the butcher told me lots of customers were still buying the tenders that day! PEOPLE! THINK ABOUT IT! The “tenders” have that white line of gristle that is very unappealing and inedible in my opinion. So I bought a whole boneless, skinless breast and cut it into eight portions and VOILE! Chicken tenders that really ARE tender…and tender on the budget too!
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| Homemade Chicken Tenders |
CHICKEN BREASTS
When I want white meat chicken for a recipe, I buy BONE-IN breasts and roast them in the oven before removing the bone. The bones keep the meat much more tender and juicy…and bone-in breasts are usually MUCH cheaper than boneless. Cheaper and more tender? Which would YOU buy?
MARINATED MEATS
OK…What is so special about that bottle of Italian dressing the butcher pours over some chicken in the meat counter? What’s special? The two or three dollar per pound difference in the price of the chicken! Buy the chicken, take it home, put it in a zip-lock bag and pour in your own bottle…BINGO.
BEEF STEW MEAT
Why would anyone spend several dollars more per pound to buy something called “stew meat” when you can buy a chuck roast for less money and cut it into cubes yourself? Just asking…
The bottom line is this…whenever you buy meat or poultry that the butcher has to cut up or “do something to”…you will pay extra for it. I know our time is valuable…but REALLY?
Now…excuse me…my very own (made with love) chicken tenders are calling…
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