Frugal Family Friday Fun

We love, love, love the Wichita Public Library. We have been very impressed by the programs offered and the selection the library has to offer. Not only can you check out books you can also check out DVDs and they have a great selection to choose from. You can even search from home for the movie you are looking for on their website, if it isn’t at your branch request the item be sent to your library for .25! That it worth driving half way across town just to pick up a DVD. Watching movies together as a family can be a fun way to enjoy each other and it can give you plenty to talk about about after it is over.

Redbox is also a clever way to save money on DVD rentals. Did you know every Monday you can receive a code for a one night rental of a Redbox DVD? Make you check out Common Sense with Money on Mondays for your code, this allows you to rent a DVD of your choice on Mondays, if you keep the DVD longer than 24 hours you will be billed for the extra day. You can also check out Inside Redbox to help you find a free Redbox code everyday, again when using a code you can only rent it for 24 hours free.

Why not add a little pizza to your movie night? Only make it yourself. You’ll be surprised at how easy it can be and how much you’ll save in the process. When we order pizza we usually spend around $8-10 per pizza and that’s using a coupon. You can get two large pizzas for half the price of one by making your own! For more family fun let your kiddos create their own personalized pizzas, encourage your kids to create faces in their pizzas. If you have older kids suggest a theme and start creating. My toddler love to help me knead the dough, so don't let age stop you from doing this together. Not only is this a fun way to be creative together, it’s an easy way to help your family pile extra veggies on their pizzas.

If you love thick crust pizza, here’s our family’s favorite pizza recipe. Enjoy!

Thick Crust Pizza Dough

Makes two pizzas:
2 packages (5t.) Active dry yeast (.25 if using the jar type of yeast)
2 c. warm water (free)
2 t. salt (.01)
4 t. olive oil (.10)
2- 2 ½ c. whole wheat flour (.20)
2 – 2 ½ c. all purpose flour (.10)

Dissolve yeast in warm water in a mixing bowl. Add salt, olive oil, and 1 ½ c. whole wheat flour and 1 ½ c. all purpose flour. Mix until well blended. Continue to add flour ½ c. at a time alternating between whole wheat and all purpose flour until dough cleans the side of the bowl, and is soft but not too sticky. Knead dough for 8-10 minutes adding flour when necessary. (Remember I knead right in my bowl to eliminate a messy counter top.)

Place dough in a greased bowl, spray top with cooking spray and cover. Let rise in a warm place, free from drafts about 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.

Punch down dough. Brush 2-14 inch pizza pans with olive oil.

Press dough onto pizza pans, forming a collar at the edges. Top with desired sauce, cheese and toppings. We like to brush the collar of our pizzas with olive oil and add a little garlic salt. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes.

Crust=.66
8 oz. Block Mozzarella Cheese at Aldi=1.29 (finely shred it and it will cover more area for less cheese)
Pizza Sauce=.99 (I use spaghetti sauce)
Toppings=2.00
Total=$4.94