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What I Spent
I spent $94 at the grocery store, plus $25 on my Hungry Harvest box.
Related: What’s Hungry Harvest?
So, I’m starting May off at $119.
Woohoo!
What We Ate
Saturday
It was my official birthday! I turned 41 this year, which feels a little anti-climactic after turning 40.
After Mr. FG and I went on a little hike (it was a beautiful day!), he and I went out on a date night to Cava, which is kind of like Chipotle, except with Mediterranean food.
He would have been willing to take me somewhere much fancier, but Cava is what I wanted. 😉
Sunday
We had a double birthday celebration with my brother (my birthday was Saturday, his was Sunday). I had the very easy job of bringing drinks to this gathering.
Monday
I grilled some kebabs, using peppers, onions, kielbasa, and marinated chicken (I used the marinade from this chipotle chicken kebab recipe.)
To go with these, I made a batch of batter rolls, using my new USA muffin pans, and I have to say, I was very impressed with the nonstick coating.
Batter rolls usually stick like nobody’s business, and they came out very easily even with no greasing.
Tuesday
We had quesadillas (filled with bacon and cheese), dipped in sour cream and salsa, with grapefruit halves on the side.
Wednesday
I made one-pan Ramen bowls with chicken and peppers.
Thursday
We had a tough time getting all six of us together for my birthday anywhere near my actual birthday, so we delayed it until Thursday.
We went out to eat at a local restaurant, and then came back home for ice cream cake and present opening.
It was lovely to have all six of us together for an evening. 🙂
Even before Joshua moved out, it had gotten pretty rare for all of us to be together at dinnertime…once teenagers start getting jobs, life changes a whole lot!
Friday
I have book club tomorrow night, so Mr. FG and I will probably do our date night tonight.
So, three nights of no cooking for me this week, but next week’s menu plan will likely have me cooking every night. It all balances out.
Joanne
Friday 3rd of May 2019
Happy Birthday! Meals this week were: Sunday- full Sunday roast dinner - chicken, roast potatoes, carrots and runner beans with gravy Monday - pulled pork burgers with herby garlic oven cooked fries, green salad and homemade red cabbage coleslaw (very pretty even though I say so myself! Tuesday- chicken fajitas Wednesday - full English Breakfast for dinner - fabulous frugal win with this meal, I was out of mushrooms so stopped at the local ‘one stop’ - basically a very small convenience store with a small fresh food selection. As I picked up the mushrooms and my eye was drawn to the yellow ‘reduced’ stickers adorning a pizza, usual price £3.00 markdown price 33p!! I brought 5 and stashed them in the freezer, yay! Thursday- homemade beef meatballs with a jar tomato sauce over spaghetti Tonight - 33p pizza! NB I’m in the UK and google says that 33p equals $0.44!!
Katie
Friday 3rd of May 2019
I’ve been reading your blog for years, but I don’t think I’ve ever commented before. I just wanted to thank you for recommending Dinner Illustrated. I took it out of the library a few weeks ago because you kept mentioning it, and like you, I loved it. I just ordered a copy from Amazon (and I made sure to go through your link so you hopefully get some payment for the referral). I was feeling stuck for dinner tonight (as my new cookbook hasn’t arrived yet and the library needed its copy back!) - I was just browsing around your site and decided to try the chipotle chicken recipe you’ve posted. Thanks for helping motivate me to eat at home rather than buy take out - as a full-time working mom with a three year old it can be hard to make myself cook, but I’m always glad when I do! I hope you have a good weekend!
Kristen
Saturday 4th of May 2019
Woohoo! I hope you love the cookbook.
And I hear you on the cooking. I'm a work at home mom, but I still feel the tempting pull of takeout, and Dinner Illustrated definitely helps me.
Shannon
Friday 3rd of May 2019
Happy birthday week!
Friday - date night - we are going to a burger place Thursday - fish sticks, mashed potatoes and cucumbers Wednesday - bratwurst, baked potato wedges, mushrooms Tuesday - chicken, zucchini and boiled carrots Monday - bratwurst and veggie stirfry
Kristina
Friday 3rd of May 2019
Happy birthday from me as well, Kristen!
Our meals:
Saturday: Oven grilled potato halves, lentil salad, some steak. Sunday: Rice and Indian chickpea/ground beef gravy (separate for the in-house vegetarians). Roasted cauliflower on the side. Monday: Penne pasta with a salad of beet greens from our own garden, with tomatoes and mozzarella. Tuesday: Birthday dinner of tacos and ice cream cake. Wednesday: Used the leftover penne pasta in a baked pasta dish with either lentils or ground beef; grilled asparagus on the side. Thursday: Pureed soup made from roasted carrots and other veggies, homemade bread Friday: Not sure yet, but tomorrow we are making pizzas.
Jen M.
Friday 3rd of May 2019
Happy belated birthday! You're exactly one day younger than my husband :-)
Kristen
Saturday 4th of May 2019
Well, happy birthday to him too!