WIS, WWA | A 3-soup week
What I Spent
Let's see! I spent:
- $17 at Harris Teeter
- $2 at Safeway (I just needed pasta!)
- $64 at Aldi
- $30 on a Hungry Harvest box
- $35 on takeout
So, $148 altogether this week.
What We Ate
Saturday
The girls and I usually get takeout together once a week, and this time around, we got Panera.
Sunday
We were at my brother's house, for my niece's birthday, so we had dinner there.
My niece had requested baked potato soup, which is a recipe I've shared here before!
Monday
I made a chili, which we ate over cilantro-lime rice, topped with cilantro-lime sour cream. I think we had some fruit on the side, but I would not swear to that under oath. 😉
Tuesday
I made a pot of this broccoli-cheese noodle soup, plus homemade french bread, and a fruit salad.
So, if you count the chili-over-rice as a soup, this was a VERY soup-ful week. 😉
Wednesday
We had enough leftover soup for a second meal, and I turned some of the leftover French bread into garlic bread.
(Me making garlic bread involves cutting a loaf in half lengthwise, spreading garlic butter on it, and then broiling it until it's browned. Super easy.)
Thursday
I made my aunt's creamy chicken enchiladas, which we ate with pico de gallo, avocado, and limes.
Friday
We have more chicken enchiladas left, so I think we will just eat those!
I am digging this whole "leftovers the next night" thing. 😉
WIS: 0.00 as it was an off week, but I'm shopping today.
WWA:
Fri: salad with fried okra, pepperoni focaccia with eggplant sauce.
Sat: salad, bubble and squeak (sausages cabbage and mashed potatoes, smothered in cheddar cheese and broiled)
Sun: green salad with figs, leftover focaccia, apples and honey.
Mon: breakfast for dinner (green salad, pork sausage patties made with lots of veggie stretchers, French toast and challah)
Tue: green salad, arroz con pollo y frijoles, sourdough crackers.
Wed: green salad, tuna steaks, rice and roasted eggplant and onions.
Thu: thaco Thursday (with leftover arros con pollo y frijoles, battered and air fried okra and cut up cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, Colby Jack cheese, salsa and sour cream).
Tonight: focaccia and some kind of salad.
A couple of these days we also had apple cinnamon coconut clusters for dessert.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
@Becca,
P.S. I love the view from your brother's porch! Also my son says your cat is saying "Meow-be you should make meow-re fish..."
She has been seriously interested in eating our food of late, which is a problem. She wants the mac and cheese, the milk left from cereal, any random bits of cereal that happen to land on a placement, and so on.
Kristen, we had a cat who adored our food--not just things that were meat or dairy, but carbs! He once tried to steal a slice of pizza from my brother and would sneak crackers and tear into a loaf of bread if it was left on the counter!
@Karen A., and Kristen,
One of our cats is a serious scrounger.....he will pester anyone at any meal for some of their food! You can't leave food on the kitchen counter unattended, because he will jump up there and eat some of it. He was a stray when we adopted him, so I wonder if some of this is because he had to find food wherever he could find it, in his former life.
We had one cat who loved donuts and pancakes and another who would come running for potato chips (when he heard the bag open) but whose very favorite food was cantaloupe.
@Karen A.,
We have carb loving cats too. They will bite into a bagged loaf of bread if I leave the groceries unattended and they steal crumpets/donuts/etc if they are cooling on the countertop.
Oh, yes on the leftovers idea - I've been putting mine in the freezer, packaged individually, then enjoy a cook-free night now and again! That kitty is so adorable...just had to throw that in! My menus this week:
Monday - One Pot Chicken and Rice with broccoli
Tuesday - Lentil Soup with Chicken Sausage, cheesy garlic bun
Wednesday - Black Bean and Beef Taco Bowls (added bell pepper, onion avocado, cheese) served over tortilla chips I found in the pantry.
Thursday - Fiocchetti Pasta from Trader Joe's with the rest of the package of chicken sausage, and the rest of the salad greens box on the side (half of the entree went into the freezer)
Tonight - Skillet Tilapia, sweet potato, peas
Saturday - Going to make another KFC bowl (fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, grated cheese) with the rest of the shredded fried chicken from the freezer
Sunday - TBD but I think its my daughter's turn to host dinner. I will take an apple pie and cool whip for dessert.
Happy Weekend!
https://cannaryfamily.blogspot.com/
Ah, when our eldest is alone for a couple of days, he allows the cats to eat from the table. It is something we would never accept when we were present!
We will be having soup tonight too. and we had three sort-of-similar meals as well this week:
Shoarma and salad
Meat loaf and carrots with mustard mayonaise
Meat loaf and cauliflower
Pork chops and french beans
Meat loaf and applesauce
We had a busy week and I was grateful that I did not have to spend too much time thinking of dinner options.
I bought a new Instant pot with air-fryer cuz I got a really good deal on it so I used it all week.
Italian Wedding Soup
Chicken wings x 2 nights different seasonings each time
Mac N cheese air fried the top
Lemon cod
Ham rolls and air fried them, they were really good.
Tacos
We had veggies and salads or bread too.
Going to do Bacon or Corn Chowder soup tonight. Providing today isn't another crisis day, dad fell 2 times yesterday. My stress level is beyonds 10/10. We are afraid they will move him from assisted living to a nursing facility.
@Mar,
Dealing with an aging parent is so difficult. Wishing strength and peace.
@Mar, from one caregiver to another, solidarity and best wishes for you and your dad.
@Mar, while I miss my parents, I don't miss the constant state of tension I lived under, wondering what difficult thing was going to happen next. Hugs to you.
@Mar,
I know that worry that you are having about your dad. I hope he can stay where he is!
@JD, Kris, A Marie, Bee thank you for the kind comments. He tested positive for Covid so we are assuming that played into him falling.
Hmm....
chili
more chili
broiled chicken and rice
Thai chicken and butternut curry
dijon-red wine stew last night. I may have had a glass of red wine which is always a bad idea. Headache this morning.
zero idea for tonight. Maybe quiche.
WIS: $34 at Wegmans, $15 at Trader Joe's.
WWA: On Monday night, grad school BFF and I invited two friends over for my "Last Supper" before the Tuesday gum grafting. I made "Not My Mother's Meat Loaf" (which includes, among many other things, Worcestershire and BBQ sauces), and BFF made Greek roasted potatoes from an America's Test Kitchen recipe. We added a salad, and one of the two friends brought a wonderful gluten-free chocolate cake for dessert (the other friend is gluten-sensitive).
I've been on a soft diet since the grafting, of course. But BFF made me a delicious leek and potato soup on Wednesday, and will be making me a pumpkin soup (with frozen puree from a pumpkin I trashpicked late last fall) before she leaves. All hail BFF!
I'm so glad your friends are helping you out with soft foods!
@A. Marie,
Sounds like some yummy soft meals, and yay for your BFF!
Chili in my house growing up was ALWAYS served over rice (my mother is from New Orleans, where every single meal involved rice no matter what else was served). I didn't know this was unusual until I was an adult. I'm glad to see you're a fellow chili+rice weirdo. 🙂
Saturday: I made overnight brisket, which just had to be re-heated at dinnertime. We also had mashed potatoes, green salad with vinaigrette, and the strawberry/rhubarb pie that is always left for my parents by the lady who owns the place they stay when they visit. Plus vanilla ice cream.
Sunday: I discovered a few bags of the ram/lamb meat from the last one we butchered, one of which was a small bag of stew meat pieces. So I added that to a package of beef stew meat to make, well, stew, which pleasingly (and frugally!) used the liquid left from the brisket. I had planned to make this in my new solar oven to try it out, but it was too windy. Also garlic bread, sauteed calabacitas and tomatoes, green salad with ranch dressing (I have fresh dill again from re-seeding plants, yay!), and brownies with vanilla ice cream.
Monday: Work day, which means a screeching halt to any ambitious cooking. This is what leftovers are for.
Tuesday: Rib steaks, spaghetti with roasted tomato/garlic sauce, green salad with ranch dressing. Also this day I did get to try out my solar oven, in which I made separate pots of rice and curried split peas.
Wednesday: Leftover steak and brisket, the rice and split peas from the day before, and raw radishes.
Thursday: We got some mozzarella and roasted garlic chicken sausages from the excess commodities stuff. They were not well-received by my family. There was nothing wrong with them, exactly, except for the fact that they were chicken, not pork. A couple of people ate them. The rest had leftover curried split peas. There was also pesto bread (slices of bread with butter and pesto), and yet another green salad with ranch dressing. The lettuce is plotting world domination, but I'm doing my best to beat it back.
Tonight: Not sure yet, except there will be salad. 🙂
I love chicken sausages! In fact, I think I like them more than pork sausages.
One time I bought a marked-down package of sausages that were exactly like those fully-cooked chicken sausages, except they were beef. And I thought they were disgusting; somehow I could not reconcile the beefy flavor with that type of sausage.
@Kristen, No, sausages are not supposed to be made from red meat. I don't like those either. They are traditionally made from pork, which is what our family is accustomed to. The chicken sausages were just too finely ground and lean to our palates.
It was like eating a burger. But also a sausage at the same time. My brain was like "WHAT IS THIS?".
@kristin @ going country,
I'm a chili-over-rice weirdo, too. 🙂 That's how my mom served it when I was a kid, and I just assumed that was how *everyone* ate it. Here in my neck of the woods (Cincinnati area of Ohio), chili is served over spaghetti (which I also love, with shredded Cheddar cheese on top) or plain in a bowl. I have never liked "Cincinnati style" chili, though.
@kristin @ going country, Chili over rice was the only way I grew up eating it too. I didn't know it was weird until I was in high school!
It has been such a stressful week that I really can’t remember what we ate and when. I spent $350. As a part of Hurricane prep, I purchased many items that I don’t usually buy — bottled water, concentrated cold brew coffee, boxed milk etc.
Although I’m a Florida Native, I find grocery shopping and meal planning to be the most difficult parts of prepping. Aside from all the unknowns, I eat very little processed food. I just end up buying an inordinate amount of peanut butter, apples and bananas. I could live for days on this combo. Best of all, refrigeration and electricity are not required.
It’s time to clean up from the storm and restore order. Have a great weekend!
@Bee, I hope the damage in your area was minimal. I have a dear friend who had to evacuate from Venice but it sounds like the worst of the storm track missed her home. Waiting to hear what damage her house sustained. I feel for all of you!
@Bee,
I have the same problem as you when it comes to food for emergencies.
I hope your clean up is minimal, and I hope your power is not a problem. My family in Deland and Daytona let me know that they are safe, even though they had a few trees down, but their clean up will take a while.
@Bee and @JD, I'm glad you both are relatively OK after Ian (although I know that the pre- and post-hurricane stuff is taking a lot out of you). I just saw a Twitter video from a young man at my undergrad alma mater in Sarasota, showing that the major buildings are safe, although of course there are a lot of trees down. Looks as if the worst damage is in the Fort Myers corridor.
And I'm also worried about elderly friends who live in a retirement complex not too far from Cape Canaveral, where Ian exited FL. Fortunately, this complex is run by and for retired military, so they have prep down to a fine art. But I'm going to give them a day or two for power to be restored, and then inquire.
WIS: At Food Lion, $93 and some change. My husband usually accompanies to the grocery store, but had a bad cold and I went alone, thus skipping the trip the Aldi, which is farther away.
WWA: Saturday-Wednesday: Big pot of chili, which my husband ate by himself. After 36 years of chili on an almost weekly basis, I am over it. I ate a little salad with Wasa Rye (on sale at Food Lion), a boiled egg and a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese (also on sale). Thursday we went out for Mexican food at our local place. I brought back half of my steak fajita quesadilla for lunch on Friday.
I'm going to participate this week because I actually remember what we had.....;)
Sunday: Beef stew, dinner rolls, no-bake cookies, snack: buffalo chicken dip & sausage queso dip
Monday: Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Tuesday: chicken tortilla soup, Italian bread & butter
Wednesday: deer chops sauteed in olive oil & garlic & spices, rice, peas, chicken flavored noodles
Thursday: snacky dinner: pulled a frozen pizza out and baked it & served with baked potato skins, mozzarella sticks and chicken taquitos
Friday: will be dinner out as we are headed to camp.....
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
My husband keeps threatening to give our cat a permanent seat at the table. He loves to spoil that hairy beast! 🙂
With my son away at college, we also find that we have at least one meal of leftovers a week, and I'm with you--I'm into the reheat and eat scene!
The amount of dishes produced by a night of leftovers is SO much better than the amount produced by a just-cooked meal. A definite bonus!
Tonight? probably turkey meatloaf with red potatoes and peas
Thursday: roasted dinner (chicken, yams, and carrots with onions)
Wednesday: orzo with spinach, mushrooms and sausage
Tuesday: Frisse salad with tomatoes and red onions
Monday: veggie pizza and salad
Sunday and Saturday: I truly cannot remember!
Saturday - I had gone to afternoon tea with friends so was still pretty full, I picked up takeout fried chicken with sides for the family
Sunday - I’d spent the day visiting (and snacking!) with friends so was again not hungry at dinner time, my kids just wanted toast for dinner which was fine with me!
Monday - we all went and got flu shots together, which was upsetting for my kids so I made pasta and meatballs for dinner, as that’s their favorite meal.
Tuesday - cheesy chicken, vegetable and rice casserole
Wednesday - chicken quesadillas, saffron rice, corn
Thursday - freezer clean out meal, I defrosted 2 different kinds of soup (alphabet soup and gnocchi soup) since they both only had about enough left for 2 people. Made some canned biscuits to go with it
Friday - Trader Joe’s night, last Friday I picked up Trader Joe’s orange chicken and fried rice for dinner and we all really enjoyed it and I enjoyed the easier cooking, so Im going to make it a regular Friday thing to pickup something frozen at Trader Joe’s on my lunch break. There isn’t a Trader Joe’s in a convenient location near my house but there is one very close to my office so I can take advantage of needing to go into the office more now!
@LB, If your family likes meat lasagna, the TJ frozen family size meat lasagna is excellent!
WWS: $43 @ Publix
Sunday: Green beans with kielbasa, onions and potatoes (a new favorite one pot meal), green salad, and homemade focaccia with rosemary & sea salt. Cherry Pie Bars for dessert.
Monday: Leftovers
Tuesday: Ranch Pork Chops in the crockpot, Rice, green salad
Wednesday: scrambled eggs, grits, sausage balls
Thursday: Chicken casserole with peas & Carrots and Angel Biscuits
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Not sure yet but maybe a clean out the fridge night.
Our cat that we had for 17 years never attempted getting at the table until the first night we had shrimp after we got her. We didn't realize what she was doing until we saw tips of ears, then ears, then the top of the head, and finally her whole head, as she slowly raised up in the chair she had quietly jumped on, and rested her chin on the table. My husband (of course!) cut up a shrimp for her and gave her a plate with the shrimp. After that, if we had shrimp, she sat in her "place" waiting for a plate with a shrimp on it. The rest of the time, she ignored whatever we were eating and stayed off the chair. That picture of Kristen's cat took me back.
Last week I spent a chunk, because I bought larger farm orders than usual (and then came the threat of a hurricane, meaning I could have lost all that expensive meat) plus my first order for Azure Standard, so it was about $200. But this week is a no-spend week.
What I ate:
I finished up some stew from the freezer that I had thawed for a work lunch. I notice our posted menus seem to be leaning heavily into stews and soups. Could it be some of us are really, really, really ready for fall?
One of my farm orders actually had steak in it. So, steak with a big salad.
On Sunday I went to church, then stayed longer than usual with my husband at his facility. I had such a late lunch when I got home that my evening meal was a bowl of grain-free cereal.
Farm-made brats with sauerkraut and pan-fried okra from my plants.
A burger with grass-fed beef from a local farm on "bread," with parsnip oven fries made in the toaster oven. It was still quite warm that day, so I didn't want to heat up the house.
Pork chops, cauliflower sautéed in the pork pan, and honey rosemary carrots. I cooked enough to eat that two nights.
Tonight - maybe another burger, unless I decide to take the time to make a favorite burger soup tonight instead of tomorrow. I have to finish up that package of ground beef today or tomorrow.
@JD,
I forgot to add that my mother always put rice IN her chili. We ate rice a lot, too, and my favorite way was with milk and sugar for breakfast.
@JD, Love the cat and shrimp story.
Basically the same as last week! My kids are creatures of habit. My oldest did say wistfully something about hamburger stew, which we haven't had in a while. Maybe this coming week. And I spent a little less, I think, so I'm good with that.
That chili looks so good, I wish my crew were into spicier foods!
@Karen A.,
I'm currently eating some chili over roasted sweet potatoes (that I packaged up a few months ago and put in the freezer together) and the sweet potatoes are a really nice combo with the chili. Perhaps that would be a way to take out the spiciness and give it a try?
I spent $135.56 at Kroger, all food; $55 on takeout. I only had a few items on my list, but ran into a few great sale items, so I did some stocking up (3# chubs of 80/20 ground chuck for $1.99#!) This week we ate
Bacon wrapped chicken thighs, potato salad provided by our niece.
Leftovers for DH, ? for me.
DH was craving ribs so we ordered a whole rack & 2 pieces of triple chocolate cake.
Leftover ribs, potato salad & cake.
Chili.
Leftover chili.
Undecided as yet for tonight.
As you can see, I am definitely loving the “cook once, eat twice” mentality!
Friday – I pulled chicken and bean burritos from the freezer that I had prepped for when we didn’t have a meal planned. I was behind on menu planning, so I was thankful for an easy meal that wasn’t take out. Thank you past me!
Saturday – We met my in-laws for a combined September birthdays dinner at a favorite local restaurant. We shared the most amazing fried chicken, grits, mac and cheese, slaw, and assortment of breads.
Sunday – Individual mini meat loafs, roasted potatoes, and roasted brussels sprouts.
Monday – Whole wheat pasta with yellow bell peppers, turkey sausage, and spinach. I topped mine with parmesan but my husband topped his with sriracha and oddly both worked!
Tuesday – I tried a recipe for bean soup and everyone loved it! I cut the recipe in half to make sure we would actually like it so sadly there were no leftovers. I paired it with a side of andouille sausage.
Wednesday – I tried another new recipe for California Roll Bowls. Another hit and one that will be helpful when the craving for sushi hits.
Thursday – This was our planned leftover/pantry raid night. On Wednesday I pulled together odds and ends (one tomato, half a can of tomato sauce, half a diced onion, half a diced pepper, half a pound of ground turkey) to throw into the slow cooker to let the flavors meld. I wasn’t sure if it would turn into chili or pasta sauce but I would figure that out on Thursday. Come Thursday, I was stung by a bee at work which led to a migraine (weird reaction). I was able to season the sauce to make it into spaghetti sauce, cook up some pasta and feed the family before hiding in my bedroom for the rest of the night. “Present me” was really happy with “past me”.
Off to menu plan so I don’t end up in that same situation as last Friday!
Your soup week looks great to me though our warm temps are still hanging on.
We ate;
Bratwurst, sauerkraut, German potato salad
Birthday dinner at a restaurant for my daughter
Family birthday party with pizza, salad, fruit, cake
Leftovers from party
Pork chops with mushroom sauce, rice pilaf and wedge salad
Air fryer chicken thighs, broccoli salad, fruit
I’m trying to use up what we have instead of stopping at the grocery store for a couple of ingredients and ending up with several unplanned items. This week went pretty well though the dinner out and pizza party wasn’t cheap. This coming week should be less expensive .
Last night my kids made some pasta with portobello mushrooms, chicken, and a brandy cream sauce that was so good my food memory has been erased. I think I may have made some uninteresting cabbage beef soup earlier in the week.
Is corn in chili a thing? I know beans are (and I am pro team bean), but corn is an uncommon edition for me. I am so jealous of your soup weather. It is still in the high 80's in LA and I just can't do it yet at home. However, Bishop and Mammoth (work home) are starting to get flurries at night and I am stoked.
Sun- workday. I think I ate a rice bowl with kimchi and avocado but I honestly don't remember
Mon- hash with leftover veggies and a fried egg
Tues- All of the crew was working a 36 hr shift, so we treated ourselves to Korean BBQ in Reno. This was probably the most meat I have eaten one sitting ever. But solid work bonding time
Weds- I was home and tired so pasta marinara with frozen chicken meatballs
Thurs- some unexpected news led to a mini celebration, so my husband and I got take out sushi
Fri- I think this will be pizza night
Sat- I am having a mini girls weekend with a few friends, so we will make something but I don't know what
My normal plan of cooking on Friday, Saturday & Sunday & eating leftovers during the week fell apart, as we were at a soccer tournament all weekend. As a result, it was some scrappy meals.
Saturday - everyone ate on their own. One kid with a friend, out. My husband & other son went to In & Out, on their way home from a late game. I was volunteering at a tournament, and found some chicken curry in the freezer & had that for dinner.
Sunday - my husband made rice & grilled chicken.
Monday - chicken & ravioli. My 16 y.o. picked the ravioli out at Costco. Who am I to say no, on a week without cooking inspiration? 🙂
Tuesday - chicken & rice
Wednesday - salmon, salad, & more grilled chicken
Thursday - baked chicken & salad
Friday - I'm going to a work event, but the kids are having burgers (freezer). I'll pick up some buns, which will make all of the difference.
WIS Trucchi’s 9-22 $12
Stop&Shop 9-9 $7.76
Aldi 9-9 $35.24
Shaws 9-15 $56.82
9-18 30.82
9-24 71.49
Harvest Box $125, which I shared with my daughter. There was a $25 coupon this week
WWA
Friday: New England Clam Chowder from Trucchi’s, bread
Saturday Beef Bourguignon, mashed potatoes, vegetable
Sunday Leftover Beef Bourguignon and leftover vegetables
Monday Chicken thighs with cranberry/balsamic sauce over rice
Tuesday Leftover chicken (Thankfully because it is a work day and I get home late)
Wednesday Hot dogs, corn
Thursday Remainder of the hot dogs, corn, and potatoes
Friday Tonight is pizza with the family for my grandson's 4th birthday, which was earlier this month.
I found a blog and the writer has a cookbook: Dinners Just for Two. Her blog is Desserts Just for Two. So far two dinners have been perfect with a bit of leftover to make my life easy. Mondays I walk with a group of women, and a couple of those Mondays I also have meetings. Tuesdays I work all day, by the time I get home it's nice to have a leftover to heat up or it could be tuna sandwiches. This Wednesday I had two programs at the Sr. Center. Thursday is grandson day.
I think the Dinners Just for Two may become my bible for dinner. When ground beef is on sale, I buy it and make up burgers for the freezer, taking out two at a time for dinner.
Baked potato soup sounds good to me, but the last time I was at the store I didn't like the potato prices. I'm waiting until I see prices I like, then it's going on the menu!
Saturday: I was working a catering event, but the group wanted the leftovers (the roast beef looked so good!) so the cook made some pizzas for us to eat afterwards.
Sunday: I took french bread to our life group potluck dinner.
Monday: Lentil and vegetable soup from the freezer with leftover french bread. Easy!
Tuesday: Pizza Hut personal pan pizzas. Unfortunately, I incorrectly remembered the expiration date of the Book It free pizza coupons and ended up buying pizzas for everyone instead of getting free ones for my kids.
Wednesday: Nutella and banana toasted sandwiches and applesauce. I was SURE this would be a hit with my kids but 2 of the 3 didn't like it!! My kids aren't familiar with Nutella, but I thought it would be a fun special treat. Apparently it was only special for my 6yo.
Thursday: Grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Friday: I just pulled a bag of fajita mix out of the freezer. I needed a quick and easy meal to fit in between Homecoming festivities, so I was thrilled to find this in the freezer.
@Ruth T, I've never liked Nutella and neither do my kids (adults now). Just too sweet.
Sunday-pork green chili, oranges, tortillas
Monday-chicken tacos, salad greens, leftover sides (Mac and cheese, potatoes)
Tuesday-leftovers
Wednesday-homemade chicken tenders, brown rice, salad greens, broccoli
Thursday-breakfast for dinner (French toast, bacon, apple slices)
Friday-mushroom ravioli, zucchini, salad greens
Sat/Sun: Weird meat stew, made with bits of beef, moose and caribou from the freezer. No one package was enough so just threw it all in and spiced it heavily and husband ate it; that is a win because he is not a big fan of wild game so when I use it I have to disguise it with spices.
Mon/Tues: leek soup, from my abundance of garden leeks
Wed: hamburgers and fruit salad
Thursday: crepes. I like to eat them plain, no syrup or filling. Husband ate his with apple sauce. Used up a bunch of the quail eggs.
Tonight: McDonald's fish sandwich for me and more crepes for him. He makes the crepes, so I am always happy when that is on the menu.
Went out to Texas Roadhouse for my son’s birthday.
Chicken chili and garlic pull apart bread
Gyros in pitas.
Loaded chicken nachos
Spaghetti with marinara, steamed asparagus, roasted broccoli and cauliflower
Frozen pizza and pasta salad
Tonight we are having Waldorf chicken salad lettuce cups
WIS: $190 Fred Meyer
WWA: Sunday - made a crock pot of copycat Cafe Rio shredded chicken and ate crisp
tacos.
Monday - Grilled King salmon, asparagus and roasted little potatoes
Tuesday - I had leftover salmon etc. at work, he had leftover tacos
Wednesday - I had taco salad at work with the leftover chicken, he had tacos
Thursday - I had Panera (paid for by my younger daughter - we typically do lunch
for each of my girls and my birthdays and just couldn't find dates that worked
for the 3 of us this month for mine, and next month for another, so we met at
my granddaughter's ballroom dance competition at a local hotel and brought
in Panera: dinner together and beautiful entertainment!) Not sure what
leftovers he had.
Tonight - not sure yet but maybe turkey burgers...we are kind of taco'd out 🙂
Saturday - weekly dinner out, will try somewhere new in the nearby town a
grandson is playing soccer in.
Spent $130 at Walmart.
Monday: chicken enchiladas suizas, Mexican rice, Italian cream cake
Tuesday: Cobb salads, buttered French bread, cake
Wednesday: Fend for yourself
Thursday: Swiss steak, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans with onion and bacon
Saturday: Spinach dip with French bread chunks for a game day snack, then husband is bbq’ing ribs, I’ll make coleslaw and baked beans
Sunday TBD
I searched for your aunt’s creamy enchiladas recipe, but didn’t find it- only another non-creamy chicken enchiladas recipe- can you share your aunts?
She uses this one: https://magnolia.com/blog/recipe/b378de2e-bf93-4957-a135-2dd22c3216ed/sour-cream-chicken-enchiladas/ And I followed it pretty closely, except I made my own concoction to sub for the canned chicken soup.
Also, I used pepper jack cheese.
I have just ! discovered a time saver-- 85 years old, active mom and grandmother -- gardener -- photographer. I haven't slowed down. It just dawned on me that I could save some time by measuring out the dry ingredients for homemade bread and things like cookies~ I don't have to get all those ingredients out every time I cook things that are regulars for me. For some reason I dread getting out the flour, baking power and soda salt, spices, etc. Then having to clean the counter and utensils. When making bread yesterday, I realized I could package up the combos of white, whole wheat and rye flour that I use every time I make bread. Same idea with the standby chocolate chip cookies. Being frugal with our time is the same as with shopping. Is there anything wrong with this idea?
Thanks, Kirsten--I've been reading your column for years! You do a good job!
Yes! I know people do something like this; making dry mixes. Then you only need the wet ingredients when it's time to bake.
And I love that you have not slowed down. That's my life goal!