WIS, WWA | a hybrid? That's me!
I went into work yesterday in the middle of the day for a coworker's bridal shower, and woo, the parking garage is so crazy packed at that time! I'm used to arriving very early, and at that hour, there are lots of spots.
However, four levels up, I saw this spot, and I was like, "Ooh! That's me! I have a hybrid!" And I happily parked.
I still sometimes forget I drive a hybrid now!
I brought a big fruit salad:
And some brownies:
What I Spent
I spent:
- $62 at Safeway
- $18 at Trader Joe's
- $23 on a shrimp bowl
That makes $103 for me.
What We Ate
Saturday
I had a meat and veggie quesadilla, kinda like this one from a while back.
Sunday
There was a little bit of ravioli left, so I sautéed a bell pepper, plus some tomatoes and onion, and added some chicken broth and cream to deglaze the pan and make a sauce for the ravioli.
I also made a cucumber salad.
Monday
Steamed shrimp, some potato wedges, and a salad.
Tuesday
I got a $23 bang bang shrimp bowl from a restaurant and it was SO good! It had a kani slaw under the shrimp, and it really made the bowl.
I'm gonna try to recreate this, except I will just sear the shrimp because deep frying is too much work. 😉
Wednesday
I cooked up some Trader Joe's orange chicken plus their fried rice, because I felt like an easy dinner.
Thursday
I ate the last of the fried rice and chicken, with some grape tomatoes on the side.
The generous helping of green onions is because I have so many from planting the ends of some from the grocery store!
Friday
I'm back at work today and tomorrow, and I packed chicken, rice, and sautéed peppers, plus a cucumber salad.
Ooo look at all those non work days and non cereal dinners. Happy for your less intense work schedule!
hahaha 🙂 I was just thinking the same thing about the sincere lack of cereal (which is a marvelous meal anytime!)
Hmmm...I buy the township trash bags (required because that's how we pay for trash) from the grocery store, and also kitty food & litter, & birdseed, so if I take those out this week, I spent $130 on food.
The summer's house re-siding project finally became a painting project this week, so meals were not of the top of my list. But the house is finally all one color again, and trim work will be painted when we get to it. We bought a sprayer rather than rent one because it was less expensive and now we have a good one to use whenever we need.
And again, 4 adults making their own meals, but I know this:
-I made pots of chili & vegetable beef soup so those were available
-pizza & veg
-a frozen bag of chicken & penne from Aldi
- lots of salads
-egg sandwiches w/ fruit & veg
-bean salad & broccoli bites
-mozzerella sticks, fruit & veg, chips & salsa
-7 layer dip w/chips
-sweet potato, prunes, fig bar, yogurt
-smoothie
-reubens, fruit, veg, pretzels
-quesadillas, melon
-quinoa & chickpeas, prunes, cukes, peppers (twice)
-and my celiac daughter had a tuna melt dipped in marinara which she swears is delicious
The quesadilla looks good!
Saturday: Aubergine and mushroom in a basil chilli sauce over spaghetti with cheese
Sunday: Lemon roasted tofu in a pita wrap with a salad filling and lemon garlic mayo
Monday: Spinach and potato frittata with salad on the side
Tuesday: Chilli mac and cheese
Wednesday: I went out for nachos
Thursday: Avocado and mozzarella sandwich with chunky chips (fries)
Friday: I have no idea, but I'm going out for my book club meeting so something quick - possibly a quesadilla!
PS - This probably shows how little I know/think about cars, but my first thought for hybrid was that it was something to do with working part time lol!
I had the same - hybrid also meaning work from the office/work from home! I was slightly confused about how nursing could be done remotely!
I thought it was some kind of arrangement where part time staff could park separately!
You may be surprised at how much nursing is done remotely! Most of the phone triage RN's I worked with worked from home as did the RN's monitoring cardiac telemetry, doing pre and post op teaching and assessments, medication monitoring, dealing with insurance and pharmacy pre-authorizations. lots of RN's work remotely for specialty pharmacies, care coordination, etc,. .the list goes on. Including many nurse educators and RN's doing informatics, risk assessment.
I have a college friend RN who has worked in Medicare Fraud investigations for the Department of Justice for 30 years, always remotely. Another who, until recently, was central to vaccine research and education at the Federal level. (She did go to Atlanta 3-4 times per year for work)
And the whole world of telehealth - as an NP I did a lot of telehealth, especially during the covid19 pandemic (learned a lot about how to creatively do a physical assessment).
That nursing degree opens up a lot of options.
I hope, very soon, that you will start to feel some small benefits/ relief working your two day a week schedule!
Friday: Tofu/snap pea stir-fry, broccoli, rice, and ice-cream for dessert.
Saturday: We were at a friend's BBQ in the late afternoon and had eaten hot dogs and burgers, so we just snacked. I had a bowl of cereal, some cheese, and two dates.
Sunday: We went to my parents' and had various things including salmon, salad, rice, and fruit.
Monday: I was out running errands most of the day, so we had pancakes with frozen fruit and hard-boiled eggs I'd prepped the night before.
Tuesday: Busted my daughter out of camp for a day with Mommy and we had takeout pizza and apples.
Wednesday: Roasted chicken breasts (with mustard/rosemary for the adults, plain for the kindergartener), frozen fries, and peas.
Thursday: Pasta with pesto, peas, and fresh mozzarella that my mom gave us. Yum. No pesto for the kindergartener.
Friday: Mr. B is out at a bachelor party (the lucky duck gets steak) so we're going to my parents' for Shabbat dinner and a sleepover.
I love that you 'busted your daughter out of camp'!
Saturday: Leftover grilled steak, leftover rice or mashed potatoes, sauteed summer squash. I have not had any squash this year--rats ate my young plants, the filthy things--but the lady my older boys work for has a ton and has been happily sharing. Previously she was giving me cucumbers. This was the first squash. I sauteed it with garlic and tomato sauce and was very happy.
Sunday: Barbecue pork ribs, American potato salad, coleslaw, pots de creme
Monday: Leftovers from the previous night, plus leftover pinto beans and rice from Friday. Plus some cookies I had made that day.
Tuesday: Beef and bean burritos, green salad with ranch dressing, watermelon. The watermelon was a seedless one from commodities. Still not a fan of seedless watermelons.
Wednesday: I was baking bread, so I made pizzas. One pepperoni, one with pickled onions, collard greens, and bell pepper. My family always wants ranch dip for their pizza, so I also provided carrot sticks for dipping.
Thursday: Again with the leftovers, this time pizza and the taco meat in corn tortillas. I also made butterscotch pudding with the milk my son informed me was on the verge.
Tonight: The older two boys have been working on Fridays instead of Saturdays lately (we have a four-day school week), and their work is very physical. That means they are very hungry when they get home, so I try to make a pretty heavy dinner. This doesn't mesh super-well with our meatless Fridays, but I did buy some fish planks last time I was at the store (like fish sticks, but bigger) so we could have fish sandwiches. So that, which means I need to make some tartar sauce, and then I'll make some oven fries and some kind of vegetable. We still have watermelon and cantaloupe from commodities, as well, and we got a couple of pineapples yesterday at school, so lots of fruit to choose from.
My better half was raised catholic (and said adios as soon as he could). He found meatless Friday's to be hypocritical. You couldn't eat hot dogs or bologna *but COULD* eat lobster, shrimp, scallops, clams, oysters, and/or crab. The nuns/priest couldn't even muster a half-way believable reason.
That being said don't knock yourself out - feed your hungry growing boys with what you have on hand. Also from my better half, not doing so isn't going to affect how close you get to sit.
WIS: $1.28 Dollar Tree, $10.25 Walgreens, $8.78 Target
I had egg salad sandwiches for three days. On one day I made a grilled Swiss on sourdough. Apple slices with peanut butter/honey. Sides were peas and dried fruits (not together!) Snacked on ice cream with lots of walnuts. I'm probably forgetting something, but it's been a week of simple meals.
We are slowly moving toward autumn, and that means less salads-as-such and a bit more meat. I also noticed the nectarines were not as tasty as earlier in August, a clear sign we are heading for pears, grapes and apples for fruit.
We had steamed potatoes on two occasions and chips (fries) on one. Our eldest offered to make a beef stew at our house, since we have an oven and bigger pans, so he cooked for us all and took home the refrigerated leftovers - good for several generous meals. It tasted marvelously and it is such a treat to just sit down to dinner after work!
Tonight I will try steaming salmon, in a new braising pan with steam insert. The pan can also be used for smoking, but I will stick to something less adventurous to start with.
We had cooked and steamed vegetables with the potatoes, and salads.
I spent about $60 at the farmers market and $200 at Harris Teeter, and had about $50 of grocery store stop-ins.
Sunday - Ribs, watermelon and peaches, baked beans, broccoli
Monday - Tuna salad, cut up veggies, watermelon and peaches, tomato salad
Tuesday - Chicken broccoli and rice casserole, fruit
Wednesday - Eggs, sausage, kale, hash brown casserole
Thursday - We went to the Durham Bulls game (free suite tickets from my work) and all food/drink is included. Between three teens and myself, I think we had one of everything.
Friday - Chick Fil A for girls, BBQ at Fantasy Draft party for the boys.
Happy Friday, everyone! We spent $94 ($23 at Aldi and $71 at Target).
-- Frozen veggie pizza and chopped green salad
-- Jersey Mike's veggie sub and chips
-- Rice with corn and bean salad; blueberry coffeecake
-- Zucchini pancakes with The Frugal Girl's cilantro sauce
-- Spanish tortilla with The Frugal Girl's cilantro sauce
-- Jasmine rice with edamame, chickpeas, soy sauce, and sesame oil
-- Nothing as I was still full from restaurant lunch
P.S. I noticed you used a bench blade to cut your brownies. I never thought to use mine for anything but scraping a board or portioning dough, so thank you for that inadvertent tip!
Friday: Chicken pasta with spinach and roasted red peppers (fridge clean out meal)
Saturday: Dumplings and fried rice from a local restaurant
Sunday: Smoked beef, mashed potatoes, shaved and sauteed Brussels sprouts
Monday: Pulled chicken sandwiches, carrots and ranch, strawberries
Tuesday: Bubble and squeak with bangers, strawberries
Wednesday: Chile Verde over rice
Thursday: Burgers, tots, watermelon
WIS: Approximately $115, mostly at Food Lion.
WWA: DH mostly ate sandwiches, with pickles, grape tomatoes, sweet peppers, plums and carrot sticks on the side. He had chili and cheddar-herb corn muffins two days. We tried out a box of Milton's gluten-free protein crackers and they are quite good.
I made a pot of veggie barley soup and had that along with other homemade soups and beans & rice dishes from the freezer. Did not make any desserts this week.
I need to add green onions to my list today - I used to buy them all the time and just fell out of the habit, but they do add so much flavor. Earlier in the week I spent about $100 from TJ and HEB. I ate:
M - plain sammie at home after work - literally ham, bread, mayo
T - Garlic Herb Chicken with bowtie pasta, marinara, broccoli
W - Crockpot Mole Chicken with rice
T - Pork Chop, green beans, 3 mini potatoes
F - tonight I will do the TJ King Pao chicken with fried rice and freeze two portions for future me
And I have to go by the store again for yogurts and other things to round out my lunches!
What is kani slaw? Do you plant your onion ends in dirt or let them sprout in water? I've never had much success planting the ends either way. They rot on me. I'd love some hints to make them work.
WIS/ WWA this week
I spent $46 at Kroger, $60 at Walmart.
Saturday – Sloppy Joe sandwiches, cole slaw, tater tots.
Sunday – steak, baked sweet potatoes, Greek cucumber salad.
Monday – crowd potatoes (often called “funeral” potatoes,” but that's depressing to me) with added frozen rotisserie chicken, green beans.
Tuesday – Frito chili pie
Wednesday – meatless meal – baked black bean, mushroom and spinach quesadillas with leftover crowd potatoes, coleslaw and Greek cucumber salad.
Thursday – out to eat at a local BBQ/rib/catfish place.
Friday – we will probably have polish sausage served with Haluska (noodles and sauteed cabbage with onions, bacon and peppers).
Haluska sounds really good! Could you share the recipe?
We had:
-Last Friday & Satrurday I was feeling pretty not great, so I had popcorn & fruit
-Sunday - roasted veggies & chicken sausage
-Monday - rotisserie chicken, green salad & caprese salad
-Tuesday - leftover roasted veggies & chicken sausage
-Wednesday - Costco's version of orange chicken
- Thursday - grilled chicken (freezer)
Friday - DH & I are likely going out for a date. If we opt to stay home, we will have wine & then scrounge around for leftovers.
Sunday: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans
Monday: cheddar best sausages, tater tots, cucumber/tomato salad
Tuesday: stuffed zucchini, cucumber/tomato salad, pickles
Wednesday: chicken salads, garlic knots
Thursday: hubby had grilled chicken skewers & I had garlic butter shrimp grilled, we also had macaroni and cheese and garlicky green beans
Friday: takeout pizza & wings
WWA:
Sun fam din- meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, beans, sliced tomatoes, apple pie
Mon - patty melts, 3 bean salad, kohl rahi & ranch
Tues - rest of meatloaf seasoned with cumin, chili powder for taco salad
Wed - community din - elk fajitas, Street corn casserole, cantaloupe, plum. & Apple magic cake
Thurs - fair camp food grilled salmon, spinach salad, dairy wives soft serve
Fri - I made hamburger patties, quinoa chopped salad and lemon zucchini muffins for fair dinner.
Saturday is an ag event usually bbq.
Saturday - My mom rented a pool on swimply (like an Airbnb for pools), we had brought food but my kids love swimming so much they didn’t want to get out to eat anything so once our rental was over they were starving but we had to vacate the seating area too. I gave them snacks to eat in the car and then we stopped at Taco Bell on the way home. This was at about 3:30 so then they weren’t hungry for dinner.
Sunday - My son helped me make a cheesy veggie and rice casserole. This recipe also calls for chicken but I’ve omitted that for awhile now. I’m now slowly trying to reduce the dairy in it. We used soy milk to make the creamy sauce this time, but still used butter and cheddar cheese. I think I can sub out the butter next for vegan butter, cheese may be the holdout, I haven’t found vegan cheddar yet that my family will accept.
Monday - I defrosted some vegan ragu from the freezer and then just cooked some pasta to serve with it.
Tuesday - My mom fed the kids dinner, I had to take my daughter to soccer practice right when I got home from work, so I had a late dinner of cauliflower soup and a toasted piece of sourdough with the last of some chickpea sandwich spread on top and heirloom tomato.
Wednesday - Girl Scout meeting this evening so kids had bean burritos before the meeting and I had homemade black bean dip spread on crispy corn tortillas, topped with avocado and mango salsa. When we got home from the meeting, I made them snack plates since they’d had dinner so early and I had the rest of some brown rice pudding I’d made earlier in the week.
Thursday - Both kids had leftovers of the cheese veggie rice casserole, my son also wanted some veggie potstickers from Trader Joe’s. I had carrot soup and toasted sourdough with hummus and heirloom tomatoes, and the last of the brown rice pudding.
Friday - I have book club tonight so I’ll snack there, will probably make spaghetti and meatballs and steamed broccoli for the kids.
WIS: Because I didn't post a WIS/WIA last week, and because my grocery receipts are in chaos because of this and JASNA BFF's visit, I'm not going to try to do a WIS this week. Regular honesty about grocery spending will resume next week. 🙂
WIA: The highlight is that I succeeded in using up an entire head of cauliflower before it started getting brown stuff on it. I made sauteed tilapia and roasted cauliflower for Sunday evening dinner for BFF, and she approved so heartily of this that I did a repeat on Monday evening. Then, yesterday, I did a beef stir-fry (with the first packet of stew beef from the 1/4 steer) and used up the last of the cauliflower in that. I want points for this! 😀
Good job, A. Marie using up the head of cauliflower! 10 points, a high five, and a gold star!!!!
I love Trader Joe’s orange chicken! I have found that there’s quite a lot of sauce so I’ve started steaming a bag of broccoli in the microwave and mixing it all together as n easy way to add veggies.
I’m so late this week! I blame the beginning of the school year-I’m tired, but we still ate (mostly, I may have forgotten to eat my lunches until my drive home…)
I don’t remember all of our dinners, but I did abandon the gluten-free diet as it did not seem to making a difference for my thyroid, so I’m back to eating the same as the rest of the family again. Which means focaccia for me again, yay!
I spent about 80 on food this week. Have a great weekend, everyone! And to my fellow teachers, I see you (through my bleary sleep-deprived eyes)!
Yay for the return of gluten!
Yes. My husband, the resident sourdough baker, may or may not have been very patient with my dietary experiment….
He's probably so relieved too!