WIS, WWA | a no-takeout week for me!
What I Spent
This week, I spent:
- $80 at Lidl
- $25 at Safeway
- $15 at a small Mexican grocery store
- $30 on a Hungry Harvest box
So that's $150 even.
What We Ate
Lisey's been at my aunt and uncle's house this week (taking care of their chickens!), so I've just been feeding Zoe and me.
Saturday
I made ground beef tacos with all the fixings, and we had fresh fruit on the side.
Sunday
I made pulled chicken sandwiches and we had some homemade applesauce on the side.
Monday
I made bourbon chicken with broccoli over rice. More applesauce on the side.
Tuesday
A leftover night! Zoe had the pulled chicken and I ate the bourbon chicken.
Wednesday
I made chorizo and potato tacos, which we topped with a tomatillo sauce, onion, cilantro, and lime juice.
We had a fruit salad on the side.
Thursday
I had a one-person amount of frozen cheese tortellini, so Zoe ate that along with some cucumber slices.
And then for myself, I threw together a random dinner after poking through the fridge for odds and ends.
I made a green salad to use up some homemade Caesar dressing left from a previous meal.
For my main dish, I cooked a sweet potato, sautéed some green peppers, fried two eggs, cut up a jalapeño, and ate all of that together in a bowl.
Everything* goes together if you top it with an egg.
*ok, most things!
Friday
I am not sure; I think it might still just be Zoe and me here for dinner tonight. And I have just noticed that my dinners this week have been shockingly sandwich-free.
Sooo...perhaps some dinner sandwiches are in order tonight.
Speaking of odds and ends... Last night I made beef stew from a fancy mix to which I added all sorts of things I had in the house: celery that was on its last legs, beef & leek stock made from leftovers, more stock made from the beef scraps (rest to go to the pooch), and leftover new potatoes from a previous recipe.
Future Me (and Future Roommate) is going to be very happy with Current Me.
Teehee. You and your sandwiches...
WIS: 111.33 @Aldi (Hurray for both the bag trick and having a child take up half the basket!)
WWA:
Fri: salad of diced peppers and shredded iceberg lettuce leftover from thaco Thursday, fruit salad (cubed watermelon, figs, kiwi berries and blueberries), and pepperoni and mozzarella stuffed focaccia (made with yeast this week instead of sourdough so it was a little different-more like a calzone).
Sat: chicken sandwiches made using red bag Aldi chicken, buns from the freezer, havarti cheese and lots of veggie toppings (lettuce, tomato, fried onions/peppers/eggplant), maple glazed donuts for dessert.
Sun: spicy greens salad, fettuccine, meatballs (frozen premade) and immediate sauce from the freezer (but also with a few more veggies added that needed immediate consumption).
Mon: sauteed peashoots, crusty baguettes with immediate sauce and shredded parmesan cheese.
Tue: (special since it was our anniversary) salad made with Tokyo Bekana, strawberries and feta cheese, bacon wrapped steaks, sweet potato and onion soup with bacon crumbles, a sourdough baguette made into garlic toast and pumpkin wafer cookies for dessert.
Wed: salad made with spicy mix, orange peppers, peanuts and spicy peanut dressing, toasted baguettes topped with leftover immediate sauce, sliced hot Italian sausages and shredded parmesan cheese, spicy sourdough crackers and salsa con queso.
Thu: Thaco Thursday: ground pork fried with pinto beans, shredded iceberg lettuce, diced red peppers, shredded cheddar, watermelon chunks and chipotle Cholula sauce in homemade crunch wraps. The watermelon was actually really good in the tacos with the Cholula sauce! I was surprised!
Tonight: salad and focaccia, but perhaps with some kind of cupcakes for dessert because it's my birthday but I'm still feeling under the weather, so we'll see what I am interested in eating.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
@Becca, what a great anniversary meal! I hope your day was wonderful!
@Bee,
Thanks, Bee! The steaks were tasty, but we had about three leftover, so I asked my husband to cut them up really small and put them on the focaccia tonight for my birthday. Very yummy, and even had some leftover from that too for lunch tomorrow. Ultimately, we got two dinners and one lunch for five people out of these steaks I bought for 35.00 plus one pack of bacon that I got on sale for 4.00 so I think it all still counts as frugal, even if it was a bit pricier than our regular fare. 😉
Saturday: A meatloaf with a combination of ground beef and bulk sausage, baked potatoes, green salad with vinaigrette, and the condensed milk thumbprint cookies my son made
Sunday: I cooked some tenderized bottom round steaks with tomatoes, beef stock, onion, garlic, and parsley, then thickened the remaining liquid with cornstarch to make a gravy. Also egg noodles, a green salad with ranch dressing, and vanilla ice cream with maple syrup
Monday: Leftovers for kids, more of my husband's neverending venison posole from the freezer for him, leftover baked potatoes diced and fried, raw green beans, and Monday night milkshakes because my husband bought the giant bucket of ice cream and sees no reason our skinny children shouldn't have milkshakes on a Monday night. They agreed. 🙂
Tuesday: Pot roast with potatoes and carrots, green salad with vinaigrette, baked rice pudding since the oven was on for so long for the pot roast
Wednesday: Leftovers for all! Definitely not enough rice pudding for the ravenous hordes, though. Should have made my usual triple recipe, rather than just double.
Thursday: Steaks with herb butter (I'm using ALL the fresh herbs in anticipation of a killing frost sometime in the near future), mashed potatoes, green salad with ranch dressing, and candy corn brought my sister, who arrived this day for a weekend visit.
Friday: I need to gather tomatoes from the garden, which I will roast with a head of garlic and use to make a spaghetti sauce with some of the last of the basil. I'll also make some Italian sliders (seasoned like meatballs, but shaped like tiny hamburgers and covered in sauce), roasted green beans (probably the very last from the garden), sauteed calabacita, and then we're going to the varsity football game, so I bet the kids will get something from the concession stand.
When I returned from my weekend away, the guys treated me to takeout and we had the leftovers of that later in the week. Apart from that it was potatoes and veg, with a little meat, all-were-fed style.
I am hoping to glean some inspiration from the comments today -
I love to add a fried egg on top of "too small to save for a lunch" leftovers and call it breakfast. I will never tire of that, or tacos. This week:
Monday - Taco meat-topped baked potato (I really loaded it up, so I had a small portion of it for breakfast the next day with the fried egg...)
Tuesday - Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein, pot stickers
Wednesday - TJ's Pumpkin Ravioli with harvest sausage, kale
Thursday - Chicken Stew in my little cast iron skillet
Friday - Salmon Patty, twice baked, kale
Saturday - (tilapia)Fish tacos, using up two random tortillas and the rest of the pico
Sunday - Dinner at daughter's apartment, lunch is leftover Beef and Broccoli
No eating out this week, except for a free Jersey Mike's sub for lunch tomorrow!
Happy weekend!
https://cannaryfamily.blogspot.com/
Taco pudgie pies on the campfire
Butternut squash pasta sauce with rigatoni and fried mushrooms
Chicken and cream cheese mini quesadillas and roasted sweet potatoes
Gnocchi with sautéed mushrooms and garlic creamed greens
Ham and bean soup with homemade herb fococcia
Beef fajitas
Tonight we are having leftover soup over riced
This was a takeout-heavy week! We're both working a lot of late nights for the next two weeks, so we've chosen not to worry about getting more takeout than usual.
Monday: Canadian Thanksgiving! Husband and baby went to my in-laws, I stayed home and got takeout; I was on backup call and couldn't leave the city (plus frankly I was celebrating having a night to myself!)
Tuesday: Takeout pizza
Wednesday: My husband made tomato sauce and my mom had made and frozen meatballs, so we had pasta and meatballs with salad (just cut up romaine and homemade vinagrette)
Thursday: We had scrambled eggs with mushrooms, smoked salmon that we got on sale (it freezes super well,) bread, and leftover salad.
Friday: I'm working tonight, so takeout for me. Probably grocery store sushi for my husband, since I don't like it and that's what he gets when I'm away.
WIS: $29.40 at Trader Joe's, $6.50 total at the grocery and bakery outlets, and $44.30 at Price Chopper (where I got some good Reduced for Quick Sale deals on meat and milk).
WIA: My best things this week were a small pot roast from our 1/4 steer and a follow-up beef noodle soup, both of which I put together much as WilliamB describes assembling his beef stew, with many odds and ends. (In my case, a bit of leftover tomato sauce and half a beer went into the soup, and a number of elderly vegetables made it into both dishes.) Great minds ran in the same direction this week, apparently!
Saturday - takeout sushi
Sunday - I took some leftover homemade spaghetti sauce from the freezer that wasn’t quite enough for all 4 of us and added some leftover jarred sauce to it, and served that over pasta.
Monday - chicken pot pie
Tuesday - kale minestrone and biscuits
Wednesday - it was back to school night for my youngest so another pasta night (it’s the easiest and the favorite of the kids) pasta, jarred sauce and meatballs from the freezer
Thursday - chicken patty sandwiches, carrots and broccoli, a tiny portion of leftover Mac n cheese split between the kids (I’ve been very diligent this week about leftover use)
Friday - back to school night for my oldest so another busy night at dinner time, plus my husband is going to dinner with a friend. I will likely make the frozen pizza I have.
WIS: $95.94, all at Food Lion.
WWA: Saturday -- hamburgers with fries and fixings. Burgers were bought a while back as a manager's special and popped in our freezer. Fries were a bag from a BOGO promotion that were in the freezer. Served on a pack of buns marked half-price because the sell-by date was that date.
Sunday -- roasted chicken drumsticks (manager's markdown special from our freezer) seasoned with a free salt-free blend Penzey's was offering. Served with baked potatoes, salad made from the same stuff as hamburger fixings, and mac and cheese bought on sale a while back.
The rest of the week up until last night: Sunday created leftover chicken and salad for my husband to enjoy for several days. I ate soup leftover from last week that had been portioned up and frozen last week, along with rye crispbreads and Laughing Cow cheese wedges (also on sale).
Tonight: I have no idea. I'm usually so wiped out by Friday that it's every man for himself around our house.
But we have totally rocked the use of our little old chest freezer and the grocery sale ads.
@Ruby, Hooray for rye crispbread! I just ordered a three-pack of Finncrisps online because I miss being able to get them at a grocery store. They really are so good. My kids like to melt sharp cheddar in a bowl and scoop it up with the rye crisps. Yum.
We actually had different things for dinner this week. Except for Saturday and Sunday, which are always homemade pizzas.
Monday we had the day off school, and my husband had the day off work, so dinner was a cookout, burgers, fries, chips.
Tuesday: tacos, of course.
Wednesday: Chicken stew, served over pasta.
Thursday: Hamburger stew, and some people put it over leftover pasta. I had leftover rice and ground beef from Tuesday, since the beef broth we can find has yeast extract, which is a migraine trigger.
Friday: will be chicken and rice casserole, and mixed veggies.
I spent around $123.00 for two weeks of groceries last week. About $30 of that was a farm order. I definitely pay a premium for using local farmers, but so far, it's worth it to me.
WIA:
A chef salad purchased by my younger kid, which was a nice surprise. I had enough for lunch the next day, too.
Another little grass-fed steak, after a long spell with no steaks. I had this one with sweet potato.
I pressure cooked a big amount of beef stew using local grass-fed stew beef, sweet potato, parsnip, carrot, celery, mushrooms, onion, and homemade beef stock. I had it for dinner thrice, for lunch twice, and put some in the freezer for later.
An uncured hotdog on gluten-free bread with homemade no-mayo cole slaw using cabbage, celery, carrot, onion and apple. I adapted this slaw recipe a bit from a yummy Southern Living recipe.
A sirloin piece from the local cattle farmer, along with beets and green peas.
Tonight may well be another hotdog and slaw. I always make extra slaw, since it holds well all week.
I love sandwiches, too. Although I almost never make them, because gluten free bread is expensive. My littler kids can't eat in way that keeps my cute little celiac safe, so very few sandwiches until people are bigger, neater, and more independent.
We had pot roast with potatoes and carrots, egg roll in a bowl, stir fry, pita pizzas, and other things that I can't think of right now. Fresh fruit and veg on the side. I'm not sure what I'll make for dinner tonight. I saved some of the liquid from the pot roast, so I may try to make French Dip sandwiches (I know what I said, but I haven't made sandwiches in almost a month) or maybe some gravy for mashed potatoes since there was also a lot of fat in the liquid. Or maybe soup. It was snowing this morning; I may need to try my hand at gluten free knoephla soup again.
WIS: $95.54 @ Sam's Club
WWA:
Saturday: I was feeling under the weather so I defrosted two pounds of ground turkey and made a huge pot of soup - kind of a take on Tuscan soup but I added lots of veggies, onions, garlic and some cheese ravioli. Everyone loved it. I made homemade focaccia to go with it.
Sunday: More soup for us all.
Monday: Clean out the fridge.
Tuesday: Spaghetti and meatballs and leftover focaccia.
Wednesday: Leftover spaghetti for all.
Thursday: baked chicken drumsticks, baked sweet potatoes, pea salad.
Friday: I think we will clean out the fridge again to avoid wasting any leftovers. No one will have meals that all go together but we will all be fed.
Enjoy the weekend ahead everyone!
Totally off topic but I had to thank you for the brilliant idea of putting left over paint in a glass jar.
I painted a closet 2 days ago and the following 2 days I saw places I missed. Just got out my jar of paint and fixed those areas. Easy peasy.
Also I had 4 samples I bought to paint my kitchen, mixed them together and called it good. It is a closet after all.
I had painted my entire house 2x and never thought to do this with leftover paint.
As someone said recently, there is so many little things I now do because of learning about them here from Kristen and the commenters.
Thank everyone!!
112 spent at Kroger pickup. Included Halloween candy for neighborhood trick or treat night ( 16 dollars).
M. Leftover bean soup and cornbread
T. Chicken sandwiches. Pasta salad. Used up lots of odds n ends in pasta salad. Cottage cheese.
W. Cinnamon life cereal ( love it!). Busy night.
Th. Leftover bean soup and a cheese sandwich with mustard.
F. Frozen pizza and bagged salad. Our version of take out.
S. Going to make baked potatoes with many topping choices. With a side salad. All set up like a potato salad bar. Just for fun!
S. Pasta! It will involve asparagus.
@Stephanie, we love a baked potato bar! What are some of your favorite toppings?
How you feel about eggs is how I feel about avocado. Dice one up on a dish and it becomes a meal. I am also extremely blessed that my parents have a mature avocado tree that is putting out POUNDS of avocado's right now. And if anyone has a good way of preserving them, please let me know.
Sunday- workday and I honestly can't remember. I THINK I threw some random odds and ends (the theme of this post) in with some rice, salsa and avocado and called it a burrito bowl
Monday- I had a schedule change, so I came on call at 10pm. I am pretty sure I had an instant pho I keep in my pantry that I added some veggies and edamame to. The instant noodle soups from Korean markets are the best
Tuesday- An artichoke. I know. I had boiled a few that needed to be eaten before I left for rotation and was in the middle of eating in when we got a call. And didn't get back until 2am
Wednesday- Finally got my dim sum fix. And lots of leftovers
Thursday- Pizza night!!
Friday- I have no idea. I am going into LA to take my niece to some kid's temple events for Sukkot and my friends had mentioned celebrating my birthday this week since I am on rotation for my actual day. Or else it's gonna be another odds and ends leftover meal
Saturday- DH and I are seeing Florence and the Machine at the Hollywood Bowl, so I am going to take dinner with us. It is supposed to be LA cold (meaning in rained and is in the 60's), so I might plan for something cozy
@Heather,
Ooh, what a delicious thing to have too much of!!! I don't know for sure because I have never had enough to need it, but apparently Aldi sells diced avocado in the special finds freezer section. I saw it on a grocery video. So, maybe freeze some to use in smoothies, soups or make guacamole?
@Heather, Not a problem I've ever had, but my understanding is that they really only freeze well already mashed.
@Heather,
I have a lot of avocados this week and after I make guacamole tomorrow, I'm planning to reference this article to freeze the rest: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/freezing-avocados-explained
@Heather,
I've actually bought frozen avocado (at Whole Foods, I think) before, peeled and in large (about 1"-1.5") chunks. It worked like fresh once I thawed it. Just thought I'd let you know that.
Made a batch of pumpkin muffin tops for snacks and some pumpkin spice granola( FG clumpy recipe without the brown sugar) I learned on FG how to make my own spice mix. I use garlic, onion, paprika, thyme, and oregano, I sprinkle that on popcorn, eggs, chicken, beans, bowls, vegatables, most everything savory.
By reading all the Friday posts here I've figured how to feed me frugally. I pretty much don't make recipes anymore, I don't like eating the same thing every day for a week or freezing it. Except soup, I freeze soup. I eat a lot of bowls, what used to be called just a plate of food, with protein and vegetables. And I cut up and freeze rotisserie chicken the day I bring it home to use in bowls, tacos, taquitos, salads..I get frozen hamburger patties and make them into chili, taco meat, soup or a burger. I only buy fresh produce if I'm sure I can eat it before it goes bad, otherwise I have frozen, like broccoli. eating good in the neighborhood
We were at a cabin at a state park Saturday and Sunday...
Saturday: Hot dogs and brats over the fire, macaroni and cheese, and s'mores
Sunday: Foil dinners (ground beef, peas, green beans, summer squash, potatoes, onions, and carrots). We made caramel apples and s'mores for dessert.
Monday: We got home in time to make pizza!
Tuesday: Chicken sandwiches, hot dogs for those who don't like chicken sandwiches, slices of orange pepper, and chips with dip
Wednesday: Chili and cornbread
Thursday: Inspired by Kristen's menu last week, I made her stuffed shells and we had peas on the side. All 3 kids liked them!! Whoo hoooooo!!!
Friday: I have a bag of broccoli slaw that I didn't know what to do with, but apparently you can make stir fry with it. So that's my plan!
Sunday: Tagine chicken. My daughter read about tagine in a library picture book a while ago, and has been curious about it ever since. It was good!
Monday: Kristen's Korean beef lettuce wraps. One of our favorites 🙂
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: Daughter's choice which meant mac and cheese
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: I'm going to a friend's for dinner, I'm in charge of bringing dessert. I asked for ideas in the FG facebook group, and got lots of great options!
Saturday: Leftovers to clear out the fridge.
Monday-anniversary dinner out-sauerbraten, cabbage, potatoes with gravy
Tuesday-salad with chicken on top
Wednesday-salad with chicken on top
Thursday-eggs, bacon, toast
Tonight will beef goulash
Tomorrow morning I’ll be making bacon quiche for a grandson visit ( brunch-time?). We’ll get a few meals out of the quiche along with fruit and/or salad.
Saturday: chicken and noodles, green salad
Sunday: Pork Roast green beans and scalloped potatoes
Monday: Asian Cabbage Salad with sliced Pork Roast
Tuesday: Leftover Asian Cabbage Salad made into stir-fry with
extra freezer veggies.
Wednesday: Grilled steak sandwiches and chopped salad
Thursday: Fresh Chinook Salmon and cauliflower rice and peas
Friday: Freezer Soup and homemade bread a.k.a. night off!
I was out of town over the weekend, and I know the kids got fed, but I'm not sure what. Other meals
-Chicken & rice
-Burgers
-Tacos
-We picked up Chipotle, as the request of the newly licensed driver. He requested that, and chocolates. 🙂
As for tonight, my 15 year old will be at the football game, having concession stand dinner. I'll likely have a taco salad, and make a bacon wrapped chicken dish for my husband & 16 year old. Plus, green beans. The teen loves green beans.
I had the worst week ever and I wasn't going to comment but I decided I should because sometimes the bad weeks can be learned from.... well, that's what I am hoping.
It was Canadian Thanksgiving last weekend and DD#1 came home for the long weekend, she actually came a day early because she had a medical appointment on the Friday that she's waited a long time for and didn't want to miss (she lives in Toronto now, 2.5 hours away if the traffic cooperates). I had a lovely menu ready for the weekend and coming week but admittedly was just getting off chemo on Thursday evening. Sooo, here it goes, I'm sort of embarrassed. I will share that my 15 yo is having a hard time right now and that it was her moods and behaviour and general upset that resulted in a complete lack of energy for me over the weekend.
Friday - frozen pizza and green salad (planned - honey garlic chicken wings and salad)
Saturday - frozen lasagna and salad (planned - Indonesian pork in slow cooker, rice and green beans)
Sunday - family turkey dinner at my parents (we all bring something that my Mum tells us to bring and it's quite the feast now with 29 of us) . At least this was planned, we brought a fresh veggie and dip platter (all by me) and a pumpkin pie (thank you local bakery).
Monday - DD#1 returned to the city which left 15 yo and I and we just had some leftovers from the week before. Planned - chicken alfredo, broccoli.
Tuesday - DD#2 had double header field hockey games in town and I went to watch and we went out to one of her favourite restaurants afterwards. It gave us some time to re-connect and talk about things. Plus to this is she won't yell at me in public, lol. I don't regret it one bit. Eating out in Canada is much more expensive than the US, the final bill with tip was $70 and not a fancy place at all. Planned - taco Tuesday.
Wednesday - DD#2 stayed after school for practice and then to study with a friend, picked her up at 6 pm and she was hangry! Given the weekend drama I needed to feed her fast. McD drive through for her to soothe the savage beast. I had chicken korma and rice from the freezer and some raw veggies on the side. She did have a big bowl of cantelope when she got home as well. Planned - chicken burgers, fries and fruit.
Thursday - This is where I get really bad with no excuse, Little Caesars pizza for my girl. I had turkey soup my Mum brought me and a turkey sandwich. She had some blueberries on the side and I had some grapes. Planned - shepherd's pie and cauliflower
In the composter - some green beans and a head of broccoli, some very wilty salad and sweet peppers. In the garbage - 2 chicken breasts, a small piece of pork tenderloin. I wasn't even on my game for leftover lunches.
Like I said, an all around terrible week, aside from the obvious waste I didn't spend that much other than the one dinner out. I just did not do well. Hoping this week is better!
@Leann,
I’m sorry things are rough. Sometimes just getting through it is all you can do especially when dealing with moody teenagers and chemo. Wishing you peace and good health!
@Bee, Thanks Bee! You know writing it all down made me realize it wasn't as bad as I felt it was, both from a financial and nutritional perspective. A lot of the planned meals never made it out of the freezer, like the chicken wings, pork tenderloin. And the wasted meat was minimal although really did kill me to throw out. I'll do better this coming week, I'm sure.
@Leann, Just sending hugs...I have
five children and four are teens right now and someday my goal is just keep my head above water! 😉
I think you did a fantastic job surviving your week. Hoping your next week is better.
@Leann,
Chiming in to say you are totally rocking all this life comes at you way too fast business! I think your week sounds like a smashing success considering all the pivots you needed to make. You should go to sleep knowing that you are doing an awesome job!
@Leann, I would say that you are knocking it out of the park. Most would be fully challenged by either cancer treatment or a teenage daughter, let alone both.
Oh, I wish I could give you a hug. You are dealing with so much right now, and I echo other readers in saying that you are doing a great job.
Parenting teens is hard in a WHOLE different way than parenting small children is. And honestly, I have often found it more exhausting. You are not alone. Much love to you!
I have Noticed a change in everyone’s menus as the seasons change. I find this quite inspiring. Food is the last thing on my mind right now, so I find myself in front of the refrigerator at 6:30 wondering what’s for dinner. I have eaten a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches. Maybe I’ll do better next week.
Finally made it to the grocery store after 2 weeks of covid for my husband and me (although our son did a $94 run part way through our illnesses to help out). Giant $122, Aldi $29.
I must say, I'm really enjoying people being old enough to get their own breakfasts & lunches! And my husband works from home often so he's on his own, too.
Sunday: roast chicken (no skin/a drizzle of olive oil, sprinkle of salt & pepper, & thyme), taters (mashed made with ff milk/olive oil drizzle, s&p--don't tell the guys :), homemade gravy (liquid from the chicken/fat free milk/flour), baked carrots, & green beans because I was shopping early Sunday morning and they had chickens on sale so I got a $13 bird for $7--reason enough to change my grocery list and weekly meal plan! Amazingly, four of us were home to enjoy dinner fresh that evening without either son working late shift.
Monday: leftovers!
Tuesday: quesadillas made with some of the chicken, a can of black beans & a bit of onion & spices, & some cheese. My quesadilla was potato (I'd hoped I had a sweet potato, but no dice, so needs must), black beans, and diced orange pepper sans cheese because I don't have a gallbladder and avoid bad fats with a vengeance (something about two visits to the ER with 1.5 weeks in the hospital changed my eating habits really quickly!!!) Also, rosacea puts a new light on ingredients (no: chocolate, citrus, hot spices, garlic, carbonation, sharp cheese, hot foods & beverages, hot bathing, summer heat is really tough, too. Also, supposedly coffee, tea, & coke, but I'm absolutely not willing to give up tea!)
Wednesday: I had oral surgery and told the guys that they were on their own. They had frozen pizza and salads. I went to bed.
Thursday: Oh wait! there's still chicken--this was a BIG bird 🙂 Enough to make a hot chicken sandwich with gravy & taters for my husband; chicken with rice & soy sauce with orange bell pepper on the side for one son; the other son ate with his girlfriend; I had rice, bell pepper, yogurt, and tea.
Friday: making black bean burgers with spinach & pepper slices on potato buns that my son found on sale for .41/pack! (love a well-trained son!), apple slices (applesauce for me with my surgery), carrot sticks, and yogurts.
Shaw's $50.42
Aldi $13.37
Trucchi's $10.50
Friday: Salad with leftovers in the 'fridge and eggs from daughter's chickens
Saturday: Pizza, salad. It was our anniversary weekend, and I wanted to go to lunch. As we were heading out, my husband didn't feel up to it, so I went with my sister-in-law for anniversaries--she and my brother had been married the same weekend 10 years before my husband and I. I brought the leftover home for my husband for dinner.
Sunday: Anniversary Dinner--Strip steak, roasted potatoes, squash.
Monday: Pot roast with potatoes and carrots.
Tuesday: Worked. It was nice to have leftovers.
Wednesday: Sausage patties, eggs, and English muffins.
Thursday: I had the sandwiches this week--Tuna Fish with leftover vegetables .
Friday: Clam chowder.
We bought a new refrigerator in June/July. I need the repair technician already. The gasket on the 'fridge door started flopping around, more recently the freezer gasket is flopping around, and I think because of this when the 'fridge door is closed, the freezer door pops so that it is not sealed and causing it to run a lot and frost over. The joys of getting the product made just before lunch or the end of the day? (lol)
Saturday - leftover Thai food from daughter’s birthday dinner
Sunday - scallop appetizer, sirloin Oscar, veggies, fries, and creme brûlée for our anniversary dinner at fancy-ish restaurant
Monday - thanksgiving turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, mashed squash & carrots, gravy, pickles, pumpkin pie
Tuesday - leftover turkey, etc
Wednesday - cabbage roll skillet
Thursday - more leftover turkey, etc
Friday - falafels, pita, tomatoe & cucumber salad, tahini lime sauce
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend
Sunday-Western Ribs in the crockpot. It was a crazy weekend so I was focused on having some protein and everyone just helped themselves to main and sides from fridge/bread.
Monday-Skyline Chili night- spaghetti noodles, hot dogs cooked in the canned sauce
Tuesday-My husband ate something leftover before we left for volleyball.. I ate pepperoni rolls at the game
Wednesday-"white people taco night" as the TikTok videos call it- seasoned ground beef , seasoned black beans, lettuce , tomatoes, cheese. I tossed a pack of flour tortillas on the table, a bag of tortilla chips and the container of queso I pick up at the local restaurant to round out my craving.
Thursday- tossed a small pork shoulder in the crock pot and defatted/shredded it after work. I had pulled brioche buns from the freezer but no one really used those. It was grab and eat what you want before parents left to watch her last volleyball match...
(I airfried the last of a bag of tots and ate mine all from a bowl)
Friday-grilled hamburgers to go with leftover buns, served with oven roasted mini potatoes and iceburg lettuce salad. Made apple butterscotch bars while the oven was already running
Volleyball season is over.. Tournaments will only last a short while.. I need to figure out how to cook daily again! I love reading all of the meals, hoping to add new things to the rotation for variety while dealing with so much price increase!
Been reading your blog for at least 10 years. I am a retired Nurse and I have especially enjoyed (and still enjoy!) watching you prepare for your career in nursing.I think you have all the qualities to make such an incredible nurse! I wish it didn’t take so long to get that education,as it does nowadays..when I attended school it was a 2 year VERY intense community college program, no prereqs— you took all the classes during the same semesters as your nursing and clinical.. hard, but so worth it..and then, you graduate and GET A JOB! Kudos to you.I also went back AFTER my son was in school.. he was 9 and I was 29. The best students in my class were the posse of us “moms”— women who were back in school after our kids were a bit grown.. and for some of us,second careers. Everyone went on to wonderful happy careers in Nursing..Of course I still also love all the frugality tips and ESPECIALLY the kindness and fortitude which your blog and YOU model for us..I have had some tough family illnesses since 2020 and reading your blog lifts my Spirit.
What in the world is potato tacos? I have never heard of this??? Thanks.
Karen Parlier