WIS, WWA | And I'm off to NH
I haven't been on a plane since early 2020, but today I'm heading out for a bridesmaids weekend in New Hampshire.
It's going to be so weird to travel again, but I am excited!
What I Spent
You know how last week I was all, "Hmm, we haven't been spending much on groceries lately!"?
Well, the low spending came to a screeching halt this week because we spent $218, which included a fairly big trip to Aldi.
And I'm adding in $47 for takeout, bringing our total food spending to $265.
May Grocery Spending
Week 1: $98
Week 2: $106
Week 3: $124.50
Week 4: $265
Still, I averaged $148/week for the month, so it all levels out.
(On average, I spend about $150/week over the course of a year.)
What We Ate
Saturday
The girls fended for themselves; Mr. FG and I had a date night at a locally owned seafood place.
(We have a separate budget item for date nights, which is why I don't add that to my grocery budget.)
Sunday
The girls were all out at dinnertime, so in between dropping off and picking up Sonia and Zoe, Mr. FG and I popped into Mod Pizza and ate dinner there ($21).
Lucky me; two dinners out in a row!
Monday
I had a super late lunch, which meant I wasn't remotely hungry at dinnertime.
And Sonia was very hungry when she came home from her first training shift, so we picked up chicken nuggets for them, a request from Sonia ($26).
I ate a fried egg and some toast later that night when I got hungry.
Tuesday
I made chicken tacos on corn tortillas.
Wednesday
Sonia was not here for dinner, so I thought I should make something with cheese in it. And since I do not think two days in a row is too much Tex-Mex, I made chicken quesadillas.
Sonia had a grilled ham sandwich when she got home from work at 10 pm! It's a little like a grilled cheese sandwich, but it just has chipotle mayo and deli ham in it since Sonia can't have cheese.
Thursday
I had some scallops in the freezer, so I sautéed those and put them on top of a green salad (chicken instead for Zoe) and made these garlic breadsticks.
Friday
I'm out for the next few nights, so it's up to Mr. FG and the girls to decide what they will be eating in my absence!
OOoh scallops - I need to have those soon. This week has been an adjustment for us, but that didn't stop us from eating:
Monday - Easiest Italian Chicken (made with with potatoes and a bag of frozen Italian veggies) {starting a new schedule today}
Tuesday - Cod filets, mac and cheese, fresh green beans
Wednesday - (freezer) Pinto Bean Soup, lo-salt Fritos
Thursday - Grilled Pork Burger with sliced cheese, tomato and purple onion, sweet potato fries
Tonight - we are eating out at our favorite Mexican place in Burnet, Texas
Saturday - I'm going to make taco spaghetti and serve fresh green beans with it
Sunday - Seeing my youngest in his college town for dinner
I am so looking forward to the weekend and it will go by fast!
A trip! With friends! Yay! Have you seen "Shag"? It's about four girl friends who go to the beach for a week together, and there's a phrase in it that I think would be appropriate for you, "I hope you have the MOST fun!"
Our food this week wasn't the most fun, but we ate.
Saturday: Beef stew meat cooked with green garlic puree and pressure-canned chicken stock, then I added some frozen basil pesto and asadero cheese (like mozzarella) and it was really good. Also gralic bread, roasted peppers and onions, and still-frozen green peas
Sunday: Roasted chicken pieces, bread and butter, curried cauliflower/green beans/peas, sprouting broccoli from the garden, crispy rice treats and brownies leftover from end-of-school events
Monday: Leftover stewed beef, bread and butter, leftover baked beans, frozen green peas
Tuesday: I used the leftover chicken to make a skillet dish with leftover peppers and onions, a marinara sauce, and asadero cheese for me and my husband. I chopped some of the chicken up and mixed it with the sauce and pasta for the kids. There were some lamb's quarters in there, because my children brought them to me. We all had a green salad with more lamb's quarters, too, and ranch dressing. And a pomegranate after dinner. Made a huge mess, but the kids loved it.
Wednesday: Tacos made with beef stew meat (I discovered a LOT of packages of stew meat in my freezer, and no ground beef, so I guess this is the Summer of Stew), pinto beans, carrot sticks with ranch dip
Thursday: Breakfast sausage patties, curried split peas, rice, green salad with ranch dressing
Tonight: I have quite a bit of the taco meat left. Also the split peas. I have some potatoes to use up, too, and more lettuce (YAY GARDEN LETTUCE). We'll see what happens. 🙂
I have never used green garlic. Is it milder or more intense in flavor? I wondered this last week when you mentioned it.
It has quite a bite when it's raw, but it's mild as soon as it's cooked for a minute.
It took me a few seconds to remember that Lamb's quarters are not limbs but a type of wild veg -- I think? Your food always sounds fun 😉
Ha, yes. Given my typical menus, I should have clarified that my children did not find parts of an actual lamb in the pasture---which is not an impossibility. 🙂 Lamb's quarters is a wild green similar to spinach.
We put nothing past the Going Country family. lol
This week was a random week of mish mash for us as there were graduation luncheons, dr's appointments, graduation party errands & tasks, and of course work and the usual weekly tasks.
Sunday...I made a copycat version of California Pizza Kitchen's BBQ Chicken Salad using fresh basil & cilantro from the garden. I fried some leftover corn tortillas to top our salads with and served fresh cut fruit alongside.
Monday...We ate salad leftovers for dinner along with rice, baked beans, and corn.
Tuesday...ongoing HVAC issues resulted in a takeout pizza being consumed in an 85 degree house.
Wednesday...a hotdog for my son along with some fresh pineapple. The rest of us had corned beef sandwiches on whole wheat bread and fruit on the side after completing so much yard work we could barely stand.
Thursday...I made Spanish rice with chicken and beans. Since the chicken in the rice was not a large amount we picked up a few pieces of fried chicken - a super rare treat - and everyone had fresh fruit with their meal.
Friday...my niece's graduation ceremony is this evening and we have to be in the stadium by 430 so I am sure there will be some kind of takeout that we will eat while waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Enjoy the weekend everyone - so glad to see this Memorial Day look so different than last year's! 🙂
I hope you have a great weekend!
I spent approximately $110 this week. This included my small farm share. I also stocked on some sale items such as my favorite olive oil, and I was out of more expensive things like honey.
This is what we ate:
Saturday- Leftover chicken and rice with sliced cucumber and raw carrots. I was hot and tired after participating as a vendor in the local vintage flea market.
Sunday- We attended a birthday party, so no cooking!
Monday - Homemade Sloppy Joe’s I found the recipe in a vintage cookbook. It was excellent. We also ate corn on the cob and steamed broccoli
Tuesday - Baked chicken breast with fried rice. I put the leftover broccoli in the rice
Wednesday - sautéed ginger garlic shrimp over jasmine rice and a side salad with berries
Thursday - Spaghetti with meat sauce. I had mine over spaghetti squash.
Friday - I haven’t decided yet. I will probably make Mediterranean style fish and salad also a carb for my husband.
Sunday: cannot remember
Monday: Grill packs in aluminum foil: red onion, green and red pepper, sliced up chicken Italian sausage and 1 pesto ice cube ( I make them in the late summer with my home grown basil). DELISH salad on the side
Tuesday: Grilled porkchops, air fryer asparagus, left over salad
Wednesday: Dominos thin crust Greek veggie pizza ( !!!) , homemade cabbage and radish slaw
Thursday: Grilled chicken with air fryer french fries
Friday: Salad bar: leftover grilled chicken diced, homegrown bibb lettuce, almonds, cucs, red onion, parm cheese, cheddar cheese, sunflower seeds, craisins, tomatoes, pick your choices with hummus and gluten free crackers
Sunday: Grilled burgers, chips and fruit, which used up the last of the many packages of ground beef in the freezer. I will continue to buy ground beef from this farm because it is excellent but I will now pay a little more only buy at most 25 lbs at a time. 50 lbs is too much, it takes up too much freezer space, etc. Even though 50 lbs is cheaper per pound, I will buy in smaller increments from now on.
Monday: Marinated flank steak, little baked potatoes, grilled asparagus. My friend gave me a bag of small russet potatoes that I baked and my family enjoyed them and thought having mini baked potatoes was fun.
Tuesday: Stir fry with lots of veggies and a little ground pork, rice and edamame.
Wednesday: Panini sandwiches and salad. I took everything out of the fridge that might be good in a panini and everyone made their own.
Thursday: We got take out pizza before my daughter's band and chorus concert. They performed in the school parking lot and it was so nice to hear them play, although it was very cold out.
Friday: We usually get take out on Friday but since we got pizza yesterday, we will not. My kids have been asking for homemade mac and cheese. If we have the ingredients in the house, I will make that, we have everything but maybe not enough cheddar cheese. If not, I know we have ravioli and I will make pink sauce for it.
Saturday: We are meeting friends at a sandwich shop and will eat our sandwiches in the park. One friend is bringing chips, another is bringing cookies and I am going to bring carrot sticks, celery sticks, etc.
Sunday: We are going out to dinner at an Italian place with an outdoor patio to celebrate my mom's 71st birthday.
Monday/Memorial Day: We will grill something probably!
WWS: $64; WWA:
Sat: homemade Italian grinders; salad
Sun: Greek grilled shrimp, halloumi, zucchini & sun-dried tomatoes
Mon: grilled salmon & grilled cauliflower wedges with herb tarator (epicurious); Greek salad (no lettuce)
Tue: leftovers for me; partner made shrimp boil & Andouille sausage
Wed: socca (Davidlebovitz.com) topped with arugula, radishes, prosciutto & goat cheese
Thurs: Larb (wokoflife); sautéed broccoli; cucumbers with miso dressing
Fri: "Bean confit with lemon, saffron, and all the alliums" (bonappetite.com); focaccia; arugula salad
I love "confit with lemon, saffron, and all the alliums" Sounds like "Empress of all the Russias."
I will now plan to put on some Tchaikovsky while eating, and start icing down the vodka!
I hadn't done a proper grocery shopping for, um, a couple months, at least — just little dibs and dabs here and there, and meat from the freezer. Made it up this week — 547.43. Thank heavens that's completely out of the ordinary.
It's also VBS week, so for the one week a year I try to think ahead (ha), I had a noon meal plan: Sloppy joes, hamburgers, pot roast in the crock pot, leftovers, chili.
Wow...I still teach here in VA until June 18! Where do you live that it is VBS time?
We're in Nebraska! Our school year runs about Aug. 15 to about May 15 every year. We wedge our VBS into the week between the end of school and the beginning of (most) summer sports to try to get as many kids as we can. And, I applaud this tactic bc in a town of 750 we get about 110 kids and about 75 adults and teens. It's pretty fantastic. 😉
We spent, if I remember correctly, $92 on groceries, which was all people food. This included stocking up on some canned goods, as we had run through all the tomato products in the pantry.
Sunday night family supper was pancakes, eggs, bacon and applesauce. Weeknight suppers were roast chicken and salad. My weekday lunches were leftovers from our Saturday Chinese takeout lunch and leftover beef soup from last week that had been frozen in lunch size portions.
Have fun on your trip!
Saturday - BLT's, corn on the cob, baked beans
Sunday - We had another family over and had pizza, strawberries, and ice cream. Their kindergarten boy told me it was the best pizza he's ever had, which warmed my heart.
Monday - Cheeseburgers, grilled asparagus, broccoli with cheese, and more strawberries
Tuesday - BBQ chicken leg quarters, potato salad, zucchini
Wednesday - Summer vegetarian chili (which was a new recipe - way too spicy for most of my family, but I may make it again with the spice cut in half) and cornbread
Thursday - I had a girls night with my 7yo! I had a coupon for $5 off $15 from Panera and since I've heard you talk about their app, I downloaded the app to order. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my coupon along and couldn't remember the code! So I didn't get my $5 off, but we did enjoy a free cookie. Everyone at home had chicken nuggets.
Friday - I've got a ham from the freezer from Easter and we'll have potatoes and asparagus with it. It's cold here today (a 40 degree drop from Tuesday), so this is a perfect night for it.
NH should be so lovely right now -- enjoy!
Saturday -- Beef Hamburgers, salad
Sunday -- Fail -- Pollo Loco takeout. Used a 5$ off but still.
Monday --Hamburger leftovers, salad
Tuesday - BBQ chicken wings, big salad
Wednesday -- H. had discounted frozen chicken nuggets, salad and I had scrambled egg and discounted sausages, salad, oranges.
Thursday-- Big salad, chicken breast nuked
Friday -- the weekend and treat day -- have a wonderful long weekend all!
Saturday - I have no idea...
Sunday - Stuffed Shells, Salad, garlic bread, blistered shishito peppers, fingerling potatoes and fruit
Monday - Indian flatbread, veggies and fruit
Tuesday - Taquitos, fruit, sugar snap peas
Wednesday - Take out. But at least everyone ate something relatively healthy.
Thursday - Burrito bowls w/ Field Roast Chipotle sausage, black beans, rice, avocados, salsa, etc.
Friday - Going to a friend's house for dinner. But since we're bringing dessert, i know there will be cake 🙂
A trip on a plane sounds soooo nice! Have a great time!
I'm all off...I forgot today was Friday.
Saturday) We had a few family members over for a belated family party for my daughter's birthday--- we ordered pizza and wings, and I made a huge veggie tray, along with chips and pretzels.
Sunday) leftover pizza and veggies
Monday) For the life of me I can't recall Monday.
Tuesday) Pioneer Woman's overnight french toast casserole, applesauce
Wednesday) Leftovers from Tuesday
Thursday) Potato soup in the crockpot, muffins
Friday) Today was busy. Some of us had leftover french toast casserole, some had potato soup. Apple slices and grapes on the side.
Totally off topic, random observation...
I've lived out west too long apparently, because it surprised me that you were flying instead of driving to New Hampshire (not that I know exactly where you live) -- it often takes longer for us to fly than to just drive, particularly when flying from one rural area to another (and more peaceful driving past cows for 10 hours than getting a pat down from the TSA agent).
Anyway, have a great trip!!
I live in the same state (or close to it) as the frugal girl. It takes me about 10-14 hours to get to New Hampshire if we drive. It takes me about 1 hour to fly there. Plus the 1-2 hours to drive to a good airport. Plus the 2 hours waiting at the airport. But I’d rather sit and read a book and wait than be driving. 🙂
Yeah, for just a weekend trip it's an awfully long drive! And the fewer passengers you have, the less sense it makes to drive; for just one person, a flight starts to make financial sense. Plus we had Southwest credit card points to get the flight for free.
Nice -- Love when the flight is free!
If Sonia isn't allergic to nuts, there are some fairly decent plants based cheeses out there, made with cashews or almonds. They don't melt exactly the same as real cheese, but they aren't bad.
We got off the takeout train!
Monday: Hot and sour soup with homemade broth from the freezer.
Tuesday: Tortellini and tomato sauce.
Wednesday: Veggie and tofu stir-fry with rice.
Thursday: Salmon with green beans, salad, and rice
Friday: Leftover salmon with salad and fries
It felt very, very nice not to get takeout this week. Although one senior doctor did buy me a breakfast sandwich as an apology for getting me confused with someone else and phoning me VERY early in the morning.
I like it better when takeout is a treat. Anyway, I'm on vacation next week so I can replenish our freezer with easy dinners. Hurrah!
Rigatony with sliced olives in the home made sauce from freezer.Salad
Fish Curry over rice with palak paneer and applesauce. From frozen aisle of Trader Joe. Like going out to eat,except cheaper and no driving!! Always keep a few fun entrees in the freezer for the two of us. Saves so much take out money!
Lasagna and salad
Chicken Shawerma, rice, asparagus,tzatziki.The Shawerma meat that i toss on the grill makes TWO meals for us.I freeze half and slice the other half to serve right away.
Turkey and havarti sandwiches with applesauce.. feeling lazy and not very hungry.
Some things at TJ's actually taste as good or better than eating out 😉
- Vegetarian meatball hoagies
- Salad sampler: potato salad, corn-bean salad and marinated tofu
- Popcorn and fruit
- Bang bang cauliflower
- Beet sliders with avocado, goat cheese and lettuce
- No-cook spinach-artichoke dip with leftover French bread
Dear Kristin,
This is out of place but I need to tell you that Craig's mother died early this morning, June 1st, She was in a caring and loving hospice in El Paso and the daughter who lives there and Craig's eldest sister, who had come down the day before, were both with her at her end.
I have several letters to write and will be tuning out for a couple of days but I will be back to answer questions.
Take care, Erika W.
I am so sorry to hear this. Much love to you and Craig!
Saturday - Pasta, Garlic bread, brussel sprouts and strawberries (we picked the brussel sprouts and strawberries ourselves from a nearby farm that afternoon!)
Sunday - Veggie burgers, corn on the cob, french fries, fresh fruit, mom's baklava
Monday - I think I made ravioli for my youngest but can't remember what the rest of us had
Tuesday - Quesadillas, green beans, carrots, and fruit
Wednesday - Bibimbap-type bowls (sticky rice, pickled cucumbers, kimchi spiced cucumbers, green onions, pickled plum, carrots, tempeh, sauteed baby bok choy, mushrooms)
Thursday - Went out to dinner to celebrate the last day of school. There were churros involved!
Friday - might hit the easy button and do breakfast for dinner.