WIS, WWA | can't stop, won't stop
I did sort of continue my breakfast-for-dinner-after-work streak. I mean, I had relatively substantial lunches:
But after work, speed is the name of the game. The main mission: get to bed on time.
What I Spent
I spent:
- $10 at Giant
- $30 on a Hungry Harvest box
- $46 at Safeway
So, for this week, I'm clocking in at $86.
What We Ate
Saturday
I had some leftover rice in the fridge, so I cooked some shrimp, added some other stuff from my fridge, and made a sort of burrito bowl for myself, with some sauteed broccoli on the side.
Sunday
After my Easter work shift, I made a smoothie with spinach, ate some Cheerios, and called it good. This is possible the most non-traditional thing I have ever eaten on Easter. Ahahaha.
Monday
I had a bowl of yogurt with fruit and chia seeds.
Tuesday
After work, I made another smoothie.
Wednesday
A day off! I cooked some tilapia filets and served them with mashed potatoes and sauteed broccoli.
Thursday
I grilled some burgers and used my last few potatoes to make some potato cubes.
Friday
I will honestly probably opt for some takeout!
Or pancakes. That's always an option.
You are so good at getting to bed on time! I'm constantly trying to avoid the 'revenge bedtime' trap. I hate knowing that going to bed is the end of my free time before work the next day...but I also hate being exhausted.
My eats:
Saturday: Veggie burgers with mashed potatoes and peas.
Sunday: We had a roast dinner at lunchtime for Easter/my dad's birthday, so I didn't eat an evening meal. I had a toasted cheese sandwich at teatime.
Monday: This was the day I travelled back. I had a toasted sandwich at the airport but my flight was delayed, so I didn't have the energy to make dinner when I got in. I toasted some crumpets I brought back from England, watched Scrubs and went to bed!
Tuesday: Burritos, mixed veg, brown rice and sauce. I had crackers with hummus and avocado on the side.
Wednesday: Potato and spinach frittata and garlic bread. I had crackers with cream cheese and cucumber on the side.
Thursday: Spinach and cream cheese with onion and garlic over pasta. I had crackers with cream cheese and avocado on the side.
Friday: I have no idea. Possibly a baked sweet potato.
I just feel so tired at night, I can’t bring myself to stay up. That’s especially true in the midst of a strong of shifts. I sit down at my kitchen table when I come home and the exhaustion hits me!
Very understandable! My job is less tiring and the latest I get home is usually six, assuming I'm not doing anything after work, so it's easy for me to stay up.
I think about when I was in my early 20’s & worked 12 hr shifts. We would sometimes go out afterwards on weekends to the clubs- not necessarily to drink, but to dance. Can you even with dancing after a 12 hr shift?!?! Lol. Ah, youth
Not as impressive as after a twelve hour shift, but I remember going out at midnight with some friends in our early twenties and coming home at five or six am. That's on my list of things I would least like to do now. To quote JD from Scrubs, 'midnight at night? I'm out!'
In my 20s, some of my most fun memories is coming home from the bars at sunrise, which was not too hard considering I lived far north where the sunrise happened very early in the summer 😉
It was a strange feeling exiting the bar and it being light, when it had been dark when we went inside.
Could be fun to try it again, but skipping the bar part perhaps.
Kristina, I like bars, but I don't like music so loud I can't hear myself think!
At one time I worked 3rd shift (which I loved). I'd get up around 8 am Monday morning and not go to bed Tuesday morning 8 am.
I still end up working odd shifts like 10 pm to 6 am. I get up by 2 pm and go to bed at my normal time. Plus I'm on-call - which has pretty much been every day for the last year. Thankfully my team doesn't get many calls and fingers crossed my new co-worker continues to pick up on things.
I spent 50.00 this week, my partner spent I think 200 at Costco on treats, and household items like toilet paper, garbage bags, etc
Saturday - I think we had fish, salad and asparagus
Sunday - turkey dinner, turkey, mashed potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts, dressing, gravy.
Monday - we are a late lunch at a restaurant ( he paid). I had a coffee at around 6, the girls ate ice cream.
Tuesday - we all are Kraft dinner at around 6, I made a turkey hash for everyone else later and I went to bed while they ate. ( I had a rough day and put myself to bed around 8).
Wednesday - pasta with mushrooms, broccoli and the last of the turkey
Thursday - we had Indian... And every one has leftovers for today! ( He paid).
Tonight? I'm thinking maybe a tofu stir-fry or nachos with black beans and sweet potato topping.
One year on Easter my mom was in the hospital (hundreds of miles away) so I had a McDonald's Southwest Chicken Salad since restaurants were closed where she lived.
This year we ate at a Persian restaurant (kabobs for us) though we contemplated going to a Mexican restaurant.
I think throughout most of human history you ate whatever you were able to obtain.
Saturday: One package of Italian sausage, one package of jalepeno/cheddar sausage, leftover pasta with chicken, some fried potatoes because there wasn't enough pasta, and collard greens or still-frozen green beans.
Sunday: Of course we had our own lamb for Easter dinner. I made pita bread so we could make it into gyros, which naturally required making tzatziki sauce and hummus as well. I also made roasted potatoes and green peas with mint. Desserts were strawberry-rhubarb pie, brownies, vanilla ice cream, and baked custard.
Monday: Leftover lamb, mashed potatoes, leftover peas, leftover brownies
Tuesday: Leftover baked beans over rice, and ice cream to celebrate my daughter making her first confession
Wednesday: Salisbury steaks with milk gravy, leftover mashed potatoes or rice, and the first asparagus from the garden, yay!
Thursday: Breakfast sausage patties or leftover Salisbury steak, leftover baked beans, garlic bread, more asparagus, raw bell peppers for the misguided children who don't appreciate asparagus
Tonight: My daughter has been asking for tuna patties, so I'll make those, fried potatoes, and more asparagus. Probably still-frozen green beans for the children.
Happy Friday, everyone! We spent $105 -- $43 at Trader Joe's, $32 at Seward Co-op, and $30 at Aldi.
- Salad (mixed greens, edamame, radishes, homemade croutons, homemade vinaigrette)
- Marry Me Chickpeas
- Fried egg on roasted vegetables made with seven-spice seasoning
- Edamame and mushroom risotto
- Wild rice soup
- Eggplant parmesan (x2)
I can never remember what we ate on Saturday, so I will start on Sunday as usual.
-Easter Sunday: Lamb, softboiled eggs, large butter beans in vegetable broth gravy, hasselbacka potatoes and steamed asparagus.
-Monday: Pasta with the leftover beans, lamb and asparagus in grilled form
-Tuesday: We went out to see a live show and had tacos for dinner in a restaurant nearby
-Wednesday: Oven slow-cooked chicken (tofu for me) on a bed of veggies and small potatoes slow-cooked in a broth. Rest of the beans we had soaked and preboiled for Easter were also used.
-Thursday: Pasta with homemade ricotta meatballs (veggie version for me) in a tomato sauce. Grilled brussel sprouts.
-Friday: I will make a lemon-basil pasta salad for a potluck dinner with friends.
WIS: $27 each at Price Chopper and Aldi.
WIA: My best effort this week was the chicken and vegetable soup I made with the last of the .99/lb. chicken I bought at Price Chopper, plus assorted veg and two tubs of frozen chicken stock that needed to be used up. The Bestest Neighbors gave it two thumbs up.
WIS: $78 Aldi, $23 Uncle Julio's
WIA:
Saturday: Mac and cheese with carrots, broccoli and cauliflower
Sunday: Lunch at Uncle Julio's. I ordered a combination platter: taco, tamale and enchilada. Beans on the side. Also chips and salsa.
Monday: Mexican casserole assembled from doggy bag.
Tuesday: Tuna salad sandwich, pear
Wednesday: Tuna melt, pear
Thursday: Nachos, celery
Today: I'm going to Sam's, so I will probably get a rotisserie chicken, have the drumsticks with mashed potatoes and maybe peas or carrots.
Even though your meals are scrappy after work shifts, you do a good job getting in solid nutritional choices. Well done.
-I made a cauliflower rice/rotisserie chicken Mexican inspired dish. I'm trying to do a freezer clean out & those were the items I wanted to use up. We had that 2x.
-DH made burgers & we had those with potato salad, x2
-DH had salmon & I had a glass of wine on a night where I ate a late lunch & .. it was just a day.
-I have zero recollection of the other meal we ate this week.
As for tonight: our go to on days when we don't really have a plan is gyozas (pot stickers, if you will) + chicken wings or grilled chicken from the freezer. I'll see what DH feels like.
Friday: Omakase Sushi – my husband was excited to indulge in sushi for his birthday and he was excited to share an omakase experience with my son since we were in New York for Spring Break. It was a very fun night and it was some of the best sushi we’ve ever had.
Saturday: We enjoyed pasta at an Italian restaurant to put a cherry on the top of a very fun trip.
Sunday: My mom made Easter dinner – Cornish game hens, green bean casserole, wild rice pilaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, green salad, rolls, and angel food cake.
Monday: Chicken cabbage soup, toasted sourdough
Tuesday: Lemon Chicken and Brown Rice Pilaf, green salad
Wednesday: Bahn Mi Rice Bowls
Thursday: Cheesy Taco Chili Mac
WIS: $63.79, a third of which ($22.11) was for some Wild Caught Alaska Sockeye Salmon fillets (skin on) because I found a New York Times recipe I wanted to try. So that explains/excuses? how I exceeded my normal weekly food budget of $40-$45.
WIA: Lemon Butter Salmon With Dill (a New York Times recipe) with pickled Persian cucumbers and roasted asparagus. On repeat … And then salmon omelettes … And then salmon in scrambled eggs … And then salmon cakes (like crabcakes but … salmon!). Waste not, want not.
There is no such thing as too much salmon, JDinNM. You were sanely extravagant. 😀
Thank you for the absolution!
And today in NYT Cooking there's a recipe for Salmon Croquettes that might take care of any leftovers. Although it also allows for use of a 14-ounce can of boneless skinless salmon.
I think I need to get some of those metal containers. My lunch bag always weighs a tonne with multiple Pyrex dishes in it.
Saturday: Pizza and breadsticks
Sunday: Ham, asparagus, veggie tray, corn casserole, devilled eggs - and because it was a combo Easter/birthday celebration, we had carrot cake and vanilla ice cream
Monday: Sheet pan ham and cheese hashbrowns with fruit
Tuesday: FG orzo with sausage and asparagus
Wednesday: Hawaiian roll sliders from the freezer with potatoes and a broccoli salad
Thursday: Burgers, sweet potatoes, pineapple rings that were cooked on the Blackstone, and a veggie tray
Friday: I will either make one-pot ham and veggie pasta (which was my Plan A) or we will have leftover Swedish meatballs that I brought home from work yesterday
I spent $67 at Walmart; $18 at Kroger, so $85.
Sat – ham steak, leftover haluska, green salad
Sun – pan grilled lamb chops, roasted asparagus, mashed potatoes, carrot/raisin salad.
M – baked slider sandwiches, carrot/ raisin salad, chips
T – teriyaki chicken with pineapple, onions and peppers, brown rice.
W – fried shrimp, cole slaw, roasted broccoli with garlic.
TH – a boxed hamburger stroganoff meal, steamed turnips, garlic bread, leftover cole slaw
F – probably a potato/ham/cheese/onion frittata, salad, toast or leftover garlic bread and other assorted leftovers.
The planets aligned and I found great deals on a few staples.
$100 for 10 months worth of my pup's food. Co-op got a deal, I have cold storage for it.
$164 @ Costco - mostly coffee
$108 @ Restaurant supply - molasses, pizza supplies, red peppers and pork sirloin @ 50% off.
Sun - Easter ham dinner for 27, I made ham, rolls, baked beans and potato salad.
Mon- omelets and toast
Tue - dinner salad
Wed - bbq chicken, green salad, corn
Thur- leftovers
Fri - bbq steaks, salad
Sat - Master's party and a golf shoot out competition at my aunt & uncles
Can someone enlighten me as to why Easter = ham? I've not consumed ham for almost 45 years. Ham feeds large numbers of people (at least it used to) at a frugal cost. Which is likely why I no longer consume it.
Making menus to use up my gorgeous Farm Box this week! I received some luscioius fruits and veggies!!I also get a free half dozen eggs every delivery! (Every 2 weeks.) I eat eggs every other day for breakfast.
So— this week,I found some pork chops in freezer: That’s smothered pork chops in crock pot to go with some sweet and sour red cabbage.
Sauted tipapia with sriracha mayo sauce and a side of hot honey brussel sprouts.
MANY lunches of large salad (have so many greens) with a scoop of tuna, or a sliced egg and some bacon for main dish salads.
Stiry fry shrimp with many sliced red and yellow bell peppers and some broccolini over rice.
A roasted beet,,chickpea and feta salad with some orzo in it to use the giant beet they sent me!
Cara cara oranges for snacks.
I also received a FREE LARGE LOAF OF WHOLE WHEAT ARTISAN SOURDOUGH BREAD! For leaving a google review of my Farm Box company! YAY!! Have been making toasted ham and cheese sandwiches and toasted veggie sandwiches for lunches all week! In the air fryer! No butter needed!
May I ask this friendly and kind group:With predictions of higher grocery prices etc. due to current situations in the world, are any of you “stocking up” How? What? How much? How little?
Tips and tricks??
I know when I read this news I run to trader Joe and buy up 6 bags of my fave ground coffee before it goes up again in price, lol!
But, what else are you doing to be frugal going forward?? Luckily, we are retired and I don’t have to commute to work so gas prices are easier to manage right now. But still scary!
Madeline,
I can say for my family, we do stock up on things we use thst go on sale - for example, ground sirloin was $5.99/lb. several weeks ago, so I bought 5 packages (the limit of the digital coupon). I'm fortunate to have a chest freezer amd two fridge/freezers (one is an old fridge in the basement). I can't say this is something new I'm doing, but I definitely feel like you do - buy some extra before the price goes up - like coffee. Hubby and I inventoried our freezers, and made a list on a shared Google doc so we know what we have and where it is - so now we try to use up what we have (we should have been doing this all along, but hey....here we are). We are definitely eating out a lot less (again, shoulda woulda coulda) and are much more careful to use up all leftovers and leftover ingredients. I read somewhere - I forget which FB page, maybe Tightwad Gazette Fan Club or Non Consumer Advocate? - someone much savvier than I reads agricultural reports and such, and noted that the price of black pepper, aluminum foil, and bell peppers were anticipated to go up (this is before gas prices went up) - and sure enough, they did - I stocked up on aluminum foil and bell peppers (froze them cut up in chunks) before the price increase. So, a lot of this might be old hat to the Commentariat, but we've definitely made some modifications. With gas prices as high as they now are, I definitely batch errands. I have no choice but to drive to work.
I live in a small apartment so stocking up is hard. I try to buy extra tins of beans, chickpeas etc when they're reduced and bags of flour or oats if they're on sale - even if I don't need them right now, I know I will use them later.
I also chop and freeze ginger (which you could also get frozen in the first place, if you prefer) and buy frozen fruit for smoothies and fruit crumbles. Sometimes I get frozen spinach and broccoli.
Finally, if I'm going on a trip I always buy food ahead of time for when I get back. This is more because I know I'll be exhausted upon return and won't feel like shopping, but it also prevents impulse shopping and getting takeout (mostly 😉 ).
I'm working on cleaning out my kitchen fridge/freezer. (I have a chest freezer too.)
I got chicken thighs on clearance for 75c lb. I made baked chicken thighs. I made some into tandoori chicken over rice and jar sauce I have. Roasted some sliced bell peppers and onions to go with it. I have naan dough in the fridge and I'll make that when I get home. I was too busy yesterday to finish it.
I pulled out one drawer/shelf area. Enough veggie scraps, chicken bones and skin to fill my IP. Made 6 pints of broth. Put in the freezer, so I can finish using up what I have ready in my fridge first. I also purchased a couple bags of russet potatoes, because they were $1.99 for 5 lbs. I'm trying to limit what I buy. Using stuff out of the pantry, fridge, and freezers first.
* I was taking muffins for breakfast at work. I have a bunch of bananas in the fridge. (And the freezer.). Going to make banana bread too.
*I brought chicken over rice w gravy I made from some broth for 3 of my lunches this week.
*I baked a personal pizza I found in bottom of the freezer one night for dinner.
*My grandma gave me a couple pork chops. I had those with baked potatoes for a couple of the dinners.
When I'm at work I bring a lunch and a couple snacks in case we are busy. I took popcorn, lettuce wraps (romaine) w ham and cheese, and a banana with a pudding cup for some of them.
I've been working on drinking more water. I do brew my own iced tea. I will drink some instead of getting a soda. I do add sugar, but it less than sugar.
I'm going to stop by the store. Ran out of milk. I have a coupon from using my Meijer mperks for a free gallon of milk and a free bag of sugar. Also picking up a box of Bell peppers on clearance (Flashflood app) for $3. There's like 10 or more in the box. I cut up my last couple a couple days ago. They are prepped in the fridge.
I try to make 2 or 3 different meals each week. Depending on my shift depends if I go simple. I'll use the same protein or two, but switch up what I'm making. Unless, it's something I really like. Like this week I had a chicken thigh over rice about every day for lunch. I used different spices and sauces.
I'll prep 3 or 4 meals at a time, so I can grab and go for work. I do have a teenager living with me. Sometimes she eats what I make. Sometimes she'll make something different.
WIS: about $100. I have a very sick cat and have taken her to the vet three times since Monday, so groceries have been grab & go.
WWA: Leftover barbecue pork with baked potatoes. Ham sandwiches with strawberries, sweet red pepper and sweet potato chips. Chuck pot roast with ginger carrots and green beans. I made myself a huge salad with baby romaine, white beans, cooked beets, chicken, chow mein noodles, a little grated sharp cheese and a G. Hughes sugar-free balsamic dressing. Ate that with some wheat thins crackers and an orange for three days running. Protein shake smoothies with strawberries and a slice of toast on other days.
The local supermarket has just started stocking vacuum packed cooked beets. I love beets but hate to cook them, so this new product instantly elevated my salads.
Oh, dear, Ruby, I'm sorry to hear about Dora. I wish you and her well.
Thank you. She has a wonderful vet and has been such a good girl about it all. She's acting like she feels better today, so I have fingers crossed that she's getting over this illness.
I've always said if you cannot handle a pet, don't have kids. A lot of similarities between animals and kids, particularly young kids. I hope Dora is doing better (thanks @A. Marie for providing a name). During Covid, we had to euthanize our senior cat. A few months later, the "younger" cat was not doing well. Ultrasound showed nothing but once she'd became a "teen" cat, I had baseline blood work done for her. Another blood test showed some enzyme out of what so vet said he only had a steroid shot as an option. It worked and was a fraction of the cost of an ultrasound. You never know. But I'm glad my budget had room for the costs. As well as the costs of our recent deceased cat and the two kittens we took in earlier this year (read: rescues not via a shelter or other organization).
We have always had dogs and cats, with all the cats being rescues. There's been heartache along the way but they give so much love back. I have always liked what author Nevada Barr said about cats, that God sends us a tiger that fits on our laps.
I hope your cat feels better soon!
She appears to be feeling better, having perked up considerably yesterday. Thank you for the good wishes.
WIS - Fred Meyer, $52.70; restaurant lunches & dinners, $160?ish
WWA
S - Steak, baked potato, broccoli
S - out for lunch, can’t remember supper
M - Ham & bean chili w/rice & coleslaw
T - out for dinner @ Mexican
W - leftovers from last night; husband at event
H - Quiche w/bacon and various veggies
F - Ham & lentil soup & coleslaw
This has got to be the most we’ve eaten out in one week in forever! Two lunches were mine with friends. One friend is an every 2 month get together; the other friend I see often, but we usually eat at each other’s homes. We tried a new to me gluten free, vegan/vegetarian restaurant and it was so good! I had no problem ordering off the menu with no changes! My husband and I went out for Easter lunch after church as we weren’t doing anything with family. He had an event during the week at a restaurant and I was exhausted after a full day of errands, which led to the Mexican restaurant. I’m still recovering from a TKR and it showed. Fortunately, I prepped Thursday’s meal on Wednesday night as I had a tooth extracted on Thursday. I had a milkshake for lunch and we did get ice cream when we picked up my prescriptions. Given how miserable I felt, they were well worth it! Next week, we’ll be back to normal!
I finally tried the leftover mashed potatoes with a fried egg on top and wow!! Will definitely do that again!
Right?? So good!
WIS-around $75 at Aldi and $10 Walmart, $14.66 for my coffee that should last a couple weeks. I still have tons of food in my fridge-freezer so I was mostly rounding things like olive oil, fresh veg/fruit and buying sparkling water, our one indulgence. 🙂
I ate:
Sunday-Easter dinner with the extended family, I contributed a dessert and helped hostess the large crew.
Monday/Tuesday-some sort of bowl situation. I am moving toward plant based diet, so I’m eating lots of grain, roasted veg, etc.
Wednesday-Kristen reminded me how much I love cereal, so it was Life with frozen berries for dinner. 😉
Thursday-Aldi pizza dough for homemade pizza. Half vegan cheese, half regular for my son. I thrifted a pizza peel and pizza stones. Game changing….There was a salad at some point as well.
Today-I had a tomato&basil pasta bowl with beyond meat meatballs. Not a huge fan of veg based meat so far. Taste is fine but I just don’t love it.
So sad we don't have any of the stores (grocery) in my area.