WIS, WWA | I'm talented (ha)
What I Spent
My special talent: killing air plants.
And that is why I did not buy one of these cute little air plant guys from Safeway.
I have a terrible habit of killing them even though they are supposed to be nigh onto indestructible.
I spent:
- $30 on a Hungry Harvest box
- $47 at Safeway
Soo, $77.
What We Ate
I started out with a bit of a salad streak!
Saturday
I bought a Mexican street corn salad mix from Safeway and added some sauteed shrimp to it. Super easy and really good; the kit has these crunchy cornbread crumbles in it that add a nice texture to the salad.
Sunday
I tried another salad mix (I can't remember what it was called!) and it was underwhelming. I added chicken this time.
Monday
I used the rest of the Mexican street corn salad mix with sauteed chicken thighs. I think it's slightly better with the shrimp, personally.
Tuesday
Waffles with berries and whipped cream because what is a week at my house without some breakfast for dinner??
Wednesday
I got a Hungry Harvest box that day, and I roasted a bunch of the sweet potatoes in it.
Then I sauteed some mushrooms and tomatoes (also from the Hungry Harvest box), sauteed some shrimp, added some half and half to make a sauce, and ate that on top of some of the sweet potatoes.
Thursday
Yet another random meal: I pan-sauteed some chicken thighs, then browned some sweet potato slices in the chicken pan, then added half and half to deglaze the pan, and ate all of that with some chopped avocado.
Friday
I don't know yet. But I do have a few more sweet potatoes, soooo.....
Your on-the-fly meals are so much yummier looking than what I think most people eat when they are pressed for time. Your cooking experience is very evident.
WIS: 213 @Aldi, but only about a hundred was on regular groceries. The rest was on more chocolate for coworkers, Play-Doh for my students and a couple things for Christmas stockings.
WWA:
Fri: salad and focaccia.
Sat: salad, buttered noodles and oven roasted turkey breast.
Sun: turkey breast, roasted root veggies, spinach and cranberry sauce.
Mon: loaded nachos to use up some chicken and bean mixture leftover from the pupusas last week. I smothered the nachos in shredded spinach and called that our salad.
Tue: bibimbap bowls to use up lots of random bits of veggies. My husband also made tofu steaks and fried eggs for the top of the bowls. Very delicious.
Wed: spinach salad, hotdogs on brioche buns topped with the regular condiments plus some of my fermented cabbage options-kimchi and red cabbage with apples. We also had some baked potatoes.
Thu: a yummy salad of romaine lettuce tossed with some spicy guacamole and topped with leftover roasted root veggies (cold) and some of the kimchi-inspired sauerkraut I made. We also had "salmon wellington" which should be a mirepoix and seasoned salmon stuffed into pastry dough that is then shaped like a fish before baking. My husband and kids used ground turkey instead and tried to trick me into thinking it was fish. I was not fooled, but these were very tasty and pretty darn cute, too. They looked like giant goldfish crackers.
Tonight: salad and focaccia and a big glass of wine to celebrate the start of winter break. I'm so ready for a break!
Happy weekend and happy holidays, everyone!
Saturday: Chili. Yup, that was it. Just chili. 🙂
Sunday: My husband's birthday dinner. He always likes lamb, so we had lamb steaks from the ram lamb we recently put in the freezer. Also, my son had been bird hunting the day before and got two quail and two doves, so I cooked those, too. All the meats were sauced with a red wine and cold butter. I had baked bread this day, so we had fresh bread with butter. And then I made a green salad with ranch dressing, and for dessert a pumpkin custard with whipped cream.
Monday: My parents came for a short visit and picked up both rotisserie chicken and fried chicken on their way here, since they arrived right after we got home from school/work. I made some rice and a salad to go with it.
Tuesday: FFA dinner and auction, at which we were fed. They served us ham, rice, green beans, rolls, salad, and a sopapilla cheesecake that was more like bread pudding. I was very happy to not cook dinner, as I had spent six hours in the kitchen already baking (and cleaning up from baking) for the auction, for the next day's birthday celebration, and for gifts.
Wednesday: Youngest son's birthday. He requested shrimp and whipped potatoes. To that for those who aren't really into shrimp, I added chicken in gravy made from simmering the chicken carcasses. And then yet another salad, and pecan pie with whipped cream. If you need a good pecan pie recipe, the Smitten Kitchen one is very good. I use dark amber maple syrup in place of the golden syrup called for, and I chop the pecans rather than leaving the halves whole, which makes it much better.
Thursday: I was at a basketball game and arrived home at dinnertime, so speed was necessary. Thus, quesadillas made with canned refried beans. The kids also had still-frozen green beans--they like them this way--and the leftover bread pudding from the birthday boy's requested breakfast.
Tonight: Maybe pork. Maybe lamb. Maybe cornbread. Maybe rice. Maybe I'll change my mind completely and we'll end up eating sandwiches and canned soup. I am not in planning mode, because this is our first day of Christmas break and I feel like my brain can finally turn off a little bit. Whee! But there will be food, and I will cook it. It's as certain as the sun rising and setting. 🙂
@kristin @ going country, when I was in college in Sandy Eggo, there was a popular restaurant called "Just Chili". Thanks for triggering a fun memory!
You do more in a week than most people can manage in a month, and you do it driving long distances, having no Easy Buttons to push. I am perpetually and consistently impressed (and a little intimidated) by your Super Woman abilities.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I can't say I've ever thought of myself as Super Woman, but that's very kind of you to say. I myself am impressed with anyone artistic, so I appreciate your super power, too.
@kristin @ going country, Hey Kristen-with-an-E: Here's an interesting idea for an audience participation post: Invite everyone to share what they consider their own super power(s)--this will require people to not feel like they're bragging!--and then what they admire in other people. I would love to see what everyone comes up with.
@kristin @ going country,
Another vote for Smitten Kitchen's pecan pie recipe. I made it for a family Thanksgiving a few years ago, and it's *the best* pecan pie I've ever had. I did use Lyle's Golden Syrup, because I had some I'd bought on a whim (it's not stocked in any of my local stores, though it *was* available at my local Krogers once upon a time). I never thought to chop the pecans in half, but that sounds like a good idea.
@kristin @ going country, and @ Central Calif. Artist Jana,
I'm always impressed by both of your superpowers. Kristin @ Going Country, I push the easy button way too often, and am spoiled for choice in available restaurants near me. You always plan and/or pull together such interesting meals, day after day. @ Central Calif. Artist Jana, I'm not a creative person, and never have been. I so admire anyone who can draw, paint, sculpt, or otherwise create art. My DH and I joke that "if *I* can make something like that [artwork], it's not art". 🙂
@kristin @ going country, no offense to your pecan pie but it was my mother's specialty. Yes whole pecans. A Jewel Tea pie pan (autumn leaf).
I saw a recipe around T-Day for pecan pie - talk about a lot of work. Brown sugar, butter, maple syrup, corn syrup AND molasses for the filling - which you have to cook.
She usually sent home a whole pecan pie at T-day and Xmas. You bet I had pie in the morning (not first thing, I have to up a while before I eat) and at least one more piece during the day.
@Liz B., is that similar to Karo light syrup? Never heard of it - west of the MS River grocery item?
@Selena, Gold syrup is British. I had tried the recipe originally with whole pecan halves and didn't like it nearly as much. like the chopped pecans because they get more evenly distributed, so it's not a layer of goo and then a layer of crunchy nuts. It's the texture for me, I suppose.
@kristin @ going country,
Ooo...I vote for that idea, too!
The superpowers is what I was responding to...thought my comment would show up right under that.
I love those chopped salads for the convenience and crunch! I haven't bought one in a while, but it makes for such an easy meal. this week:
Monday - kitchen closed - I had my go-to of Chik-fil-A on the way home from my 12 hour shift. 5ct grilled nuggets with small mac and cheese. So good.
Tuesday - Skillet Chicken Thighs with Butternut Squash, mixed greens salad
Wednesday - Mixed Greens with rotisserie chicken, olives, tomato, Greek dressing
Thursday - Pork Chop and white bean with mushrooms and pesto in my mini crockpot, herb biscuit
Tonight - Beef Soft Tacos with lettuce, tomato, avocado, and purple onion, side of refried beans
Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed but I will eat "planned leftovers" and I am off on Monday!
Happy Weekend!
WIS: $51 at Wegmans and $55 at Ollie's, although some of the Ollie's purchases were holiday gifts for other folks rather than human edibles. I'm not planning to eat the 10-ounce bag of dried mealworms I bought for bird-feeding friends, for example. 😀
WIA: The week's highlight was probably the lentil and ham soup I made on Jane Austen's birthday. Actually, it became a lentil, ham, and chorizo soup after I decided it needed more than just the ham bone I'd used for flavoring, and added a couple of links of chorizo. I'm not sure what JA would have thought of the addition, but it tasted pretty darn good to me.
@A. Marie,
But gee, think of the protein rich soup you could make out of the mealworms!
@A. Marie,
I have bird seed and ox fat at hand and plan to fill the empty peanut butter jars with those for them. No added mealworms, but some chopped unsalted peanuts.
I had a hard time finding the ox fat, which is actually a first class cooking fat. But most people prefer vegetable oils these days and in fact we use rice oil for our New Years Eve apple dumplings.
@A. Marie, I was reading this post quickly and had to stop to reread your comments. I thought you said you were eating mealworms. It gives all new meaning to the phrase, “eats like a bird.”
@JD, or perhaps a mealworm smoothie, with a side of dried crickets? (And since this is, after all, The Frugal Girl, I think we'd have to top it with a fried egg in Kristen's honor.) 😛
@JNL, your bird seed and ox fat combination sounds like a great way of making what we'd call suet blocks here in the US. I confess to buying ready-made suet blocks at my local Country Max store.
And for those who may be wondering why I bought the mealworms as a gift instead of feeding them to my own birds, it's because mealworms attract nothing but starlings to my feeders. The gift is for my dear friends who own the country property where DH's ashes now rest in peace. The meadows there attract Eastern bluebirds, who love mealworms. Not enough wide open space for bluebirds at my city property, alas.
@A. Marie,
I buy the pre-made suet blocks, too. They attract downy woodpeckers, as well as a few other birds to my yard. Eastern bluebirds don't come to my feeders here in Ohio suburbia, but I have seen them in local parks and nature preserves....they are so pretty.
WWS: Ignorance is bliss. We were still coming out of a illness fog around here, and I know I went to the store, and DH stopped at the store, but it's a blur.
WWA:
Saturday/Sunday: homemade pizzas, as always. Sometimes I remember to get zucchini or some kind of vegetable to throw on them, but this was not one of those times.
Monday: Tuna burgers, I think? and leftover pizza stuff.
Tuesday: More tuna burgers, plus homemade tomato soup.
Wednesday: I made a real meal: roasted chicken drumsticks (super on sale, which pleased me and DH greatly), fried rice (made in the crockpot), roasted asparagus.
Thursday: Mexican night
Tonight: burgers, baked potato bar, and salad
@Karen A., Fried rice in the crockpot? Please share.
@Bee, The original inspiration came from this site: https://www.ayearofslowcooking.com/2008/05/crockpot-fried-rice-recipe.html
But over the years I've changed how I do it. So here's how I do it:
Leftover rice (for my crew, that is six rice-cooker cups uncooked, cooked in the rice cooker)*
4 T butter
1/2 onion, minced
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
soy sauce, about 6 T or so (I use Bragg's Aminos, lower in sodium)
any and all leftover veggies, or frozen mixed veggies like peas and carrots
If I have them: chopped water chestnuts and cut up baby corn
scrambled egg, as much as you want
First I melt the butter on high in the crockpot, and put the onion in there as well. I add the white pepper and maybe a bit of salt. You can add garlic powder, too, but I didn't have any. Then add the cooled leftover rice, toss it around well to coat the rice, and add about 4 T of soy sauce and toss well. Let it cook around 1-2 hours on High, stirring once or twice, until the rice is heated through. Switch to Low or Warm. Then I scramble a few eggs (you could use tofu instead), add those and the vegetables, extra soy sauce and keep on Low or Warm til the veggies are heated through. Everyone adds extra soy sauce or sriracha when they serve themselves.
Sounds fiddly but it works much better for me than trying to fry it in a pan, especially for the amount I need to make.
*For the best texture, I like to cook the rice the morning of, then spread it out on a baking sheet and put in the fridge uncovered for a few hours. This dries it out and it's much easier to handle. Of course, rice that is a day old will work too.
Almost forgot--I add a couple of teaspoons of toasted sesame oil at the end, if I have it on hand.
@Karen A., Thank you, I will try this.
@Bee, I hope you like it! It's very adaptable, and makes cooking fried rice for a crowd pretty doable. Obviously if you're not working with 12 cups of cooked rice, scale down the other ingredients to your taste. 🙂
This week was a bit of a blur with last minute rush projects requiring very long work days. WWA:
Saturday - bratwurst on buns with sauerkraut
Sunday -slow cooker beef stew, baguette
Monday - Thursday - leftovers, ramen, or mini meat pies from the freezer
Friday - hopefully the sliders that were planned for last Tuesday
Wishing everyone a peaceful holiday
WIS: $115, divided evenly between Aldi and Food Lion.
WWA: soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, peanut butter sandwiches with apples, leftover pasta with a marinara-sausage sauce, hamburgers and fries (twice, due to medical appointments that ran into the dinner hour), and cheese, nuts, oranges, and protein shakes for whoever wanted a snacky dinner.
Several potato variations with roasted veg this week, with either stew, hamburger or egg. And the remaining cooking pears. Tonight millet with veg, almonds and coconut milk.
After that my vegetable drawer will be empty as per plan and I'll restock early next week.
Salary will be a week late due to a mistake, and I realize that what is an unfortunate timing for us may well be presenting actual problems to others. Someone in payroll will be losing sleep over this, I daresay.
@JNL, I'm sure a week late paycheck will cause some a lot of grief. It wasn't that long ago that a creditor would understand and your company wouldn't consider this a PR disaster. This is where a) living below your means and/or b) an emergency fund is a lifesaver. Or at least grief/anxiety saver.
WIS: I spent almost exactly $125 in my shopping last week. I won't grocery shop this week, but I will need more sugar for the hummingbirds that hang around through winter here. I don't count that in my grocery bill, though.
WIA: Part of the week my sister was here, part she was not.
We had eggs and bacon one night. She loves breakfast for supper.
I made the AIP version of white chicken chili, which she and I both love. We had it twice, with some crackers (for her) and fruit on the side.
We had a late lunch one day so we just snacked on fruit, cheese, cucumbers, that sort of thing, that evening.
Pork chop, komatsuna greens from my raised bed, and roasted beets. A very Christmas colored meal, ha.
Last night was my office's Christmas dinner at a restaurant. We had crab balls, catfish bites, stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta covered in good stuff with lots of cheese, spicy boiled shrimp and cheese logs (way too big to be called cheese sticks) for appetizers and my entrée was a seafood dinner with crab, shrimp and catfish over cheese grits, with crisped onions on top. As you can see from the list of appetizers, my bosses, who ordered all the appetizers in multiples, like to be generous with the food. And there was wine, multiple bottles of it, and cocktails. And dessert of crème Brule, tiramisu, and an apple dessert served with a huge scoop of ice cream, for those who could find room. I could not!
In case you wondered how many people we had to eat all of that food, there were 16 of us there.
@JD, were there leftovers? Did anyone ask for a doggie bag?
@JD, hey, can you get me invited to that office dinner next year? Sounds like something that even I'd get on a plane for (and I've avoided flying for over a decade now).
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
I was one of several who got a doggie bag. We all actually ordered our own meals and desserts, so the leftovers weren't as much as it would seem from the way I described it. For instance, my son-in-law got an entrée that was a chicken breast stuffed with smoked pork and served on broccoli in cheesy sauce. He took a doggie bag, too. The appetizers were ordered en masse, however, and they were a-l-l eaten up.
@A. Marie,
It was well worth a flight!
Spent $60.26
I didn't have a stove/oven this week as the old stove was removed, new gas line installed, and gas stove should go in today...I hope!
On top of that...half of the kitchen is torn up, and drywall was being done this week.
So, our meals with no stove/oven (I didn't keep track, but this is what I remember).
Baked potatoes (in microwave then put in air fryer at end to crisp the skins) with pulled pork bbq from the freezer over the top...asparagus in air fryer on side.
Salad, broccoli cheese soup (instapot), sourdough bread (part of my spending for the week...bought at a local bakery)
Grilled pizza with brussels sprouts in the air fryer.
DH was out of town one night. I had a turkey sandwich.
Made hummus in the pressure cooker and that with salads/sourdough made our lunches this week.
Last night we went out to a local bbq place because we were almost an hour from home, I have felt like crud from a shingles vaccination, and my imagination of what to cook with no stove was shot.
Tonight, I am hoping to have a stove/oven, but if not...pancakes on the plug in griddle with cinnamon apples I have canned and bacon in the air fryer (honestly, may have this anyways cause it sounds good).
Mmm I do love adding chicken to the Taylor Farms Asian Salad kits, the one with crunchy wonton strips. But they've shrunk the size of the package while increasing the price, so I've been making my own version...which illustrates why salad kits exist, because it's a pain to make from scratch.
Monday: I made chicken katsu from the freezer, frozen French fries, and sliced raw cucumbers. I absolutely did NOT want to cook and I'm calling that a win!
Tuesday: I think Mr. B made pasta with tomato sauce, and a cucumber salad.
Wednesday: I wanted to make chicken broth but the bones had gone bad (ew.) So I made roasted chicken breasts, potato wedges (par-cooked in the microwave as per Kristen; a total game changer,) and Israeli salad.
Thursday: Chicken burritos. Leftover chicken fried with spices, homemade guacamole and pico de gallo, some sliced peppers on the side (because I dislike peppers,) canned refried beans, and tortillas. Delicious, relatively quick and easy. We don't mix dairy with meat, so the avocado adds the richness we'd miss from sour cream.
Friday: Mr. B is making salmon, I'm making challah, and we'll have a TBD vegetable.
@Meira (meirathebear.wordpress.com), I don't remember when salad kits appeared on the scene but they strike me as the epitome of a luxury grocery item. I recently spent what seemed like a disproportional amount of money for 2 kits because I had to take a salad to a potluck. I was so thankful to have the option and the money to take the easy route.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Truly, I love them! They are so yummy and convenient. Honestly by the time you buy a cabbage, a lettuce head, a bunch of celery, cashews, almonds, sesame seeds, something crunchy, and make dressing, you've spent the same amount. Unless you're really good at using up those things (which I am not!) sometimes it's nice to buy a kit.
@Meira@meirathebear,
One of my co-workers always said the same thing - by the time you've bought the ingredients, you've paid for the bagged salad, and the bag salad leaves nothing leftover to worry about using up before it turns to slime.
@Meira@meirathebear, I like them because if I make salad from scratch, there are always stray ingredients lingering in the fridge, whereas a salad kit for two, two Roma tomatoes and a small cucumber will give me three salads.
Friday: My husband’s office holiday party – he had steak, I had salmon.
Saturday: BBQ pork sandwiches, roasted potatoes and sweet potatoes, Santa Maria style beans.
Sunday: Arroz Con Pollo.
Monday: El Bulli soup and garlic bread – a super basic and delicious bean soup that the staff at El Bulli made before service.
Tuesday: Baked Ziti – it was Elf movie night so we needed to have pasta!
Wednesday: Tamales, Spanish rice, green beans.
Thursday: Spinach Feta Turkey Meatballs, smashed potatoes, veggie of your choice.
What I baked for the office cookie swap:
• Special K Bars/Scotcheroos – the name sparked a fun debate
• Cherry Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
• Peppermint Fudge
• Snickerdoodles
And I made Krumkake for my husband to take into his office as I had a few requests at the holiday party.
@Geneva,
Ooo, I love Scotcheroos! And is the El Bulli soup a recipe, or sort of a loose "method"?
@Geneva, I hope no maple syrup with your pasta. That movie is such a hoot.
Sunday: we had pizza and wings from a favorite place as hubby had a craving for wings.
Monday: we had steak, parsley potatoes and garlicky green beans
Tuesday: tacos
Wednesday: we both had our Christmas parties at Work, mine was at lunchtime, hubby's was late afternoon, so he didn't eat dinner. I ate the remaining of the taco meat as tacos.
Thursday: skillet lasagna
Friday: we are going out using a gift card from our anniversary (2 months ago). We forgot we had the card so we are treating ourselves tonight.
I'm popping in to say I kill air plants also. Mint, too, which is even more indestructible. Too bad this talent doesn't work on the hideously invasive English Ivy, aka Evil Ivy.
@WilliamB, I can kill Ivy!!!
@Bee, come visit, please!
@WilliamB,
I've never tried to grow an air plant, but my mint never, ever comes back from the previous season. Ever. It's supposed to be a perennial, but it only lasts one summer for me. Basil never ever gets full and bushy for me, either. I hear of people making tons of pesto from their full, huge basil plants, but that never happens for me.
Two days ago I finished reading The Glucose Revolution. I implemented several of the hacks she recommended.
1. Start with something green, then protein, then carbs when eating. (I roasted riced cauliflower, made my own Ceasar salad dressing for a big salad, and bought carrot chips to use with lentil hummus. )
2. 1 T. of Vinegar in water 20 mins before meal. (I bought strawberry fizzy water and used Strawberry Balsamic.)
3. Three meals a day with life in between.
Wish me luck. I will report back next Friday.
@Mary Ann, way to go! It took me a year to really get comfortable with these "hacks" (that word really bugs me—I wonder what we said before "hack" took over). I will learn on Monday if I am finally out of the pre-diabetic category.
For the vinegar thing, I use ACV with a packet of Stevia. I dislike stevia, but it takes the edge off the vinegar and the vinegar kills the aftertaste of the stevia. I only do this if I decide to eat sweets. People say to use a straw so that the vinegar won't wreck the enamel on your teeth, but I do it seldom enough that I haven't bothered with a straw.
The vegetable routine is a nuisance, so I often just stuff a few lettuce leaves in my face while I am fixing breakfast, or carrots while grabbing lunch.
Are you testing your glucose regularly? I have to get blood taken at a lab in order to know, now that my freebie CGMs are used up.
P.S. Vinegar in water, of course!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I suspect before they were called "hacks" they were called "habits." A word that needs to come back.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
I am officially out of the pre diabetic range now. I am trying to lose 10 pounds to stay that way.
@Mary Ann, all that training for the Rim Trail paid off! I will find out if I am officially out of the prediabetic range on Monday. If I am not, you might hear me roaring about it from 200 miles away. . .
@Karen A., maybe "habits that work", or "shortcuts", or "tips".
It’s been a heck of a week, but here we are. I made it until Friday.
WWS: approximately $188. $80 at TJ’s and $108 at Publix. My TJ’s purchase contained items for my garden club’s cover dish Christmas Luncheon which I did not end up attending. DH suffered sudden and complete hearing loss in his right ear early in the week. I went with him to the doctor instead. He is much improved. He had an infection. Never google sudden hearing loss.
WWA:
Saturday - we took care of our grandbabies overnight. My DIL had stocked the refrigerator. I had leftover Tamales which were out of this world good! DH ate pot roast.
Sunday - we returned home late and were quite tired after our adventures with the littles. It was sure easier to care for babies 30 years ago. We had breakfast for dinner: scrambled eggs with cottage cheese, bacon, and toast.
Monday - pan-seared steaks, baked potatoes, and sautéed green beans.
Tuesday - chicken taco bowls with roast corn and black beans.
Wednesday - my son arrived for a two week visit. We had a roast chicken, rice, and salad.
Thursday - DH and son were in charge of dinner. I had a medical procedure yesterday. DH’s culinary abilities are limited, but he made hamburgers, sweet potato fries, and cut up raw veggies. It was perfect.
Friday - it depends on how I feel. I’m sore today. I may or may not cook. I’m resting up for the holidays.
Have a nice weekend and bon appétit.
We've been going back & forth on who will be around for any given evening, with the teens having varying schedules.
Dinners we've eaten:
-Tacos
-Pizza
-Chicken teriyaki & rice x2
I have no idea beyond that. As for tonight, it's leftover tacos. I may put mine on a salad, to add some extra veggie intake.
I spent $192 @ Kroger this week. I budgeted higher than that amount so I am quite pleased with that outcome.
Saturday: Leftover Beef Stew with carrots & celery, mashed potatoes and yellow squash with red bell pepper and onion
Sunday: Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Black beans, Jasmine Rice, sauteed zucchini and a mixed green salad
Monday: A hodge podge of leftovers - we were all fed but I cannot say that everything went together. I am happy to say that these clean out the fridge nights are resulting in less food waste and that makes me very happy!
Tuesday: Turkey Chili with a variety of beans to add protein and fiber and some green chili cheddar cornbread muffins
Wednesday:
Thursday: A disaster of a cooking day as I forgot to lay anything out and had to think on my feet. I took a bag of frozen chicken from the freezer, added two bags of a multigrain vegetable mix I had from Trader Joe's, some chicken broth and the noodles from 3 packages of ramen noodles. I added some herbs and a pot of soup was born. It was not a pulled together meal at all but it had protein, veg and whole grains and all were fed. Plus we avoided takeout so I am calling it a win.
Friday: I have laid out cube steak which will go into the crockpot. I'll serve it with some type of potato dish and maybe some green peas to go alongside.
Happy weekend everyone!
In no particular order (because I dont' remember)
1. Salmon, rice and broccoli
2. Seasoned pork with mac and cheese and salad
3. Seafood pasta with lemon garlic sauce (I ate the seafood over rice)
4. Minestrone soup and salad
5. Air fryer chicken drumsticks, rice and brussel sprouts
6. Leftover minestrone soup and salad
7. Tonight will be repurposed leftover pork and salad
WIS: $17 @ Scratch and Dent
This month has been filled with volunteer driving friends and neighbors to the bigger towns for appointments. After I drop them at their appointments, I head to the local scratch and dent store. This time found a 30 lb container of butter, wrapped in 1 lb blocks. I bought it! I also picked up fresh brussel sprouts trees for $1.50 ea. Yes and yes!
I vacuum packed the butter and froze, it's expiration date is 12/24/24. I gave each of my neighbors a pound and some tangelos as I have been gifted 4 pkgs of cara cara oranges and 1 case of Honeybell tangelos. Spread the joy!
I also picked up $4/1 lb pkg of cinnamon, using that for salt dough ornaments that we will make today with our littles. I don't count crafty stuff in my food budget.
WWA: Sunday - Salad bar and personal focaccia bread (choose your topping)
Mon - Sweet & sour meatballs/rice, shaved brussel sprout salad, fruit salad - had the neighbors to dinner
Tue - Grilled pork steaks, baked sweet potato, roasted brussel sprouts, green salad
Wed - leftover pork made into pork noodles
Th - cottage cheese and avocado (late lunch in big town 90 min from home)
Fri - Community Holiday extravaganza - fundraiser for community fund I made pizza rolls and pesto cheese rolls (think cinnamon rolls, but savory). I made 10 doz of each, plus 5 doz par-baked and frozen, ready to bake - those always sell first
This week I work Saturday thru Wednesday. A research dr. friend offered me his house, walking distance to the hospital, to use. $aving me $450.
Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah & Kwanzaa! Be safe and enjoy!
When I was in Maine recently my lobster roll came with a side of slaw with blueberries in it. It was good so I’ve started adding blueberries to my slaw. I was always a Hellman’s mayo snob but I tried Aldi’s brand and couldn’t really tell the difference and it certainly costs less.
I liked the pictures of the colorful chickpea salad so made some leaving out the soybeans and using some Newman’s Family recipe Italian dressing I had on hand. This stuff is addictive.
I eat a lot of popcorn. Lately I dip it in almond butter not a great protein combination but meh.
Finally found some eggs under 3 bucks. Long time no see my egg sandwich bird flu pandemic threat friend.
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: We went out to eat with some others to celebrate my husband being voted into a pastoral position at our church. Career change! We ate at a local pizza place.
Monday: Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Tuesday: Tacos
Wednesday: Pizza my husband brought home from a meeting the night before and some salad
Thursday: Corn dogs, copycat Panera mac and cheese, and peas
Friday: I think we will have beef stew (which I need to start soon!) One of my kids has a friend over right now that is gluten-free and dairy-free and she may be staying for dinner. I got lots of fruits and veggies this morning to give her easy snack options.
Per usual, this will be hit and miss.
Aldi last week when I got the 6lbs of butter and 7-$.99 choceur bars for gifts. I also got a cavetelli meal kit w chicken and ate half of that when I got home. It was pretty good. I ate the mislabeled bacon quiche from the pie place one evening for supper. It was sausage but still very good. Went to my "discuss and dine" nursing meeting last night for supper. It was carry-in. We had steak and onion grinders, shrimp, lil smokies. Fruit pizza, I took a Magnolia lemon pie, I'd made. Peanut butter fudge. Quite low on healthy for nurses.
Oh, I forgot our Master Gardener Christmas Dinner. One of the guys made the BEST, big pear, gorgonzola, candied pecan salad. We had ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and a myriad of desserts.
Speaking of salad kits. I like to use the Asian one as a basis for egg roll in a bowl.
May you all have a very Merry Christmas!
I missed yesterday but wanted to add a Thankful Thursday post.
Yesterday my 83 year old mom had a 3rd attempt to break up a heart artery blockage and insert a stent. This time was successful and she was from 99% blockage to clear! We are sooooo grateful to God and the medical team at the heart hospital!
@Cindy, it's never too late for a thankful Thursday post. That's wonderful news about your mom's surgery success!
Sunday - dine out Mexican
Monday - Homemade soup/leftover Mexican in a quesadilla
Tuesday - Burgers leftover potatoes 4 me (from Saturday beef stew)/Mexican for better half
Wednesday - Mushroom ravioli w/red sauce, red peppers, mushrooms, onions, shrimp
Thursday - Meatloaf and baked potatoes
Friday - Leftover pasta 4 me, better half made a pizza, salad
@Selena, Saturday was beef stew. Leftover meat and veggies (no potatoes) went into the soup.
I went vegetable shopping at a local farm store and then a grocery store. I'm not sure how much I spent. Last week I spent a bit between the grocery store and the butcher--but I have a bit of food in the freezer now for the base of dinner. I'll just need vegetables as we go along
There were a lot of samples (for my lunch) at the farm store.
Friday: Salmon
Saturday: Steak sandwiches
Sunday: Loaded salad with roasted squash and remainder of the sandwich steaks.
Monday: Turkey breast
Tuesday: Work day--leftover turkey
Wednesday: I went to the Boston Pops with friends and then one of the women had us back for dinner. We all brought something for it.
Thursday: Turkey quesadillas
and Friday: Reminder of the turkey with remainder of the fresh green beans.
I can't remember when we had what vegetable, what night, but I had bought squash, sweet potato, and green beans at the market last week.
I also make broth with the turkey carcass in the slow cooker. I now need to make room in the freezer to store it for a future soup.