I went to the doctor two weeks ago for a regular check up. I had to do some blood work, which was no surprise. What was surprising was the results. I have really high cholesterol. I'm now taking medication for it and eating foods that I should have been eating all along. (I'll go into that later.) But when the nurse called me, she gave me some wrong information. The number she gave me for my cholesterol was so high that I would be dead in 5 years. Before my sweet girl is in second grade, I would be dead. Before my wonderful boy would be in 5th grade, they would put me in the ground.
So I am taking steps to make sure that doesn't happen. And I really have been eating healthier. I usually have a green smoothie for breakfast. It has fruit, oatmeal, almonds, flax, and spinach. I make it with almond milk. It has no cholesterol in it and it's packed with nutrients. And they taste really good.
Lunches have been salads with chicken, but the sauce I love to use on my chicken has a bit too much sodium for my own good. I compensate with water, but I know that I can do better.
Dinner is easy. I start off with a big ass salad, then move to my proteins and veggies, and if I am still hungry, a little bit of carbs.
So for two weeks, I have been trying to change my life, one meal at a time. And the crazy thing is I think I'm doing it! I had a double cheeseburger last weekend, as we agreed that we'd have one splurge day a week. It made me sick. I had a Valentine's day date with Nathaniel and I ate a chocolate cupcake. I ain't gonna lie- that shit was good going down. But I felt so sick after eating it that I don't want any again. I haven't had any bacon, but I have had cheese. But I don't eat nearly as much as I used to. I am making huge progress with my eating. Now I just have to get off my ass.
I want to get an elliptical and put it in the basement. I can go down there and get some alone time and some exercise. Big bonus with that alone time. Just put the ipod on and go. Or, since there's a tv and dvd player, throw in a movie and start. I know that I can do it. I really have no choice left. You want to hear something really crazy? I am loving this healthy food. I have never felt better, although part of that could be the anti-depressant I'm taking. I've even managed to not start my day with a pepsi.
But honestly, the best part of this whole thing is that my kids are eating better. Fruit with every meal, and every color of the rainbow. They're still picky about veggies, but I try not to worry too much because of the fruit.
Now on to my next challenge- 15 weeks from tomorrow is June 1st. For the next 15 weeks I am focusing wholly on my self and my health. I will not be weighing myself for those 15 weeks (which will be a damn hard habit to break), and instead focus on how I am feeling and how my clothes (don't) fit. I look forward to sharing this challenge with others, and I won't be alone doing it, which helps. My sister will be doing it with me. In 6 weeks, I go back for a repeat cholesterol test. By then I want to rock that test. This challenge will really help me with that.
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
It's October?!?!?!?!
Time sure seems to be flying by. I'm hoping that October will go fast too. No, it's not to get to Christmas faster, or even Thanksgiving. It's that I can finally apply for my retirement money to be sent to me. We so desperately need that money. October is going to be a very slim month for us.
I went grocery shopping, and thanks to my chicken binge in July, I only spent $160 for the month. Of course, this doesn't include milk, which we go through like nothing (about 2 1/2 to 3 gallons a week) and sandwich bread. We'll be eating a lot of PB+J this month. With the homemade jelly. Thankfully, both kids like them.
But, as of right now, we are dead broke. I paid the mortgage and Nathaniel's tuition for school. Next week, I'll pay the bike and the car, and, God willing, the phone bill. That just leaves 8 credit cards, electric, gas, water, internet/cable, car insurance, saving for next month's mortgage payment, etc. etc. etc. There's no money for that. How many people know that feeling? I am grateful for all we have. We have food to eat. We have a warm place to lay our heads. We have transportation. So many other people don't. I know this, so why does our situation make me want to cry?
I feel like I'm so selfish for quitting. But I honestly couldn't do it anymore. I hated going to work. I couldn't stand the students in my class. I still know I made the right choice, and I enjoy being home with the kids, I just wish I had a paycheck.
So our plans for my retirement funds are to pay off all our debt (or as much as we can). Obviously, it won't be the mortgage, but maybe a few of the credit cards could be done. Ugh, I just want to lift the pressure.
I've found though, that in the process of saving money, I am a pretty good baker. I love baking and cooking from scratch. It makes me feel productive. Like I've really done something to benefit my family. I do still need to get more flour, sugar, and butter from the store, because it seems like I go through a lot of that. Damn pinterest, giving me so many ideas I want to try! It reminds me of that old Twilight Zone episode when the man just wanted to read books. He was in the bank vault on his lunch break when the world ended, and since he was the only survivor he finally could read all he wanted. The only problem was that he tripped and broke his glasses, so he couldn't read any more. I have the same problem. I want to make all these different things for my family, but I don't have the means to get the necessary ingredients.
It could be worse, I guess. And speaking of worse, Veronica, at age 15 months, isn't talking much. I have to take her for a hearing evaluation at the end of the month. I'm sure she hears fine, but I can't help but worry. I mean, who wouldn't? If that turns out ok, then we have a speech evaluation. From there we go to therapy, if necessary. She also had a raging ear infection. She never had a fever, no pulling on it, no laying on the side, nothing. I have no idea how long she had it, but she's on antibiotics for it. I pray that when it clears up, she starts talking some more. Doc said it might be enough to muffle sounds, making it harder for her to talk. But I'm still a wreck.
I went grocery shopping, and thanks to my chicken binge in July, I only spent $160 for the month. Of course, this doesn't include milk, which we go through like nothing (about 2 1/2 to 3 gallons a week) and sandwich bread. We'll be eating a lot of PB+J this month. With the homemade jelly. Thankfully, both kids like them.
But, as of right now, we are dead broke. I paid the mortgage and Nathaniel's tuition for school. Next week, I'll pay the bike and the car, and, God willing, the phone bill. That just leaves 8 credit cards, electric, gas, water, internet/cable, car insurance, saving for next month's mortgage payment, etc. etc. etc. There's no money for that. How many people know that feeling? I am grateful for all we have. We have food to eat. We have a warm place to lay our heads. We have transportation. So many other people don't. I know this, so why does our situation make me want to cry?
I feel like I'm so selfish for quitting. But I honestly couldn't do it anymore. I hated going to work. I couldn't stand the students in my class. I still know I made the right choice, and I enjoy being home with the kids, I just wish I had a paycheck.
So our plans for my retirement funds are to pay off all our debt (or as much as we can). Obviously, it won't be the mortgage, but maybe a few of the credit cards could be done. Ugh, I just want to lift the pressure.
I've found though, that in the process of saving money, I am a pretty good baker. I love baking and cooking from scratch. It makes me feel productive. Like I've really done something to benefit my family. I do still need to get more flour, sugar, and butter from the store, because it seems like I go through a lot of that. Damn pinterest, giving me so many ideas I want to try! It reminds me of that old Twilight Zone episode when the man just wanted to read books. He was in the bank vault on his lunch break when the world ended, and since he was the only survivor he finally could read all he wanted. The only problem was that he tripped and broke his glasses, so he couldn't read any more. I have the same problem. I want to make all these different things for my family, but I don't have the means to get the necessary ingredients.
It could be worse, I guess. And speaking of worse, Veronica, at age 15 months, isn't talking much. I have to take her for a hearing evaluation at the end of the month. I'm sure she hears fine, but I can't help but worry. I mean, who wouldn't? If that turns out ok, then we have a speech evaluation. From there we go to therapy, if necessary. She also had a raging ear infection. She never had a fever, no pulling on it, no laying on the side, nothing. I have no idea how long she had it, but she's on antibiotics for it. I pray that when it clears up, she starts talking some more. Doc said it might be enough to muffle sounds, making it harder for her to talk. But I'm still a wreck.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
So simple, but...
It's such a simple concept. but so very hard to master. Portion control.
But I'm getting there.
Now, it's not for lack of trying before, When I tried before it always ended in failure. I was hungry. And then I got mean. And then I got ugly. But there was always more food so it didn't matter. I could go have more.
And I did. Always. After filling my plate and gulping down my food, I wanted more. Didn't matter that my stomach was already over full and I was bloated. Didn't matter that I physically hurt from eating more. There was more food available and I wanted it. First world problem if ever, right?
And then I grew up and became a mom. I swore that I would take care of myself, for the sake of my kids. But there was still food available. And I wanted it. It didn't matter to me that I am diabetic. That my clothes didn't fit. That my kids would probably get made fun of because their mom is so fat. That I was slowly committing suicide by food. It was there and I wanted it.
And then I left my job, and stopped collecting a paycheck. Suddenly, a scary thought came to me. What if there isn't always more food? And even worse, what if there wasn't enough to feed my kids?
And portion controlling is becoming my way of life. I'm not sad about this. I'm actually happy. I make a lot of casseroles now. But there's so much in a pan. Old me would've left it on the table and picked at it all night long, consuming at least 3 servings, if not more. Now, I put some on my plate, serve the kids their dinner, and either put some on a plate for Pat (for later) or let him get his. When everyone is done eating (including seconds, I put way less on my plate now) I pack it up. It does not sit on the table.
Tonight, for example, was chicken spaghetti (from pinterest. It was only ok.) We ate about a third of the dish. The rest has already been packed into a dollar store tin with a lid and is cooling off before it goes into the freezer. So for the price of one dinner, we have two. I've done this with several casseroles and recipes I've made the past few weeks. It's something I am actually proud of.
So why am I telling you about this? Because in the last week I have lost 6 pounds. Now, when you have to lose a entire person, 6 pounds may seem like nothing. But to me, it's a pretty big fucking deal. I intend to make the most of this. It makes me want to do more. I am going to try to exercise now too. I wish I could just ride my bike, but without a trailer I can't. (What would I do with the kids?) I know that sounds like an excuse, but it's not. It's fact. But I'm going to try.
Because soon I want to type that I've lost 60 pounds, not just 6. It may take a while, but dammit, I've lost 6 pounds!
But I'm getting there.
Now, it's not for lack of trying before, When I tried before it always ended in failure. I was hungry. And then I got mean. And then I got ugly. But there was always more food so it didn't matter. I could go have more.
And I did. Always. After filling my plate and gulping down my food, I wanted more. Didn't matter that my stomach was already over full and I was bloated. Didn't matter that I physically hurt from eating more. There was more food available and I wanted it. First world problem if ever, right?
And then I grew up and became a mom. I swore that I would take care of myself, for the sake of my kids. But there was still food available. And I wanted it. It didn't matter to me that I am diabetic. That my clothes didn't fit. That my kids would probably get made fun of because their mom is so fat. That I was slowly committing suicide by food. It was there and I wanted it.
And then I left my job, and stopped collecting a paycheck. Suddenly, a scary thought came to me. What if there isn't always more food? And even worse, what if there wasn't enough to feed my kids?
And portion controlling is becoming my way of life. I'm not sad about this. I'm actually happy. I make a lot of casseroles now. But there's so much in a pan. Old me would've left it on the table and picked at it all night long, consuming at least 3 servings, if not more. Now, I put some on my plate, serve the kids their dinner, and either put some on a plate for Pat (for later) or let him get his. When everyone is done eating (including seconds, I put way less on my plate now) I pack it up. It does not sit on the table.
Tonight, for example, was chicken spaghetti (from pinterest. It was only ok.) We ate about a third of the dish. The rest has already been packed into a dollar store tin with a lid and is cooling off before it goes into the freezer. So for the price of one dinner, we have two. I've done this with several casseroles and recipes I've made the past few weeks. It's something I am actually proud of.
So why am I telling you about this? Because in the last week I have lost 6 pounds. Now, when you have to lose a entire person, 6 pounds may seem like nothing. But to me, it's a pretty big fucking deal. I intend to make the most of this. It makes me want to do more. I am going to try to exercise now too. I wish I could just ride my bike, but without a trailer I can't. (What would I do with the kids?) I know that sounds like an excuse, but it's not. It's fact. But I'm going to try.
Because soon I want to type that I've lost 60 pounds, not just 6. It may take a while, but dammit, I've lost 6 pounds!
Monday, August 26, 2013
Learning
So, here we are. School started a week ago and I am not there. And I do not miss it. At. All. I enjoy being home with Veronica while Nathaniel is at school for a few hours a day. He is learning and I am learning. (And I hope Veronica is learning too!)
Today, for example, I am learning how to reuse scraps of food. We had carrots last night, and I've used onions this past week, so today I am making chicken stock. I also had some celery ends from when I ate celery over the weekend. All those go into a pot with two bone in chicken breasts and fill with water. Boil for a while and strain once through a colander and then a second time through cheese cloth. I freeze them in one cup bags so that when I need a cup of chicken broth, it's there. No chemicals, no msg, no preservatives, and no salt. But tons of flavor!!
I am also learning how to make jam and freeze veggies. I have been shopping the reduced for quick sale shelves lately. Am I embarrassed to admit that? Yes. Is that reality right now? Yes. (So I guess I'm learning humility too.) Anyway, last week I got 6 green peppers for $2, when they are usually $1 each. There was nothing wrong with them, they were just getting a smidge soft. I bought them, took them home and cut them into strips and put them in the freezer. I used some a few days ago in our oven baked fajitas (recipe on and they were delicious.
I have similar plans for carrots. I can get a two pound bag for a dollar, and carrots are the kids' favorite vegetable right now. Clean them and peel them, cut into coins and blanch. Drop into an ice bath and then package for freezing (keeping the ends for more stock, of course).
So I'm learning to live within my means. And for me, that means a lot of cutting back. I'd like to cancel our cable, which could save us some more money, and probably help me to play with my kids more. Maybe we'll revisit that when I clear up my minor health problems (eye scratches, conjunctivitis, and some other issues- it's been a brutal two weeks!!!) Speaking of which, I should probably go put my eye drops in. I've been on antibiotic drops for 3 days now for the left eye, after having done a week for the right. I said it had been rough!
But stay tuned to see what else I am learning how to do. Sometime this week, I am going to attempt to make English Muffins from scratch as well as from scratch biscuits that are similar to the kind that come from a can. (They can be frozen too, and baked from frozen.)
Today, for example, I am learning how to reuse scraps of food. We had carrots last night, and I've used onions this past week, so today I am making chicken stock. I also had some celery ends from when I ate celery over the weekend. All those go into a pot with two bone in chicken breasts and fill with water. Boil for a while and strain once through a colander and then a second time through cheese cloth. I freeze them in one cup bags so that when I need a cup of chicken broth, it's there. No chemicals, no msg, no preservatives, and no salt. But tons of flavor!!
I am also learning how to make jam and freeze veggies. I have been shopping the reduced for quick sale shelves lately. Am I embarrassed to admit that? Yes. Is that reality right now? Yes. (So I guess I'm learning humility too.) Anyway, last week I got 6 green peppers for $2, when they are usually $1 each. There was nothing wrong with them, they were just getting a smidge soft. I bought them, took them home and cut them into strips and put them in the freezer. I used some a few days ago in our oven baked fajitas (recipe on and they were delicious.
I have similar plans for carrots. I can get a two pound bag for a dollar, and carrots are the kids' favorite vegetable right now. Clean them and peel them, cut into coins and blanch. Drop into an ice bath and then package for freezing (keeping the ends for more stock, of course).
So I'm learning to live within my means. And for me, that means a lot of cutting back. I'd like to cancel our cable, which could save us some more money, and probably help me to play with my kids more. Maybe we'll revisit that when I clear up my minor health problems (eye scratches, conjunctivitis, and some other issues- it's been a brutal two weeks!!!) Speaking of which, I should probably go put my eye drops in. I've been on antibiotic drops for 3 days now for the left eye, after having done a week for the right. I said it had been rough!
But stay tuned to see what else I am learning how to do. Sometime this week, I am going to attempt to make English Muffins from scratch as well as from scratch biscuits that are similar to the kind that come from a can. (They can be frozen too, and baked from frozen.)
Saturday, August 17, 2013
5 or so drafts waiting
I have sat down a million times to update my blog and my adventure into being a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom), but with that comes a few distractions. OK, a LOT of distractions. I have at least 5 drafts that are thoughts rolling around in my head and updates that will probably never make it to a post status. I think they'll be fine though. As in I'm going to try not to lose any sleep over them. I will try to update more often, as I am going to need some sort of outlet. But for now, here goes:
I enjoyed my summer with my kids. I truly did. But I also thought that I'd have found a job by now. I get depressed when I think about it, so I try not to, which doesn't do anything to solve the problem. I have a good amount of retirement saved up in the system, but I can't even apply for that until November (4 months after you stop paying into it you can ask for it.) So September, October and most of November will suck. Hard.
I've done a lot of planning and prepping. I have one more paycheck coming to me, and with that, I will finish my stocking up of food, to make sure that my kids eat every day, and eat well. I am still terrified that the decision I made will have more complex implications than I can realize. But I know I made the right decision. When I can get my retirement money, we will have enough to get us out of debt completely, other than the house and student loans. I hope and pray that the planning I've done will be enough. >BR>
I've been making a lot of homemade things, and the kids and husband have taken to them. Especially the bread. Making a lot of casseroles and then freezing half of it for another day. My most recent homemade was jam, both blueberry and strawberry. They are both great! Cost-wise, I don 't think they are comparable, as I can get a large jar pretty cheap, But the taste!!! OMG the taste! I made three of each kind and only used 2/3 c of sugar per recipe. The sweetness comes from the fruit itself, which was fairly inexpensive at the farmer's market. The kids love it too. Next I am going to make my own ketchup.
Now, the timer from the microwave is going off, telling me that dinner is done and therefore I am too. I have a million and ten more thoughts in my head. Hopefully I'll be back no later than Monday to continue the exodus of thoughts. And Nathaniel starts preschool Monday, so I will need an emotional outlet. HOw is he 4 already? I only blinked once!
I enjoyed my summer with my kids. I truly did. But I also thought that I'd have found a job by now. I get depressed when I think about it, so I try not to, which doesn't do anything to solve the problem. I have a good amount of retirement saved up in the system, but I can't even apply for that until November (4 months after you stop paying into it you can ask for it.) So September, October and most of November will suck. Hard.
I've done a lot of planning and prepping. I have one more paycheck coming to me, and with that, I will finish my stocking up of food, to make sure that my kids eat every day, and eat well. I am still terrified that the decision I made will have more complex implications than I can realize. But I know I made the right decision. When I can get my retirement money, we will have enough to get us out of debt completely, other than the house and student loans. I hope and pray that the planning I've done will be enough. >BR>
I've been making a lot of homemade things, and the kids and husband have taken to them. Especially the bread. Making a lot of casseroles and then freezing half of it for another day. My most recent homemade was jam, both blueberry and strawberry. They are both great! Cost-wise, I don 't think they are comparable, as I can get a large jar pretty cheap, But the taste!!! OMG the taste! I made three of each kind and only used 2/3 c of sugar per recipe. The sweetness comes from the fruit itself, which was fairly inexpensive at the farmer's market. The kids love it too. Next I am going to make my own ketchup.
Now, the timer from the microwave is going off, telling me that dinner is done and therefore I am too. I have a million and ten more thoughts in my head. Hopefully I'll be back no later than Monday to continue the exodus of thoughts. And Nathaniel starts preschool Monday, so I will need an emotional outlet. HOw is he 4 already? I only blinked once!
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Feeling Like Superwoman
So for the past few weeks, I have been putting together a list of crock pot meals that can be frozen. I was planning to take the Tuesday after Memorial Day to do a cook-a-thon and go shopping, put all these meals together and freeze them. I wanted to do it before I had both kids out of school for the summer. I made my grocery list, which ended up being two pages long. I was ready to go on Tuesday.
Like all my best laid plans, this didn't happen either... BUT, it actually worked out so well for me anyway. I had my list and my budget and took Nathaniel with me. We went to Aldi first. When we were done there, we went to Fairplay. FP was having a sale on bone in chicken. Anyone who knows me knows that I despise bone in chicken and God help me if there's skin on it, but I'm trying to save money. (And yes, already fried chicken with bones and skin is fine. I'll fuck that up easy!)
So my grocery list was: 30 chicken breasts, 6 pounds of stew meat, 2 lbs pork loin, 6 pounds of ground beef, 2 lbs ham, 8 chicken thighs, 1 lb drumsticks, and 2 lbs bone in chicken breasts. My veggies were a bag of onions, 4 pack multicolored peppers, 6 green peppers, 5 zucchini, 1 lb carrots, 1 bag baby carrots, 1 bag frozen corn. Fruit: 1 lime, 2 oranges. Canned goods were numerous. Box of chicken stock, box of beef broth, 10 4 ounce tomato sauce (Recipes called for 8 ounce cans, but they didn't have them. I subbed.) 2 cans of green chiles, 10 can diced tomatoes with chiles, 2 jars of minced garlic, 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes, 5 cans of cream of celery soup, 4 20 oz cans of pineapple chunks, 28 oz can of enchilada sauce, 1 can black beans, 4 6oz cans of tomato paste. Spices/misc were herb and garlic marinade, hoisin sauce, teriyaki sauce, 2 dry mix of onion soup, 2 taco seasoning packets, egg noodles, and a 24 oz jar of salsa.
So it was a lot to get. Plus I got 2 packs of strawberries, a bag of apples and oranges, a box of cocoa pebbles, 6 more packs of pork chops, 2 bags of potato chips, a large bag of shredded cheddar cheese, a large bag of shredded mozzarella cheese, 2 packs of hamburger buns, a pack of hot dogs buns, 5 noodles sides (Knorr kind, 3 rice sides (Knorr, again), two boxes of mac and cheese, diapers, a few packets of yeast (gonna make some bread and some pitas), a few boxes of Jiffy corn muffin mix, and a gallon of milk.
My car was stuffed to the gills! I had a few bags in Veronica's car seat even! Nathaniel told me I wasn't allowed to put anything there, But I needed the space. Now guess my grand total. Go ahead!!! I'll give you a minute. Do do do dooo, do do do. Do do do do do! Do do do do do. Do do do do do do do do. Ok, Enough Jeopardy. You get it.
My grand total was $207!!!!!! I am beyond thrilled! I bought all that stuff for so little. I had to process the stew meat recipes today, since they were on super clearance given that their sell by date is tomorrow. But I got a great deal on the other meat too. I made 12 pork chops (thin sliced) for dinner tonight and the 12 of them were $5. I already had the asparagus we had with it, and I used one of the noodle sides with it. So for $6 all 4 of us had dinner. You can't bet that! Plus we have pork chops left over for lunch tomorrow. (Pat and I are STUFFED!)
It's a good feeling.
Some of the recipes I am making are pesto chicken (shit, forgot to get pesto!), Mongolian beef, sloppy tamale pie, teriyaki chicken, ham and pineapples, a goulash type stew, beef tips and gravy, BBQ chicken (two different types), green chile pork stew, orange chicken, enchilada wraps (chicken), some twice baked potatoes to freeze, shredded chicken and homemade chicken stock, chicken caccitore, lime salsa chicken and beef stroganoff without mushrooms, thankyouverymuch. A lot of these recipes are doubled to make two bags for the freezer. I am looking forward to making these bags tomorrow, now that I have what I need.
I also plan on making my own baking mixes, brownie mixes, gravies and seasoning blends (like taco seasoning, Cajun seasoning, etc). We'll just have to wait and see how those turn out. I think I am going to really enjoy this summer!
Like all my best laid plans, this didn't happen either... BUT, it actually worked out so well for me anyway. I had my list and my budget and took Nathaniel with me. We went to Aldi first. When we were done there, we went to Fairplay. FP was having a sale on bone in chicken. Anyone who knows me knows that I despise bone in chicken and God help me if there's skin on it, but I'm trying to save money. (And yes, already fried chicken with bones and skin is fine. I'll fuck that up easy!)
So my grocery list was: 30 chicken breasts, 6 pounds of stew meat, 2 lbs pork loin, 6 pounds of ground beef, 2 lbs ham, 8 chicken thighs, 1 lb drumsticks, and 2 lbs bone in chicken breasts. My veggies were a bag of onions, 4 pack multicolored peppers, 6 green peppers, 5 zucchini, 1 lb carrots, 1 bag baby carrots, 1 bag frozen corn. Fruit: 1 lime, 2 oranges. Canned goods were numerous. Box of chicken stock, box of beef broth, 10 4 ounce tomato sauce (Recipes called for 8 ounce cans, but they didn't have them. I subbed.) 2 cans of green chiles, 10 can diced tomatoes with chiles, 2 jars of minced garlic, 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes, 5 cans of cream of celery soup, 4 20 oz cans of pineapple chunks, 28 oz can of enchilada sauce, 1 can black beans, 4 6oz cans of tomato paste. Spices/misc were herb and garlic marinade, hoisin sauce, teriyaki sauce, 2 dry mix of onion soup, 2 taco seasoning packets, egg noodles, and a 24 oz jar of salsa.
So it was a lot to get. Plus I got 2 packs of strawberries, a bag of apples and oranges, a box of cocoa pebbles, 6 more packs of pork chops, 2 bags of potato chips, a large bag of shredded cheddar cheese, a large bag of shredded mozzarella cheese, 2 packs of hamburger buns, a pack of hot dogs buns, 5 noodles sides (Knorr kind, 3 rice sides (Knorr, again), two boxes of mac and cheese, diapers, a few packets of yeast (gonna make some bread and some pitas), a few boxes of Jiffy corn muffin mix, and a gallon of milk.
My car was stuffed to the gills! I had a few bags in Veronica's car seat even! Nathaniel told me I wasn't allowed to put anything there, But I needed the space. Now guess my grand total. Go ahead!!! I'll give you a minute. Do do do dooo, do do do. Do do do do do! Do do do do do. Do do do do do do do do. Ok, Enough Jeopardy. You get it.
My grand total was $207!!!!!! I am beyond thrilled! I bought all that stuff for so little. I had to process the stew meat recipes today, since they were on super clearance given that their sell by date is tomorrow. But I got a great deal on the other meat too. I made 12 pork chops (thin sliced) for dinner tonight and the 12 of them were $5. I already had the asparagus we had with it, and I used one of the noodle sides with it. So for $6 all 4 of us had dinner. You can't bet that! Plus we have pork chops left over for lunch tomorrow. (Pat and I are STUFFED!)
It's a good feeling.
Some of the recipes I am making are pesto chicken (shit, forgot to get pesto!), Mongolian beef, sloppy tamale pie, teriyaki chicken, ham and pineapples, a goulash type stew, beef tips and gravy, BBQ chicken (two different types), green chile pork stew, orange chicken, enchilada wraps (chicken), some twice baked potatoes to freeze, shredded chicken and homemade chicken stock, chicken caccitore, lime salsa chicken and beef stroganoff without mushrooms, thankyouverymuch. A lot of these recipes are doubled to make two bags for the freezer. I am looking forward to making these bags tomorrow, now that I have what I need.
I also plan on making my own baking mixes, brownie mixes, gravies and seasoning blends (like taco seasoning, Cajun seasoning, etc). We'll just have to wait and see how those turn out. I think I am going to really enjoy this summer!
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