Coffee Chat - Out of Character

Hello there.

There's coffee as always, tall glistening goblets of iced water,  a bowl full of ripe peaches and nectarines, oatmeal cookies...Just help yourself and then sit down and let's have a bit of a heart to heart talk, okay?

Do I appear a little different?  Well I am.  I'm myself today, not Penny Ann, but Terri.  I've put Penny Ann aside for a little bit because frankly I needed a break.  I need a break.

Ten years ago, after completing two years of online writing courses sponsored by the University of Berlin, I was so eager to write...I just didn't know what to write about, lol.  My life had been a normal enough life, if limited in overall scope.  I'd been writing for years upon years, as a poet, unpublished but convinced I had an inkling of talent.  I wrote consistently for a good 25 years before setting it aside and taking  a break from writing.  Then we moved here, I worked at two or three jobs, quit each one and finally settled down to become a homemaker, a housewife, a stay at home mom to my two school aged children.  After the year or two it took to get my household in order, I had time on my hands and so I started the online courses via internet because I'd never lost my dream of writing.

The classes helped me to decide that while I enjoyed reading all types of books, my writing voice was best heard in two mediums: poetry and real life experience/inspirational pieces.  That's where the best of who I was came across.  The last class I took was a year long course, and lest you think it was just a silly internet thing with no degree, all the courses were very good, with a real honest to goodness  university professor at the helm and we were graded, critiqued and treated as students, without paying a fee or having the degree at the end of the course.  I learned a great deal.

So I embarked into writing.  Some few online sites, e-zines, etc published my work, a few hard copy lesser known magazines, a Chicken Soup for the Soul submission was accepted.  I have to say that the inspiration which birthed Penny Ann Poundwise was probably my most prolific and long running portion of work.  And in December of this year, I will have been sharing via the Poundwise household for ten years.

Penny Ann was a God given inspiration, born one night as I lay in bed well after lights out, wondering how to break into writing on my own.  I knew immediately that a yahoo group of my own could be developed as a launchpad for a newsletter, but what to write?  If we were to write what we knew best, then how did I translate being poor and stretching dollars into writing?  And what would the newsletter be called?  And then, pop, there it was in my head:  Penny Ann Poundwise.

I got up the next morning and sent out my intro letter and ten people subscribed.  I was in business!  lol.

At first, Penny Ann Poundwise was a sort of marriage between who I was and who I really wanted to become.  An imaginary mentor of sorts.  Gradually as time has gone on, I grew less fearful of letting the real me shine through here and there, but always I tried to remain 'in character.'  Penny Ann has been a wonderful mentor.  I learned a great deal about writing during this time, about researching and editing and time management and dedication and appropriateness, and yes, honing and honing those frugal skills.  I've learned so much.   But I've grown up and out.  Penny Ann is a very tight fit.  Too tight.  I need more room.  She's a great girl is Penny Ann, but one dimensional.  If it hasn't anything to do with home and frugality she's not very comfortable to work with, lol.  I need more room.

In the past two years, as Granny's influence in my life decreased, and as Kay (Katie in real life) grew and graduated and flew away to make her own little nest, my vision of who and what I am has changed, too.  To be perfectly honest, I'm not where I thought I might be at this point in my life when I was looking ahead ten years ago, and I'm not even sure where I'm going at the moment.  There have been a number of things I thought were absolute givens that aren't.  And so here I am.  Me.

Twenty years after writing my last poem, I'm finding my poetic voice wants to be heard now and then once more.  I'm opening my heart and letting poetry out.    I want to stretch my focus beyond just the money matters of life and get down into the meaty heart of living in my writing.  I want to be who I am but also have room to continue to grow, moving beyond and into something more.  Does that sound reasonable?  Sensible?  Understandable?

So what does this mean?  It means I've been in prayer a lot lately.  Asking God what He wants me to do.  I've been waiting for an answer for a good while, watching as He subtracts things from my life and trying hard to see just what the path before me looks like.  It is time to set Penny Ann Poundwise aside.  She's been a wonderful hostess, hasn't she?  But yes, it's true, it's time for her to bow out and retire. 

Not that I mean to stop writing.  Not at all.  Just that I won't be Penny Ann anymore.  I'll be me.  A real life woman with a heart for God and family and home and hearth.  A frugalite with a passion for living well.  An imperfect person trying to better herself.   A woman confounded by where she finds herself at mid-life, looking to find the path that has become overgrown.  

So...Will you join me?  Will you come along and see where the journey takes me?  Are you willing to say so long to Penny Ann and hello to me?

If so, then please come join me.  Penny Ann posts will remain here for a time, but I'll no longer be posting.  I can't say just where I, myself, will end up, but I'd really love to have company along the way.

So...  Say goodbye to Penny Ann.  Say hello to me.

Still a bona fide homemaker, a country girl, a wife, mother, grandmother, member of the Bon Bon club, but not Penny Ann.

  www.inthebluehouseonthehill.blogspot.com

Make Do and Mend Mondays

Remember to visit Heidi at http://www.thecranberrychronicle.blogspot.com to link to the Make Do and Mend Mondays.

I've had a slow week or so here and I don't have much to show, but I did reuse two items.  The first photo shows an idea I borrowed from friend Tammy, http://www.playforamoment.blogspot.com

I thought it was brilliant when she showed it on her blog.  I didn't have an empty antique canning jar (so farmhouse cute!) to use but I did have this little jar and it works well enough. 

Second is my own idea.  I have been looking for my popsicle molds for a month.   I was convinced they were in the shed and looked and looked.  I have told you my shed is fairly organized and I can usually find things easily.  And it was until Alan's room mate moved and some of his things got put in my shed, then Kay bought furniture and more things got put in my shed and months of going in and sort of tossing things in general direction of where they are to go ensued.

So I went out this week to gather up what I thought was a big box of trash...Only it turned out to be a little bit of paper and empty boxes tossed on top of a box of things that had been set out and never sorted into proper areas.  There were my popsicle molds!  In they came to be washed.  Chance likes for me to wash items that will hold our foods in the dishwasher.  He believes the higher hot water temperature and the soap are better about removing germs than simply hand washing.  With the popsicle sticks though, how to keep them from being thrown all over the dishwasher and possibly into the bottom of the machine was a problem.  This was my solution:

I set the bag on the first shelf after fastening shut with a bread sack twist tie woven through the mesh.  It worked like a dream!  I felt clever for at least 30 seconds.

That's my 'make dos' for the week...What have YOU done?

Menu Monday: Finishing Up

Well here we are with just two days left in the ALL YOU grocery spending challenge.  Having just finished my dinner (frozen leftovers thawed while the freezer defrosted) and having just recently completed a new freezer inventory sheet and cleaned the chest freezer, I am more than ready to plan a week's meals.  I learned a good deal about my shopping and about how loosely planned meals here truly are.  I've always said the menu plan was a guideline to remind me what I have to use than an actual menu plan and I think looking at my challenge menus you'll find that statement is very true!
Monday:  Curried Chicken with Yellow Rice, Tomato and Cucumber salad, fresh peaches
No expense added to the month's challenge using these items...I defrosted the chicken and rice as I worked on the freezer, chopped the tomato and cucumber I had on hand.  Easy, good and quick.

Tuesday:  Pigs in Blankets, French Fries, Coleslaw
I'll mix up homemade biscuit dough (and cut out biscuits too while I'm at it) to wrap around the hot dogs (froze half a pack left after we ate them two weeks ago).  The sort of easy meal I'd like to come home to after the work of grocery shopping.

Wednesday:  Sweet and Spicy Chicken Wings, Asian Style Noodles and Vegetable stir fry
Most all of these foods are on hand too, but I'll add a handful of fresh snow peas, a few pieces of fresh broccoli to the overall  mixture just for additional texture and vegetables.  I make my own version of a teriyaki sauce that is very good.  Leftover wings will go into freezer for a future meal.  I bought a big family pack and had to tip the wings myself, so I will cook them all at once.

Thursday:  Beef and Mushroom Pasta, Green Salad, Crusty Bread, Peach Melba
I've had this recipe lying out all month long.  Lasagna noodles are cooked and served with a sirloin cube and mushroom sauce...It's a fairly simple recipe and it looks delicious in the magazine photo...Will it live up to it's potential?  I sure hope so!

Friday:  day out for me
Promised Mama this day to have lunch with her, so no cook day for me.

Saturday:  Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches, Chips, Homemade Ice cream sandwiches
I can prepare this meal ahead from roast beef leftovers and we'll just heat when we come home from synagogue.  An easy enough meal, hearty enough to be lunch/supper.  Somehow we only seem to get two meals on Saturdays anymore so this will work beautifully for us.

Sunday:  Fried Chicken, Hash brown casserole, Fresh green beans, sliced tomatoes
I froze most of the chicken given to us last week, so I thought I'd thaw and reheat in the oven while the potato casserole cooks.  And if there are any peaches or nectarines left I might make a small cobbler and shove that in the oven at the same time too.  Provided it's not blisteringly hot come Sunday....In which case we'll have something entirely different, lol.

Grocery Challenge - Week IV

The last full week of the challenge (though I may need to add two days next week to make a full month) has not been difficult at all.  I've learned a great deal. 

1:  There are some things I need to stock up more heavily upon and some are just about right as they are. 

2:  Forgotten methods of trimming costs do return.

 

3:  We have far more food than I thought we had in the house. 

4:  I probably can trim my grocery budget by about 1/4 and we won't notice too much of a difference.  I've stayed in 'feed the family' mindset and there's only the two of us. 

5:We are frequently blessed with foodstuffs.  I listed our blessings for this past week in my Frugal Friday post for last week. 

6:We didn't 'suffer' for this week.  I just thought differently about what I was buying and the quantity I was used to buying.  We managed snacks and meals without privation.  We ate meat nearly every day of this challenge

Monday:  breakfast:  Scrambled eggs, hash brown potatoes, toasted Muffins, coffee

lunch:  Leftover Spaghetti, Toasted Bread, frozen lemonade

       supper:  *Steak, *Corn on the Cob, sliced tomatoes 

Eggs, muffins, and potatoes on hand from last week.  The entire meal at lunch was leftovers from the week before.  Between lunch and dinner, I went over to see Mama.  While out I stopped at the local grocery and picked up a variety of grocery items, which included sale priced steaks, corn on the cob, bread, milk, lettuce, cheddar and cold cuts. 

Tuesday:  breakfast:  Pancakes, *Sausage, syrup

lunch:  Veggie Cheese Pizzas, sodas

supper:  *Club Sandwich, Chips, pickle spears

I used pancake mix, the remnants of two bottles of syrup, one good maple, one good homemade with maple flavoring.  The sausages were bought on clearance at the start of this challenge and were in the freezer.  Lunch was Chance's treat to me.  He was very specific that this was his treat, coming out of his allowance and not to come from my challenge budget.  Wasn't that sweet?  Our supper consisted of leftover bacon, swiss, lettuce and Saturday's tomato purchase, pickles from fridge.  My sole purchase for this meal was the turkey coldcuts.

Wednesday:  breakfast:  Bagel and cream cheese, coffee

Dinner:  Fried chicken, Macaroni Salad

work lunch:  Cold Cut sandwich, grapes, Heirloom cherry tomatoes with blue cheese dressing,  *Hershey bar, water, soda, *peanuts

supper:  *Nachos with leftover mango salsa

Every item used was either frozen or pantry and purchased weeks ago, except the cheddar on the nachos and the other starred items.

Made a loaf of *banana bread this week, using up the leftover bananas from last week.  Discovered two broken eggs in this dozen...That is getting to be an old old story.  I check them carefully before purchase, the clerk at the checkout checks them...Is it the bag boy breaking them when handling them?  The last two eggs, so had to buy eggs when I went to see Mama, so I could finish banana bread.

Thursday:  breakfasts:  Fried eggs and toast (Chance)

1 slice banana bread and mango smoothie (me)

work lunch:  Fried chicken, macaroni salad, Banana bread, Celery stuffed with cream cheese, peanuts, soda, water

supper/lunch:  Freebies given to me:   pimento cheese sandwich, chicken breast, coleslaw

I felt too nervous to eat prior to the memorial service.  Instead I went without.  Mistake.  Made headache turn to sick migraine.  Yuck.  Came home from memorial service to lie down.  Alan brougt foods from Mama's: chicken, sweet potatoes, coleslaw, tomatoes, pimento cheese sandwiches.  He had as much stuff for himself as he gave me...

Friday:  breakfasts: peanut butter toast (Chance)

cereal with blueberries (me)

work lunch:  Cubed steak sandwiches, *wheat thins, carrot/celery sticks, oatmeal cookies, soda, water, peanuts, peaches/cottage cheese

dinner:  Tomato and Basil Mayo sandwich, lemonade

supper:  Burger, tomato slices, mac salad

Saturday:  breakfast:  Waffles, sausages

work lunch:  Pimento cheese sandwiches, chips, lemonade, peanut butter crackers, Lettuce and tomato salad with macaroni salad atop, oatmeal cookies 

dinner:  6inch Cold Cut Subway, chips, nectarine

supper: cereal

Sunday: breakfast: banana nut bread, coffee 

work lunch: pimento cheese sandwich, 6 inch cold cut Subway, chips, oatmeal cookies, nectarine

dinner:taco salad

supper: * french fries

My taco salad was made up of some leftover spaghetti sauce re-seasoned with cumin and chili powder to make a different dish from it.  I'd meant to make Calzones this week but simply didnt feel I wanted anything that tasted like pizza.    Note that supper was a single item.  My salad at lunch was pretty substantial.  The meat sauce was made with lots of vegetables and I added tomatoes, lettuce aplenty.  I wasn't terribly hungry come supper time but wanted something.  Frozen fries heated as oven fries suited me, kept it lower in fat and hit the spot.

*foods purchased

Steaks  $7.91

5 ears corn  $1.99~with leftovers

Turkey coldcut packet  $3.89

     Lettuce   $1.69

bread  $2.99

milk  $3.99     

             cheddar  $4.19

18 large eggs  $2.29

sausages $1.99~with leftovers

peanuts $1.99

Hershey bars:  $3.00

Carrots 1#  $.69

bagels $1.00

2 6-packs soda $6.66

wheat thins  $1

bugles: $3

Subway sandwich $5

Chips $3

local nectarines and Peaches $5

frozen french fries $3.99            

$65.26

I ended this week with leftovers of every single item on my above list except steak and the Subway sandwich.  These foods will easily carry me through the final two days challenge without adding any further costs to my month, in addition to pantry/freezer items on hand when the challenge began.  I feel the challenge was a success and while I cannot show cash as savings, I do have more full pantry shelves and as much meat in my freezer as when I started so I deem the month over all a success.

Average of spending over 4 weeks: $51.64 per week.

Frugal Friday/Living Well

The week has been pretty much blurry as far as I'm concerned, but there were savings all the same.  I just need to count down the days in my mind and perhaps I'll remember most of them...

Saturday:  I made an easy on me breakfast before we left home, earlier than usual:  Scrambled eggs and warmed over muffins, leftover from yesterday's baking session. 

Took bottles of water with us to drink, instead of buying sodas.

We were treated to dinner out.  The Mexican restaurant had a table filled with fresh produce and some of the biggest, most beautiful ripe tomatoes.  We bought a basket of the tomatoes, shared with friends and still had four huge tomatoes.  Cost was $4 and well worth it, let me assure you.  We made supper of BLT's off those tomatoes.

When I cooked the turkey bacon, I prepared extra.  I always fill the pan right up and bake all at once each time I turn on the oven.  I find it takes just 30 seconds in the microwave to reheat and is well worth the energy savings.

Purchasing those tomatoes and planning to have BLT's tossed our plans for supper out the window:  I'd meant to stop for a Subway sandwich for us.  We saved money and had tomatoes aplenty leftover.

We made sure to turn AC up to 79F before leaving home that morning. 

Sunday:  Mama woke me up earlier than I'd meant to get up on Saturday.  I got on up and went to make coffee, feed the dogs.  Maddie, nor the cat finished their food, so I poured back into the container to save from ants.

Made up a big pot of spaghetti, using the last zucchini, grated carrot (last in a bag), chopped onion (leftovers from fridge), a jar of pasta sauce (leftover from fridge), tomato paste and cooked hamburger.  I had nearly 1 quart of sauce left and as much pasta, too. 

We went into town to be with family...Again I'd mentioned going to Subway but we came home to thawed and reheated Chicken Rice instead.

Bought Sunday paper while we were out for the Proctor and Gamble coupons.

Poured unfinished water glasses and bottles into a pitcher to save to water plants.

Chance washed and hung to dry a full load of clothes.

We turned up AC to 77F.

I don't think we turned on TV at all that day...

Monday:  I washed a mixed load of towels and sheets. Meant to hang on line but gully washer of a rain roared out of nowhere and poured...I dried sheets first, and then put towels into warm dryer so they dried more quickly.

Reheated leftovers for our midday meal after meats taken from freezer didn't thaw.

It felt like a treat but was really just a clever makeover: lemonade, juice from a maraschino cherry jar, ice cubes equals frozen pink lemonade.  Nice.

Went into town and stopped at grocery on my way home, buying milk, bread and good sales items...and yes the produce was bought locally, it looked very nice this week!  Lettuce, corn...yum.  If I had corn I had to cruise the meat aisle to look for steaks too.  They were sale priced and very affordable for just two.

We cooked only the amount of corn we wanted for supper.  I wrapped the other two ears and put in the freezer.   Did you know you can bake, grill or microwave fresh corn in it's husks?  The silks peel right off with the husks when you shuck the corn.

Saved water corn cooked in and added to pitcher of saved water on counter.  Watered potted plants on front porch with that vitamin rich water.

Tuesday:   Chance suggested we order new shredder online.  I agreed if the cost was lower than the one I'd priced at Bed Bath and Beyond plus what it would cost us for gasoline to go pick one up.  None to be had, so we drove to WR...And discovered the shredders were sale priced this week.  We spent $14 less than I'd anticipated spending on the previously priced shredder.

Chance wanted to go into Kohl's (next door to BB&B) so I could look for new sandals.  Mine from last year have worn out...No shoes that I liked in my size available.  We did however for a TALL shirt for him which had the length he needs for his long torso.  It was half priced, cost no more than I'd expected to spend on sandals.

Chance treated me to lunch out.  He reads my blog and knows all about the challenge. "This is my treat to you.  Not to be counted into your food budget..."  Yes sir!  And thank you very much!

We stopped and filled the car on our way home.  We continue to go with that medium grade gasoline because our mileage has improved so much using it.

Having eaten lunch out, I scratched Subway off my list permanently for this week, lol.  We had Club sandwiches, using up the extra bacon I cooked on Saturday.

Wednesday:  Turned up AC immediately upon rising at 5:45am.

Made Banana nut bread from two over ripe bananas.  Tossed in a handful of mini cinnamon chips for extra goodness.

Fed two cracked eggs to dogs after checking to make sure they smelled okay.

Had a cooking marathon.  I cooked sausages ahead for weekend breakfasts, fried cubed steaks and chicken breasts thawed on Tuesday morning, made up a big batch of macaroni salad.  I doubled the batch of macaroni salad, so I can add a can of tuna later in the week to make lunch/dinner for us.

Turned on vent to draw hot air and grease out of house while I cooked.

Had to go into town, took off trash, visited Mama, picked up mail,  bought eggs and Tylenol.  I made the trip out count.

Thursday: 

On the receiving end today.  I got 7 pcs fried chicken, five pimento cheese sandwiches, a bag of sweet potatoes, two tomatoes, a pint of coleslaw and a floral arrangement.  Lots of stuff...

Not feeling well, I took it easy.  Packed Chance's lunch using pre-cooked meat.

Froze chicken, used sandwiches for supper and work lunch.  Potatoes and tomatoes good for a few days more. 

Thawed and baked oatmeal cookie dough for sweet treats.

Chance washed a load of clothes, as a medium load, being sure to turn water levels down.  He only partially dried them in the dryer, then hung to finish drying.

Friday:  Turned up AC.

Poured food Maddie left into bucket.  She is very inconsistent in the amounts she eats these days so I can never measure it correctly.  I can however, stay right there with her and when she is obviously done eating, take up the leftovers to put back into the food bucket.

Filled dishwasher and washed a full load. 

While running water to preheat for dishwasher, I rinsed dishes, and then, when it turned warm, I filled the sink to wash the few dishes I needed to do by hand.

Washed zippered bags to reuse.  I seldom mention doing this but I still do it consistently.  We've discovered the savings is worthwhile. I do not reuse bags which contain meat, cooked or uncooked.

Poured up leftover water from last night's bottles into the pitcher to save towards watering plants.

Pinched back basil and petunias pretty hard.  Yes, it looks 'bad' at the moment but the pay off will be new growth and renewed vigor.

Disassembled that 'free' flower arrangement and created three bouquets for the house.  I used the last of last pay period's $4 purchase to fluff out one of the three.

Packed two pimento sandwiches in Chance's lunch for tomorrow.

Used plastic bags from purchases the other day to line waste baskets.

Shredder box saved to use to pack up dishes that are moving out.

Combined mailings to family members.  All packaged and ready to mail tomorrow morning on my way to synagogue.

Decided rest was in order when I found myself feeling bad this morning.  It's a great cure all and often will kick start the immune system so no medicine or doctor visit is needed.

Froze leftover spaghetti sauce for a future makeover meal.

Stopped to consider the grocery challenge and how it's worked for us thus far.  Truth time: I see where easy savings may be made here and there without a compromise of quality in eating.  I won't be trimming our budget to $50/week on foodstuffs but we'll not be spending close to $100 a week anymore on foods, personal care, pet and paper products either.  I think challenges like this periodically can really jolt you awake after you've slipped into a routine.  It's good to polish up the frugal ninja kitchen skills ;-P
 
Living Well

Comfort.  We all need a little now and then.  There are good ways to self-comfort and bad and I think I've learned the difference over the years.  After living as a compulsive eater for 20 years, to be free from that habit these last 20 years is bliss.  There are certain foods I will not buy and bring into my home and on the rare occasion when they are eaten a very strictly limited quantity is all that may be consumed.  Those are bad comforters.    But little things like a favorite coffee cup, a tattered old quilt to wrap oneself in, a certain perfume that you spritz on only when feeling bad...Those are good comforters that do no damage.

I needed a wee bit of comforting this week.  It's not been a grievous week though some think it so.  No, not grievous, but hard.  It's hard to deal with family at the best of times and sometimes hard things bring out bad qualities in others.  It's been tiring with little good solid rest.  I've been fighting off some minor ailment for two weeks now.  Not ill, just not quite up to my usual spunky busy self.  I had a lot on my heart.  So I wrote in my journal for hours several days.  I talked to Chance.  I spoke to my kids. I played  mindless computer games while I thought things out and sorted out the tangles of complicated relationship issues. I took coffee on the front porch and remembered sweet days past.  I cooked loads and stored it for later and felt wealthy for the good meals in the freezer.  I indulged in harmless treats: fresh mango and homemade yogurt smoothie as breakfast one morning, hot coffee mid afternoon because I wanted it, not anyone else, a frozen lemonade (just ice cubes and a cup of lemonade from a carton).  Out of the ordinary, not something I'd do every day sort of beverage treats.

Today's indulgence is resting.  I managed housework earlier today.  As I told Chance, we've not lived hard in the house this week so it was relatively easy to clean.  But I did feel bad and snuggling in my chair with a good book sounds just the sort of comfort I need at the moment.  It's a Shabbat activity that I'm allowing myself to indulge in on Friday instead and it feels nice.  And maybe a cup of hot cocoa even if it is full blown summer. Because that sounds cozy and nice too...

Comfort.  That's what I need and how wonderful to have healthy ways to indulge.

Grocery Challenge - $25/Week per person, Week III

Another week...How did I do?  Only one more to go after this week.  I'm curious to see how my month stacks up!

Monday:  Breakfast: Toast and Eggs for Chance, nothing for me.  I opted for coffee, using canned evaporated milk from pantry in my coffee since I was out of half and half.

Lunch: Chance had Chicken sandwiches made from the chicken I brought home after lunch out with Mama on Sunday.  I had nachos using the last Roma tomato, a bit of the avocado and chips bought two weeks ago.  All items for this meal were leftovers from last weeks food purchases.

Supper: Homemade burgers*, Homemade buns.  Made enough to go into Chance's work lunch for tomorrow.  I had a soda with my burgers, from 6pk bought on sale a month ago.

Tuesday:  Peanut butter toast for Chance and myself, coffee for both of us.
                  lunch:  I bought *chicken fingers, fries and soda while out shopping...only my dinner wasn't what I ordered, I ended up with buffalo fingers instead.  Saved 2/3 of those for use as a Buffalo Chicken Salad later this week (enough to serve 2).  I counted this as groceries since I used grocery money to buy it and since I'll get three servings from it, I'm not minding so much counting it in.
                  supper:  *Frozen pizza, had enough left for another night's supper.
Chose to try the store brand rising crust pizza, which cost a good $1.50 less than the popular brand pizza.

Wednesday:  Breakfast:  cereal with *berries, toast, coffee
                       Dinner:  Chicken Parmigiana, *Saladw/* Blue Cheese dressing Garlic Toast, Brownies
                       Supper: Reheated pizza
Bought blueberries and strawberries this week. Won't use all the strawberries (will put some in the freezer) but plan to use all the blueberries as I want to make muffins for breakfast.

Thursday:  Breakfast:  French Toast and *Turkey Bacon
                    Dinner:  Cheesy Corn Enchiladas, *Fried Green Tomatoes, *Green Salad with *Mango Salsa
                    Supper:  *Hot Dogs, Coleslaw

Friday:  Breakfast:  Cheese Eggs, Toast
               Dinner/worklunch:  Buffalo Chicken Salads, Strawberry Smoothie
               Supper:  Berry Muffins and Coffee
I ate such a late lunch (after 2:30) that I wanted something lighter for supper.  I thought I'd make berry muffins since I had both blueberries and strawberries in good supply.  I didn't purchase any of the baking items especially, they were all from the pantry and freezer except the eggs and berries.

Saturday:  Breakfast: Turkey bacon, Eggs, Muffins
                   Dinner: out with synagogue group
                   Supper: Turkey bacon, lettuce, *tomato sandwiches
We were taken out for dinner at a Mexican restaurant and they had lovely baskets of the most beautiful BIG ripe tomatoes. Chance and I agreed that we had to have a basket and we'd make BLT's for supper even though we were about to eat dinner, lol.  We finished off the last bits of the package of turkey bacon, the last of the first loaf of bread and we're nibbling on the last of the lettuce leaves at this point.  But hey!  We've got tomatoes! lol


Sunday:  Breakfast:  Cereal with Banana, Toast
                Dinner:  Spaghetti with Garden Vegetable Sauce, French bread
                Supper:  Chicken Rice with Saltines, Fruit and Cheese
I used up the last of the old bag of carrots, the last zucchini and some onion from the fridge, a bit of bell pepper from the freezer and added to a partially used jar of pasta sauce that had been in the fridge.  I added some ground sirloin.  I'll have leftovers of spaghetti meat sauce and will use that in next week's menu.
The Chicken Rice is from the batch made two weeks ago and frozen.  I expect these leftovers will morph into a second dish as well.



Groceries for this week's meal:
2 pounds of ground sirloin           $5.98
Takeout lunch                           $10.59
frozen Pizza                                 $3.49
lettuce                                         $1.69
Blue Cheese dressing                 $1.70
Blueberries                                 $2.00
Strawberries                               $1.98
Turkey Bacon                            $2.99
Mango                                       $1
lime                                              $.20
jalapeno pepper                           $.29
Red bell pepper                         $1.66
Green Tomato                           $1.50
Hot dogs                                    $1.50
2 loaves bread                           $3.00
1 gallon milk                             $2.68
1/2 1/2                                       $1.85
Tomatoes, BIG                         $4.00
Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes      $1.50
Meyer lemon                             $. 33 
                                              $44.08                                              

Menu Monday - Carrying On

I've said before and I'll likely say again, The world can be coming to an end, but someone wants to know "What's for supper?" just the same!  Well the world hasn't ended, the heart is only a little sore, and life does indeed go on.  Menu plans for the week follow.

Monday:  BBQ Chicken, Potatoes au Gratin, Garden Pea Salad, Sliced Tomatoes
We hadn't made any big plans for today and I'm glad we didn't.  A simple meal at home will suit me  best today.

Tuesday:  Calzones, Green Salad
Leftover spaghetti sauce will make an easy dinner for today.  I'll make up half a batch of pizza dough.

Wednesday:  Tuna Salad Stuffed Tomatoes, Crackers, Grapes
Hot weather, busy days require easier meals.  This one will go equally well into the work lunch.

Thursday:   Cubed Steaks, Squash Casserole, Potatoes with Green Beans
With fresh produce abounding, it's nice to return to meals such as I ate in childhood.  The table burgeoned with fresh prepared produce then.

Friday:  Sloppy Joes, Buns, Chips, Coleslaw
I'll 'stretch' the sloppy joe meat with lots of addtional vegetables.  I learned this trick from a Weight Watcher's cookbook and it truly is a tasty meal. 

Saturday:  Pasta with Ricotta and Tomato, Green Salad, Fresh Baked Bread
I found a recipe on one of the Brands (can't remember which one) sites for an easy and delicious sounding pasta dish.  It's 1/4 cup butter mixed with 1 cup ricotta and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 diced tomato, 2 tbsps fresh juliened basil, and 8 ounces hot, cooked Fettucini pasta.  Mix and serve.

Sunday: Leftovers
The challenge is very nearly at an end, and I want to use all the foods left from this week's meals.  I am sure there will be a few things that will need to be used.