Cheaper Than Take-out!

Last night's dinner was a treat for me after getting a major job completed. I was in the grocery store in the late afternoon picking up some fruit and I came upon these stir-fry bags on markdown. This one is snow peas, broccoli and bok choi with a sesame pepper sauce packet. At $1.49 I thought it was worth a gamble. Once home, I added some diced chicken breast and marked down mushrooms. I served this over brown rice, along with a fruit salad consisting of berries from our garden, grapes given to me and 2 marked down bananas. All-inclusive, dinner for the entire family cost about $5. That's really not too bad. And it was quite delicious. The sauce packet was flavorful enough even with chicken and mushrooms added. I didn't need to add a single extra thing.

And this is for Carol -- quickie marinara from tomato paste.

• tomato paste
• olive oil
• garlic powder or granules
• dried oregano
• minced basil
• cayenne or other ground red pepper (optional)
• salt
• water
• microwavable bowl

I stir this all together in the microwavable bowl, heat and either toss with pasta or use as pizza sauce. 

I haven't been frugal this past week,

but then again, I haven't been not frugal (if that makes any sense).

I'm still here, just busy with a big assignment, taking care of the home and arranging repairs, and being a mom.

When I'm really busy, spending money on anything takes a back seat for a while. Shopping is time-consuming. We've eaten mostly from our supplies at home, with one very brief grocery shopping trip to pick up vegetables and fruit. If I had had more time, I might have browsed the store longer and found items that I thought we needed, and spent more. But as it turned out, we really didn't need more than some bananas, blueberries, carrots and broccoli to get through the week. I also didn't shop for anything for the house or personal stuff. Just no time. So there is an upside to being especially busy.

Simple meals at home often take less hands-on time to prepare than driving out to pick up dinner at a restaurant. My simple meals are not at all in the gourmet-league, more like fried hotdogs with rice and plain veggies, or ramen noodle soup enhanced with chicken and vegetables. Tonight it will be some sort of quick pasta dish, making a quickie marinara sauce from tomato paste, herbs and garlic powder, then poured over cooked noodles. A few more weeks and I will have more time for better meals again, and blogging more, too!

I hope all is well at your end.