Frugal Indulgences -- A Survey

As I filled my bathtub with hot water, laced with scented bath oil, I reflected on what a luxury this is. Not too long ago, a luxuriating hot bath was something  not available to many people. Before the age of indoor plumbing, baths were for Saturday night, were taken in a small portable metal tub, most often in the kitchen. Heating enough water for one of these baths was done over a stove, one kettle at a time. A bath of more than an inch or two of hot water just wasn't feasible.

Fast forward to today and all I need is a bathtub, water that's been pre-heated in the water heater, time and privacy. I make my baths extra indulgent by adding essential oil fragrances, oils, baking soda, ground oatmeal, flower and herb bath tea, dim lights, and music. I can do all of this with what I have in my house.

Here's another favorite frugal indulgence of mine. I make myself a special cup of cocoa, using whatever milk I'm currently drinking, baking cocoa, sugar/sweetening, vanilla extract, and mini-marshmallows. I make this in the microwave, just one cup at a time. I try to make the cocoa special in some way, with vanilla or almond extract, marshmallows, whipped topping, extra cocoa powder, candy canes, whatever I can dream up, using what I have in the kitchen.

Thinking about this prompted me to wonder just how many ways there are to indulge ourselves, frugally. And I thought this would make a good topic for another survey. I'll leave the survey open for a few days, then compile all of the results into one post. I plan on using your ideas as my go-to list of how to provide that needed pampering during stressful times, with little or no extra expense. I've also opened a spot for $5 and $10 indulgences, which I thought might not only be nice for ourselves, when we can afford it, but also perhaps some nice ideas to treat someone else, for an occasion or when they seem to need a little indulging.

Anyway, share your thoughts and ideas! It's completely anonymous! I'll leave this up for a couple of days in case you have more thoughts to add. You can fill this out multiple times.

Cheap & Cheerful Suppers for Mid-May

Friday

• pork fried rice, using leftover pork roast, carrots, cabbage, asparagus and onions, plus brown rice
• scratch vanilla pudding

Saturday (husband cooks)

• black bean tacos, using kale in place of lettuce, and canned tomatoes in place of fresh
• carrot sticks

Sunday (husband cooks)

• tomato-vegetable soup
• homemade breadsticks
• leftover Boston Cream Pie (daughter made this early in the day to have at lunch)

Monday

• leftover soup
• leftover breadsticks
• leftover vanilla pudding

Tuesday

• leftover soup
• grilled cheese sandwiches
• leftover cake

Wednesday

• whole wheat penne with bolognese (a fancy name for basically spaghetti, right?)
• broccoli
• (I had my bolognese over the last of the asparagus, then had a potato on the side)

Thursday

• homemade pizza (brown rice, topped with pizza sauce for me)
• cole slaw

I'm cooking a separate dinner for myself each evening. I am temporarily "off" gluten and dairy. (The bloating and pain went away overnight; sadly, the abdominal fat did not.) So, while I make these meals for the rest of the fam, I microwave myself a potato, scramble an egg, fry some turkey bacon, slather apple wedges with peanut butter, top chopped celery with egg salad, and heat veggies. It's all working out well for me, in some ways better than usual as I can eat only when I'm hungry and not feel I need to eat as much as I serve everyone else. It's also a good excuse to eat bacon. ;-) All of the weeknight dinners have been simple ones, which makes everything super easy for me.

How about you? Anything interesting on your menu this past week? Any outdoor plans for this weekend? Is the weather expected to be nice where you live, this next week? I am volunteering in my once-per-month job with a charity luncheon, tomorrow, and hopefully seeing my daughter in a performance in the evening. It should be a busy day for me.

Have a great weekend!

My Own Piece of Victorian History

This is one of my great great grandmother's irons. She had two irons that I know of. I always wondered why she would need two irons, after all, my own mother had just one iron and that was completely satisfactory.

Watching Victorian Slum House this week filled in the blanks for me. My great great grandmother had two irons, so that on ironing day, she could keep one on the stove at all times, and have a hot one to work with for afternoon without wasting time waiting for an iron to heat up.

Words of wisdom from one of the children in the Slum House, "every penny counts when you're in Victorian times because it could be the one penny that gets you your meal." This child was telling jokes on a street corner in London, for a penny a joke. She described the work as embarrassing, but she was willing to do this for the benefit of her family.

We're obviously far removed from needing to take on humiliating or back-breaking work to feed our families, or request any of this of our children. So, it is difficult to imagine this life.

If there is a lesson to be learned from this show, for me personally, it is to work hard whenever there is opportunity, plan for tomorrow, because one never knows what difficulties may lie around the corner, to appreciate the blessings that I have today, and to be compassionate with someone who has less than myself.

How about you? What have been your thoughts on this show, if you've been following? And I'm guessing that I'm not the only one who owns one of these old irons. I see them in vintage and antique shops frequently, so there must be many of them out there. Do you have one, too? What do you use yours for? Mine is a book end for some of my cookbooks.

No-Sew Method for Making Tea Bags for Loose-Leaf Tea

I prefer if my homemade tea bags look "pretty" but sometimes speed take priority. Here's how I make tea bags for loose-leaf tea in a jiffy, for 1/4 cent each.

I use a basket-style paper coffee filter, the smaller size, bought at WinCo, or Dollar Tree, for about 1/2 cent each filter, and an ordinary stapler.

Take one filter and fold in half.

Cut the filter into two wedge shapes, and open each up.

Place two to three teaspoons of loose tea on one side of an opened filter half.

Fold the filter over. On the straight edge, fold the edge over once, then a second time, and staple shut.

On the rounded edge, fold in two sections, over twice each section, and staple shut. There you go, one pre-filled tea bag for use with loose-leaf tea. They're not pretty, but very functional, require no sewing skills, and can be made in about one minute. I make a few at a time, for the same ease as commercial tea bags. I know, I could use tea balls, and I do. Sometimes, though, I'm too lazy to wash them out. Cheers!

Um, I'm Thinking of Christmas Already

Confessions, I am planning Christmas 2017 already.

I found these canning jars on closeout at Fred Meyer a week ago, for $6.69/dozen. That's 55 cents per jar. I know, I can get canning jars for 29 cents each at Goodwill. But, those don't have brand new lids.

To give you a cost comparison --The value of the lids and bands, alone, is about $3.59 (at Target, for a dozen regular lids and bands). At Target's price for the lids, plus Goodwill's price for lid-less jars, these jars, with brand-new lids would have cost 59 cents each (4 cents more than this case of new jars/lids), if I had bought them that way.

In addition, this particular jar size is hard to come by, second-hand. It's the 4-ounce squat jar. This size is not terribly practical for preserves for the family. However, it's the perfect size for many homemade gifts.

One of my gift plans is homemade beeswax candles. I've been acquiring beeswax from Michael's when I have 60% off coupons. I have two pounds, so far, which should be enough to make about 8 candles in these jars.

If I use some of these jars, along with my coupon-purchased beeswax, I could make beeswax candles for about $2.75 each, wicks included.

This similar beeswax jar candle sells for $6, plus $7.00 shipping, on Amazon. And that's a "good" price for beeswax candles.

Anyways, am I the only one thinking about Christmas, already?

Using a Small Bit of Time to Do One of Those Pesky Tasks

I had just put the hair color in my hair, so I had about 20 minutes to kill.

I've been meaning to repair my purse. The strap has been about to come off for the last 3 weeks. I had forgotten to fix it, and would only remember as I was picking up my purse to go somewhere.

20 minutes was just the right amount of time to take care of this nagging problem, and get my purse back into serviceable shape. Tools I used:

• embroidery needle
• upholstery thread
• Sharpie marker
• rubbing alcohol

I had all of this on hand. If I hadn't had the upholstery thread I would have tried dental floss or heavy duty quilter's thread. I stitched the strap back onto the bag, then went over the light-colored thread with a Sharpie.

I touched up some of my messiness with the Sharpie with the rubbing alcohol. Good enough, right? And when I buckled the strap on, any lack of straight stitching, or too dark Sharpie is concealed, for the most part.

The bag looks good enough to continue using, and the strap is no longer about to come off. Bonus was that this did not cost me a penny to do. I've just bought myself more time while I think about replacing this 11 year old, cheapo purse.

If you had 20 minutes to kill, what task would you tackle?

Cheap & Cheerful Suppers for Early May

Friday (Cinco de Mayo)

• beef and bean burritos (using leftover pot roast from the night before, black beans, cheese, and salsa that was a Friday Freebie a month ago)
• grape tomatoes
• tangerines

 Saturday (husband cooks)

• scrambled eggs
• rice and lentils
• canned tomato
• strawberries and banana slices

Sunday (husband cooks)

• noodles in peanut sauce
• fried carrots and onions

Monday

• kale and mushroom frittata
• brown rice
• sliced strawberries
• rhubarb pie

Tuesday

• lentil, ham and kale soup
• drop cheese and green onion biscuits
• rhubarb pie

Wednesday

• hot dogs in home made buns
• sauteed kale in ham fat, blended with oil
• rhubarb sauce
• baked beans
• brownies 

Thursday

• roast pork loin with gravy
• plum chutney
• oven-roasted rosemary potatoes
• asparagus

As you may have noticed, some spring fruit and vegetables showed up on my menu this week -- kale, rhubarb, green onions, rosemary, and asparagus. Not all of it grew in my garden, but having spring foods does perk up the menus. I've been working in the garden this week, and now I eagerly anticipate its bounty.

Sunday is Mother's Day. I want to wish all of you mothers a wonderful Mother's Day. I hope that you celebrate in a way that is meaningful to you. Does any one have any favorite things that they do on Mother's Day?

Have a wonderful weekend!

I Watched Episode 2 of Slum House, Got My Garden In, and Scratch Brownies Using 1/4 the Butter (and 3/4 Oil)

I watched Victorian Slum House, episode 2 last night. It was good, again, and pointed out many of our modern perspectives. There seemed to be a focus on single women and children in this episode.

We're so accustomed to single mothers capably providing for their children that it is hard to imagine a time when even if a single mother wanted to find work outside the home there simply weren't many opportunities. I did think that the single mother didn't plan for herself and children as well as perhaps she could have. But maybe that is hindsight. As we discussed the other day, she could have shared housing. I don't know if she completely understood the different attitudes toward public assistance of modern times compared to Victorian times. It is easier to feel like someone will "rescue" us should we make a poor choice, today, than would have been present then. I also feel like children today don't always understand hard work as well as they would have in Victorian times. I'm not criticizing this mother or her children, but it did seem like they brought modern values into their roles. All that aside, aren't we all so fortunate to have comfortable beds to sleep in, a hot cup of tea or coffee each day to wake up with, a decent meal to fill our stomachs, even if it's just a PBJ, and a hot shower to clean off each day?

I found myself stressed over the characters' financial situations. I really wanted the single mother to succeed. I wanted the older gentleman to find work. I wanted the Irish immigrant guy to have a bed to sleep in. I also realized that my feelings were in part due to living in a place and time where I do. In Victorian times, the struggle to survive was so intense in the slums that everyone had to focus on themselves and their own situation.

What I realized watching this episode was that I would not be able to pluck feathers off of a chicken, not and keep my lunch down. Oh my goodness. I felt so sorry for that young woman. But she did what she needed to do, and I admire that in a person. I don't know if I'll be blending milk into butter to stretch it. Perhaps. It occurred to me, though, that with modern mixers this job would be a quick one, perhaps doing this in a bowl with mixer just prior to baking something from scratch, like a cake, which could use any butter on the beaters/bowl in the batter, after scooping out the blended butter to a container. Maybe I will give this a try.

The other residual effect from watching this show was feeling guilty for wasting time. I tried a couple of times during the day to watch the show, but kept feeling like I should "make hay while the sun shines" and get the garden planted and the baking done for the day. As a result, I did get all of the garden, proper, planted, except for cucumbers (they have to wait for slightly warmer soil), and the deck pots. I even planted the carrot seeds that I saved from a carrot plant last summer, and the parsley seeds that I harvested the year prior. I need to select one plant to save seeds from this season, maybe lettuce. And I didn't watch the show until the late evening.

One other funny observation -- the women's hair. I no longer feel bad that my hair sometimes looks less than tidy, when I've been working around the house. I have many days where I jump into work before tending to those pesky tasks like brushing my hair.

In the baking, I made my favorite scratch brownies. This is a wonderful recipe that can be microwaved or baked in a conventional oven. I was using the oven for hot dog buns, so I chose a conventional oven yesterday. The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of butter. I decided to try using just 2 tablespoons of butter and a scant 3/8 cup of oil, in place of the called-for amount of butter. They turned out well. No complaints at all.

In other butter news, yesterday's post was before I discovered this -- our local Cash & Carry has butter on sale through the 14th for $2.38/lb. For some of you that may sound like a fantastic price. It's a lot more than what I paid for butter when I really stocked up there, 18 months ago, so it's hard to swallow. I'm debating over how much to buy.  It won't be a huge stock-up, as that price will be repeated or beat, most likely before the fall baking sales. Some butter will be better than no butter.

What stood out to you about episode 2, if you've watched it, or episode 1 if you're catching up? Did you feel you gained anything from watching, as I did with wanting to make the most of my daytime to work outdoors before the sun set, or rain came back? How did you feel about the attitude towards what is women's work vs. "the more important" men's work? The show raised an important issue that effects today's world, too, that of devaluing the older worker. I think society shortchanges itself when we fail to recognize the value of experience and wisdom in our elder work force. (Okay, stepping off my soapbox now.) Anyways, what were your thoughts?

I Didn't Find a Butter Deal This Spring, So Now I'm Rationing the Butter

ham fat from the freezer -- not too pretty

We are down to our last couple of pounds of butter. I didn't find any stellar deals, so I am rationing what is left. I use oil wherever I can, and saved fat from meat, like this ham fat, that I keep in the freezer.

I am cutting the butter into one teaspoon portions, to "help" everyone take a smaller amount. Mostly, it just serves as a reminder to not take too much, as there is nothing stopping someone from taking 3 cubes of butter for a slice of toast. But it does seem to be working.

I'll get back to making soft butter, by blending oil and butter, later this week, I think. In the meantime, this is probably good for my own dietary fat intake.

In a Baking Mood Yesterday

The weather is still on the chilly side, here. I did a little work in the garden. Honestly, though, it's just not the kind of weather that draws me outdoors. So, in the kitchen I stayed for the afternoon.

I baked a batch of overnight cinnamon rolls, and frosted with cream cheese icing in the morning.

Then in the afternoon, I baked three rhubarb custard pies. Two of those pies went into the freezer, for future days, when I do feel like being in the garden, or am otherwise tied up.

With the pies, it makes a lot more sense to make several at a time. My pie pastry recipe makes enough for five crusts. I froze two crusts as patties, to use for quiche or other pies, on another night. Making enough filling for three pies doesn't feel like too much more work than for one pie.

I have more rhubarb than I know what to do with right now. Any good rhubarb recipes you'd care to share?


[links: pie pastry recipe, rhubarb custard pie recipe]

Perspective

I'm sharing this because I think it's an awesome show for putting perspective on modern, challenging economic circumstances. When we think we have it tough, sometimes it helps to be reminded of how fortunate we truly are. If you have a roof over your head, a comfortable bed that you only share with someone else because you want to, and enough food to keep you satisfied, you are blessed. Anyway, the show is Victorian Slum House, currently available on PBS.org, through this link.  PBS allows free viewing for only a limited time per episode, so if you're interested, check it out soon. (I believe the free viewing expires May 30, 2017.)

A peculiar after-effect for me, I was really hungry for homemade white bread after watching this episode!

If you've watched this already, what did you think? Were there any lessons learned for you? Could you see ways that people could have helped themselves better? How do you think you would fare under similar circumstances?

Cheap & Cheerful Suppers for Early May

Friday

• cheese, spinach, onion and olive pizza, really good (the spinach was thawed, frozen spinach)
• cole slaw

Saturday (husband cooks)

• noodles in peanut sauce
• pumpkin with almonds

Sunday (husband cooks)

• pasta with tomato sauce
• cheese biscuits

Monday

• whole wheat pasta with
• ground beef marinara sauce (made with tomato paste, onions, garlic, seasonings and ground beef)
• cheese to top the pasta
• spinach and onions sauteed in ham fat and oil
• pumpkin snack cake

Tuesday

• scrambled eggs
• garden kale, onions, garlic, sauteed in oil and soy sauce
• brown rice
• last of the pumpkin snack cake

Wednesday

• egg salad sandwiches
• canned corn, blended with last of some tomato pasta sauce
• carrot sticks

Thursday

• pot roast, with onion gravy
• mushrooms, carrots, and potatoes

I put into practice some of the ideas and inspirations from the survey a couple of weeks ago. I made a large batch of pasta sauce, and froze a bunch to have handy for future meals. (Pasta noodles were one of the quick supper ingredients to have on hand, and spaghetti made with jarred or frozen sauce was one of the top go-to meals for busy nights.) I made a quasi-breakfast for dinner on Tuesday, with scrambled eggs, some veggies and rice. Thursday, before leaving for the museum in the morning, I put a pot roast into the crockpot; then when I returned in the afternoon, I added the carrots, mushrooms and potatoes. It all worked well, this week, and gave me time to do some other things.

So, how did your week go? Any quick-cooking meals this week that you'd like to share with us? I have another survey idea. Would you be interested in answering a 1 or 2 question survey in about a week?

Have a great weekend!

Indulging My Champagne Tastes on a Tap Water Budget

So, I ran through our budget the other day. Having the roof repaired, the car repaired, a new water heater installed, 4 new tires put on the car, an unexpected medical bill paid, and a lost pair of glasses replaced, all since December, has put our budget in a tight bind. But I refuse to live like a pauper. If all I can afford is tap water, well, then, I'm going to make that glass of tap water taste fantastic!

Yesterday, I made myself a wonderful pot of tea, using a tea bag that I received free in the mail, a while ago (a Twinings offer). I also made another batch of dark chocolate almond bark, using chocolate chips and whole almonds from the pantry (yum!). In the evening, I packed a dinner and met one daughter on campus, and the two of us had dinner and a show. My other daughter was able to score two free tickets to the production she's in and gave them to daughter number one and I.

And today, daughter number one and I are going to the Seattle Art Museum together. It's the free day for the month, so no cost on admission for either of us. There are tables just outside the cafeteria there, for us to have a nice lunch together; so I've packed us a bite to eat. My daughter had to visit an art museum this week for an assignment, and she has the morning free. This worked out well.

My glass of tap water is tasting might fine, today.

Have You Noticed This?

In the last few years, many holiday or summer foods have gone on sale a bit more in advance of the holiday/season than in years past. It happened here with eggs, this year. Instead of the week leading up to Easter, eggs were on sale two weeks before Easter at one store, then not on sale in that week when they've traditionally been.

Ice cream is seen as a summer food, in many places. It's not at all summer here, yet. We won't have summer for another month. Yet, Fred Meyer advertised a bunch of ice cream products for a 4-day sale this week, long in advance of when most in my area would be buying a lot of ice cream. The Party Pails (1 gallon) were on sale for $2.99 for four days. The sale overlapped with Senior Discount day, so for me, the Party Pails were $2.69. Two years ago, we bought a Party Pail, "on sale" in summer, for $3.99 (regular price is $5.99). The $2.69 price was too good to pass up. I bought our summer's supply of ice cream, 4 pails.

My guess is the marketing works like this -- in the shoulder season leading into the traditional season for a product, retailers lure you into buying their product, with a low price. You use that product, and enjoy it. Then when the real season hits, you are hooked on their brand for that product, and you repeat purchase at a higher "sale" price. That's just my guess. I've seen this with a few other seasonal or holiday items.

Or, maybe I'm just really cynical.

Back to the ice cream. Even if it turns out that all summer long, Fred Meyer advertises their Party Pails at this same low price, I won't be out any money. I seriously doubt they would put this on sale for any less than what I paid yesterday. I did the math. The typical brick-style container of ice cream weighs 48 oz, or 1.5 qts. A Party Pail contains 2.666 of that size container. At $2.69/Party Pail, my cost per smaller 1.5 qt container is $1.01. I never see ice cream on sale for that price in my area. So, I know I got a great deal.

Of course, all of this ice cream isn't even for me, sadly. I can't eat this stuff in servings more than a spoonful. But my family will love it.

16 Fabulous, Reader-Generated, Quick and Easy Suppers

Here are 16 of your fellow readers' tried and true quick and easy supper ideas (from the survey two weeks ago):

photo: By Adonis Chen from Keelung, Taiwan (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)],
via Wikimedia Commons, retrieved, 1 May 2017, from  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AFried_rice_by_Adonis_Chen_in_Keelung%2C_Taiwan.jpg
Fried Rice

The key to quick and easy fried rice is to use leftover cooked rice, leftover meat (if any), and pre-chopped veggies, such as frozen,or previously chopped, by you or commercially.

photo: By jeffreyw (Mmm... cherry tomatoes on pasta) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)],
via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved, 1 May 2017, from 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACherry_tomatoes_on_pasta_(14530170849).jpg
Spaghetti (any pasta) w/ tomato-based sauce
 (sausage, veggie, or ground meat)
Dried pasta is a quick cooking grain food. The key to a quick and easy pasta dish is to have ready-made (by yourself or commercial) marinara, adding pre-cooked meat or sausage if desired. Alternatively, make a simple tomato sauce from canned tomato paste or whole or chopped tomatoes, with additional seasonings, often just as good as a long-simmered sauce.

photo: By Dllu (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved
1 May 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AChicken_fettuccine_alfredo.JPG
Pasta with Alfredo, or a Simple Butter and Cheese
Alfredo sauce is butter, cream, Parmesan, garlic and parsley. Black pepper, salt, nutmeg optional. You can sub milk and cream cheese for the cream and part of the Parmesan. Add cooked chicken chunks for extra protein, and cooked broccoli to turn this into a one-dish supper. Simpler still -- cooked pasta, topped with olive oil/butter and grated Parmesan -- no cream needed.

photo: By jeffreyw [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMmm..._Tacos.jpg
Tacos
Soft-shelled (in flour tortillas) or in crispy corn tortillas. The key to quick and easy tacos is to have pre-cooked, pre-prepared fillings, such as pre-cooked meat kept in the freezer, pre-shredded cheese, pre-cooked rice/lentils or beans. Add some raw veggies and salsa, and you're done!

photo: By Bonbon from Brooklyn [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AQuiche_with_carmelized_onions.jpg
Quiche, Crustless Quiche or Baked Frittata
Eggs, milk/cream, veggies, cooked meat, cheese, all stirred together and baked with or without a crust makes a simple dinner, that doesn't require standing at the stove. Go put your feet up while dinner bakes. The key to a quick and easy traditional, in-crust quiche is to keep ready-to-bake pie shells in the freezer (commercial or your own home-made).

photo: By Peteravivangel (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AShawarmafood.jpg
Burritos -- Traditional, Breakfast, or Anything Goes
The key to quick and easy burritos is to have pre-cooked beans on hand (canned or your own frozen), pre-cooked rice, and pre-shredded cheese. Add any veggies that need using up, top with salsa and roll up. For breakfast burritos, wrap cooked eggs, veggies, rice, salsa and cheese in a flour tortilla. A lot of leftovers can be rolled in tortillas for "anything goes" burritos.

photo: By Tomwsulcer (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ADinner_at_Friendlys_restaurant_quesedillas.jpg
Quesadillas
Quesadillas are simply flour tortillas, grilled or fried with cheese, cooked meat, veggie fillings. Use traditional fillings like cooked chicken/beef and cheese, tuck in lettuce, tomato, avocado after grilling, or, use up leftover veggies, along with cheese and chili powder or other seasonings and grill. 

photo: By jeffreyw [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved, 1 May 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AGrilled_cheese_sandwich_with_roasted_tomato_soup.jpg
Grilled Cheese Sandwich and a Bowl of Soup
Always a classic, grilled cheese and tomato soup, but any soup will suffice. The key to the simple soup and sandwich meal is to use a canned or homemade soup (big batch and freeze in meal portions). Grilled cheese sandwiches can be made with American, Cheddar, Swiss, or Mozzarella cheese, then either have them "plain" or tuck in cooked bacon, ham or sliced turkey or chicken.

photo: By Janine from Mililani, Hawaii, United States (breakfast!  Uploaded by Fæ) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABreakfast!.jpg
Breakfast for Dinner
Breakfast for dinner can be as simple as a fried egg and toast, or stack of pancakes or waffles, or the full-on eggs, cottage cheese, potatoes, sausage, bacon, toast, waffles, and fruit. Add leftover cooked veggies to scrambled eggs for added nutrients. If you start with fried or scrambled eggs, then add whatever leftovers need using, and you'll have a quick, hearty and easy supper in a jiffy.

photo: By Gesalbte (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AChef_Salad.JPG
Main-Dish Salad
This can be in the form of a Chef's Salad (greens and raw veggies with boiled egg, cheese, cooked meat, cooked beans such as garbanzos, and/or nuts) or a Taco Salad (greens, raw veggies, taco meat and/or beans, cheese, and tortilla chips). A good, easy dressing for a taco salad is homemade 1000 Island, ketchup, pickle relish and mayo. For something spicier, sub salsa for the ketchup. 

photo: By Michael J. Bennett (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ARoasted_Chicken%2C_Butterflied%2C_on_Potatoes%2C_Baking_Pan_01.jpg
Roasted/Baked Chicken or Fish with Veggies and Potatoes on a Single Baking Sheet
Pop it all into the oven on one baking sheet and you are free to take a break while dinner cooks. Pair quick to cook chicken or fish, like chicken tenders, boneless, skinless thighs or breasts, with chunks of potatoes, thick slices of carrots, and whole green beans, for even cooking. For bone-in chicken pieces, use larger chunks of potatoes or veggies. 

photo: By FotoosVanRobin from Netherlands [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHachee_1.jpeg
Cooked Meat (Ground or Chunks) with or without Gravy, Over Mashed Potatoes
This could also be served over cooked pasta or leftover rice. For speedy potatoes, use dehydrated potato flakes. Add a vegetable side dish and salad and supper is ready.

photo: By Legendre17 (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACosta_Rican_Gallo_Pinto.jpg
Rice and Beans Latino-Style
Mexican, Cuban, South American -- rice and beans can be quick and easy. The key to speed is to either use pre-cooked (by you or commercially) beans and rice, or use an instant pot/pressure cooker. Season with garlic, chopped onions, chili powder, cumin and salt. Add a salad and you have a complete meal.

photo: By User:MECU (self) (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AOval_Crock_Pot2.jpg
Crockpot Chicken Thighs in Honey/Soy Sauce
Reader suggestion -- "add hot rice and a veggie and I'm done." Sounds super easy and hearty.

photo: By Evan-Amos (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACast-Iron-Pan.jpg
Cast-Iron Skillet Chicken Dinner
Reader suggestion -- "turn heat on cast iron skillet, throw a chicken thigh in (about one per person depending on how big they are), as it cooks cut it into small pieces, toss in a sliced onion or two, add salt and pepper, deglaze with white wine. serve with quinoa or pasta and steamed (frozen) veggies (which have been cooking while the rest of this is going on)."

photo:By phototram (http://flickr.com/photos/phototram/1386097707/) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0) or CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AFishcake_on_salad.jpg
Crumbed Fish, Salad, and Kumara
I had to do a little research to uncover what this dish might be. I am guessing that "crumbed" fish is a fish fillet, breaded (hence the crumbs), and kumara I think is sweet potato. Kumara is a type of sweet potato sold in New Zealand and Australia. I hope I got this one correct. It sounds good, balanced, and filling.

I hope something in the list was inspiring to you, for your own quick and easy suppers. thank you all for participating!

April 2017 Grocery Budget Journal

Going into April, I have $383.99 to spend, which includes the carry forward surplus plus allotted amount of $190. I thought about lowering the budget this month, but chose to save that for next month, instead.

March 31. As I mentioned at the end of March, I would consider any purchases on the 30th or 31st of March as part of April's spending. I stopped at Cash & Carry on the way home from an appointment, mostly for eggs, but also wanted cheese and fruit. I bought a 15 dozen case of large eggs for $14.07 (not quite 94 cents/dozen). these are sold as loose pack, which means they aren't in cartons, but are on sectioned trays which are stacked in a box. I also bought a 5-lb loaf of sharp cheddar cheese for $12.47. The sharp cheddar is 50 cents more per pound that mild cheddar, but I enjoy sharp so much more that I can use less in cooking, making this choice affordable, as well as lightening the impact on my digestive system. I also bought a 5-lb bag of shredded mozzarella, for pizzas, for $10.98. Shredded cheese whether cheddar or mozzarella, is less expensive for me. But loaf cheese is nicer for having as slices or cubes in snacking, or alongside a piece of toast and fruit for breakfast or lunch. I bought a 40-lb case of navel oranges for $15.98 (that's about 39 cents per pound), 17 bananas at 47 cents/lb, and a 5-lb bag of Pink Lady apples for $3.48 (just over 69 cents/lb). Pink Lady apples are a late fall apple, so they keep well into the early spring weeks. I spent $59.68, which always feels like a lot to me, when I'm not buying any meat. But I remind myself that I did buy 60 pounds of fruit and enough eggs for 2+ months and cheese for at least 1 month.

I know this sounds redundant but I really tried to buy foods in the most economical way possible this shopping trip. For example, I did buy a 40-lb case of oranges. As they were under 40 cents per pound, this is a very economical fruit for us. In contrast, the apples were 69 cents per pound; so I view them as the "luxury" fruit for us this week, and only bought 5 pounds. The case of eggs sounds like an unbelievably excessive amount. But in actuality, we will go through this case in 2 months. And in the meantime, I will have saved at least 5 cents per dozen in comparison to eggs on sale during Easter week.

April 4. Senior Shopping day at Fred Meyer, 10% off of house brand groceries, beauty, and hygiene, plus kitchen and household stuff and gardening supplies. I bought the lightbulbs which we desperately needed, and bath tissue, fem supplies and vitamins, as I'd planned. In the food depts, I bought 1 gallon of milk (not on sale, but I got a discount of 10%), cost $2.33, 2 15-oz jars of natural peanut butter, on sale, had coupon and got discount, $1.20/jar, 1 loaf of day old whole grain bread, 69 cents, flour tortillas, 10-ct, 89 cents, I bought 3, hot dogs, 8 ct, 80 cents, I bought 2, two 1/2 gallons of soy milk, sale, coupon, and discount, $1.75 each, 7 dozen eggs, 89 cents/dozen,  jar of salsa, freebie, Lara bar, freebie, 1 Lindt chocolate bunny, after coupon $2.50, and a bunch of vegetable gardening supplies, spending $23.14. When I checked out, I was given a $1 off coupon for any purchase, so as soon as I put my groceries in the car, I went back into the store and used that coupon for one more Lindt bunny, $2.50 after coupon. I now have enough chocolate bunnies for all four kids (if you remember, last summer I bought 2 large gold foil Lindt chocolate bunnies at Kohl's with a coupon, for 9 cents each. I've had those tucked away since then, and they'll go to two of the kids and the new ones to the other two. Total spent on food and gardening supplies, $50.57.

In the gardening supplies, I bought vegetable starts for some cool weather veggies for which I haven't gotten to starting seeds, lettuce, kale, chard, plus some new rosemary plants. I'll plant out these veggie starts, and plant seeds in the next patch over. We'll have salads and greens in a few weeks, instead of a couple of months from now.

Spent so far this month, $110.25

April 7. I was at the bank which happens to be next to a QFC. QFC has some of the better markdown prices on milk. I just don't get here very often to check the dairy dept. However, needing to go in person to the bank, I stopped into QFC. I found 1 gallon of skim milk for $1.49, 1 gallon of 1% milk for $1.49, and 1 gallon of 2% milk for $2.29. The 2% has a pull date further out -- explaining the higher price. I buy all 3, as we can use these to get through the next 2 weeks. Total spent, $5.27.

Spent month to date -- $115.52

It's near mid-month and we haven't had a lot of freebies, in the way of leftovers from events or free meals at events, this month. So our spending so far really does represent what has come into the house. I continue to use supplies from the pantry and freezer. So far, this is working, with no complaints. I will hopefully pick up some asparagus and potatoes, but otherwise, if I don't find any great deals for the rest of the month we will be fine. And we have two birthdays this month, so to be able to do birthday dinners and cake on what we have, means that we are in a pretty good place with our supplies.

April 13. Needed envelopes, so I went to Dollar Tree. While there I bought 2 boxes of crackers. Spent $2.

April 13. Stopped in to Fred Meyer to get the last of the Easter basket items. While there I bought a 10-lb bag of potatoes, $2.49 (yikes!), 5-lb bag of carrots, $2.99, 18-oz packages of coating chocolate, 2-milk chocolate, 1-white chocolate, marked down to $1.89 each, 2 loaves of marked down bread, total of 69 cents (the cashier could not get the second loaf to scan correctly, tried numerous times, eventually she said I could have that loaf for free), 1 box of marked down gingerbread tea, $1.89, 3 red sweet peppers for $1, 4 marked down bananas for 39 cents/lb, 1 package of pudding mix, freebie. Total spent,  $15.31.

So far, I've spent $132.83 for the month.

April 22. I gave my son and his fiancee $20 to go out to lunch, while they visit the nearby islands. I took that money out of the grocery budget. spent, month to date -- $152.83

April 30. Totally out of milk, stopped at QFC to load a bus pass for a daughter for May, and found 1 gallon of skim milk for $2.29, and 2 1/2 gallons of soy milk, at $1.69 each. Total spent $5.67.

Later in same afternoon, same daughter and I took some time together to talk and run errands together. While out, went by Fred Meyer, and bought some Easter candy that was marked down 75%, for next year (really, no one ever eats it in our house, once I've hidden it), and also got 3 Friday freebie items, a bag of some sort of popcorn snack, 2 boxes of Sour Patch candies (they subbed this for the bags offered), and a box of Annie's Mac and Cheese. Total spent, $4.32

Spent for the month --$162.82

What I bought:

Dairy
22 dozen eggs
10 pound of cheese
5 gallons milk
2 gallons soy milk

Meat
24 hot dogs

Produce
40 pounds of oranges
21 bananas
5 pounds of apples
10 lbs potatoes
3 red peppers
5 lbs carrots
vegetable gardening supplies, including seedlings for lettuce, chard, kale, rosemary, snow peas,

Pantry
30 ounces peanut butter
3 loaves of bread
30 flour tortillas
jar of salsa (freebie)
lara bar (freebie)
2 Lindt chocolate bunnies
just over 3 lbs of dipping/coating chocolate for making choc-covered strawberries and other yummy things later
1 box of tea
1 package of pudding mix (freebie)
2 boxes crackers
2 movie boxes candy (freebie)
1 box mac and cheese (freebie)
1 bag popcorn snack (freebie)

This is such a short list for an entire month. Even I can see that. Next month I will have a much larger list. We ran out of a lot of items this month. I will be restocking many of those items tomorrow. I also noticed that I received a lot of freebie items this month. I was under budget by $27.18. We  more than made up for that in the mega car repair bill, though. Oh well.

How did your month end up?

Cheap & Cheerful Suppers For the End of April

Friday

• pancakes and syrup
• last of the milk divided between daughters 

Saturday (quasi-birthday celebration for husband, we let him off the hook for dinner and daughters and I made it)

• lentil-ham soup
• drop biscuits
• carrot sticks
• orange wedges
• birthday cake -- scratch, my daughters made it and it was delicious

Sunday (husband cooks)

• homemade flour tortillas
• beans and tomatoes
• canned pineapple chunks
• birthday cake

Monday

• baked chicken breast
• baked potatoes, topped with chives and cream cheese
• sauteed kale
• stewed prunes
• birthday cake

Tuesday

• hot dogs in bargain buns, from the freezer
• oven fries
• cole slaw
• stewed prunes

Wednesday (only 3 tonight)

• spinach frittata, topped with canned tomatoes, seasonings, mozzarella
• brown rice
• 1 orange, split 3 ways

Thursday

• pumpkin, spinach, chicken, potato, black bean, cream cheese (and anything else I could find) soup
• drop biscuits
• stewed prunes

And we got through another week! You know, I've been feeling like it has been a very rainy and chilly year, since the first of the year. I was thinking maybe it was all in my head. Then I saw a report that said this has been the rainiest October-April stretch on record.  My cabin fever has escalated! I have no idea what this means for summer. The year that we had the longest stretch of snow on the ground in winter (3 weeks in front of our house, really unusual for us), we hit an all-time high temp in the summer of 103. Who knows what will happen this year. 

So, my last project is a video. I'm working on that this weekend, and will get it all done, I hope. We really need me to do some cooking and shopping again. Our meals have been on the slim side. What's been cooking at your house this week?

I Haven't Grocery Shopped in Two Weeks and It Feels Like an Eternity

I just have not had time. I miss time. The interesting thing, though, is how much food we actually have in the house. That last shopping that I did two weeks ago wasn't even a big shop. It was just a couple of items that I thought would get through the next day or two. And then the ignition on my car broke.

I ran out of liquid milk on Saturday. I've been mixing up powdered milk as we've needed it. I am all out of any commercial milk that I can have.  So I made a quick batch of coconut milk yesterday, for my own consumption. We are all out of fresh fruit and are now relying on frozen berries, prunes, and canned pineapple. The fresh veggie supply is limited to 2 carrots, 1/4 head of cabbage, several onions, 3 or 4 lbs of potatoes, and whatever I can scrounge from the garden. I do have canned yams, pumpkin, tomatoes, and corn, still, plus a couple of meals of frozen spinach. It is slim pickins around these parts. Oddly, the kitchen freezer continues to look very full. I keep digging around in there to find goodies. Yesterday, I found another container of pineapple liquid (saved from draining canned pineapple). I've been sick since Saturday, so that tasted good, and helped rehydrate me.

I am wondering just how long I can stretch this limited shopping. Tuesday is Senior Discount day, so I will be adding a milk supply, as well as some fresh produce, tortillas, hot dogs, and cheese.

How about you? Are your grocery supplies dwindling for the month? Just a few more days as the month draws to a close. Be back tomorrow morning!

The Quick Supper Survey Results (with the staples list for items to keep on hand)

That quick meals survey . . .
(By the way, my favorite part of that survey was the image at the top of each page. I don't know if you caught this, but stuff moved in the image, such as the salad was tossed, the wine in the glasses swirled around. I thought that was amusing.)

There were 41 respondents. Here's the breakdown of how the results ended up.

From the moment that you walk into the kitchen until dinner must be served, can you estimate how much time you usually have?

22.2%  20-30 minutes
36.1%  30-45 minutes
41.7%  45 minutes or more

Are you and your family. . . ?

97.2% omnivores (we eat a variety of foods, including animal products)
2.8%  vegan (strictly no animal products)

What are some of the tricks that you employ to keep dinner prep-time to a minimum, when you are busy? (this was a check all that apply question)

44.4%    I prepare make-ahead meals for the freezer, to heat and eat on busy nights     
41,7%    I cook extras on the weekend, we eat leftovers throughout the week      
61.1%    I cook extra on night one, we eat leftovers on night two   
5.6%      We eat a lot of commercial/convenience products, or get take-out often   
72.2%    I prepare simple meals, using minimal, but fresh ingredients   
16.7%    Someone in the family gets dinner started before I return home, then I help as I am able 
47.2%    I use a crock-pot or Sabbath mode on my oven, to start dinner prep before I leave in the morning  
19.4%    We eat non-traditional dinner foods, or peanut butter sandwiches 
13.9%    Other   (take a day to chop fresh vegetables for the week; we usually eat what is in the garden at the time, and we usually eat vegetarian or fish; I batch cook grains, beans, potatoes on the weekends; I use my electric pressure cooker)

What staples do you think would be most handy to have on hand for quick meals?
Listed in descending order:

19 dried pasta,

18 eggs

17 frozen veg (one specified like veggie blends)

15 beans, canned or dry, or frozen, refried or plain and 1 lentils (I listed separately because they’re quick cooking, which makes them good for fast meals)

11 rice

10 cheese

9  pre prepped cleaned fruit/ veg/ salad items, salad mix

8  pre-portioned cook frozen beef, ham, poultry

8  fresh vegetables:including broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, onions

7  ground beef or ground turkey

6  canned tomatoes, tomato paste, rotel, puree

5  potatoes

4  frozen rice portions, orzo

4  canned or frozen soup,

4  convenient fruit/veg sides (applesauce, canned, frozen or whole fresh fruit, etc.)

4  baking supplies such as flour, sugar etc.

4  tortillas, pitas, wraps, taco shells, tortilla chips

4  frozen fish (defrost ahead of time), or frozen shrimp,

3  homemade or jarred of marinara

3  milk 

3  frozen chicken breasts, or boneless skinless chicken thighs

3  canned tuna or salmon

3  bread

3  frozen chicken breasts, or boneless skinless chicken thighs

3  butter

3  sausage,turkey smoked sausage or kielbasa, chicken Italian sausage

2  quinoa, polenta, couscous

2  frozen pesto and other sauces

2  pre-made homemade chicken or vegetable  stock,

2  frozen meat,
2  frozen chicken

2  sour cream,

2  frozen pizza dough/bread,or garlic bread

1  frozen lemon juice in ice cubes

1  unsweetened nut milk

1  saved bacon/ham fat
1  dehydrated potatoes
1  whole turkey breasts and chicken,(for crockpot)
1  proteins
1  cooked fruit and vegetables

1  grilled cheese fixings/panini

1  quick cooking grains

1  cream of mushroom soup (hangs head in shame

1  precooked onions

1  variety of spices and herbs

1  homemade frozen soffrito

That's some list! Look it over and see what jumps out to you. Just because something was only listed once doesn't mean that it's not valuable. It could be one of those ah-ha moments when you think, yes, that would really benefit me. And notice those items that you do probably already keep on hand, but that you never think to use for quick suppers. I listed things in groups where I felt they belonged together. Some things which are vey similar, I listed separately, because I felt they could be used in different ways, or offer more convenience, pre-seasoned, etc.

I will get to the other question in the survey tomorrow or the next day. These compilations take some time, as we all use different words for similar items. Have a great day!

Cheap & Cheerful Suppers for Easter Week (that means a ham featured heavily in meals)

Friday

• scrambled eggs
• brown rice
• oranges
• carrot sticks

Saturday (husband cooks)

• rice and lentils, sort of curry
• carrots

Sunday (husband cooks, we had our ham meal at lunch)

• tomato-lentil-carrot soup
• fried corn tortillas

Monday

• leftovers from Sunday, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and green bean casserole

Tuesday

• leftover ham, mashed potatoes and gravy
• sauteed spinach and onions

Wednesday

• leftover ham
• sweet potato chunks
• French bread

Thursday

• ham and lentil soup, with red and yellow sweet peppers, onions, ham stock and seasonings
• drop biscuits
• orange wedges

Hi, there! I'm sorry I wasn't around yesterday. I am in a huge time-crunch this week, and through the weekend and early next week. I lost a day and a half of work-time in the past week, due to waiting half a day in a parking lot to be towed to a car repair, and then Easter with the family. I'm not sure I've ever felt this busy. Maybe when my twins were infants and I had a 7 year old in the house, too. I just barely managed to get meals on the table. But I'm managing. What did you manage for meals this past week? Anyone not have ham? If you didn't do ham for Easter, what did you choose?

I hope you all had a great week, and wishing you a lovely weekend!