Mar 19, 2012
Just in case you missed them, here’s a rundown of recent important posts. Just click on each link for more information:
The Unemployment Cookbook Giveaway
Mojo Book Review and a GIVEAWAY: “Carmen of the Golden Coast”
“Give Us This Day…”: How I learned to feel secure with what I have.
Meal Memo in a Jar: A new way to plan meals for a month.
Inspired by Jenn of “…so this is love…”, I’m thinking up different ideas for a link up: A theme that I can make a blog badge for and have other bloggers share and post their themed stories along with. It’s a great way to see what other bloggers are talking about. I especially love Jenn’s “Kid Quotes Friday”. If you haven’t checked them out, you really should. Each Friday she posts the best Kid Quotes of the week; and she’s a Social Worker, so she’s got lots of great material.
I’m just not sure what my link-up theme should be. Recipes are overdone (no pun intended, but there it is anyway). Maybe weekly writing prompts like favorite family memories. Or just a venue for others to share what’s on their minds. What do you think?
Well, I’m off to the Dollar Movies and dry some fruits, in between reading and writing of course! Have a good day, whatever you’re doing!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Mar 18, 2012
I’m getting a food dehydrator today for my birthday.
I know I’m getting it, because my family asked, “What would you like for your birthday?”
And I said, “I would like a Nesco food dehydrator for my birthday.”
And a few weeks ago I dropped the “for my birthday” from that statement and my family became concerned that I might get it myself and they’d have to come up with some other gift idea, so they told me, “Don’t get a Nesco food dehydrator before your birthday.”
And when I asked “Why shouldn’t I get a Nesco food dehydrator before my birthday?”
They responded, “Because we’re getting you a Nesco food dehydrator for your birthday.”
And I said, “I would love a Nesco food dehydrator for my birthday.”
And then my family said, “What would you like to eat for your birthday?”
And I said, “I haven’t yet decided what I would like to eat for my birthday.”
But since my birthday is on Monday when people are at school and running errands and not available until later in the day, we want to celebrate on Sunday. And since Dot’s best friend’s birthday is Saturday, we are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday.
So I said, “Why don’t we have Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day corned beef and cabbage to eat for my birthday, which we will celebrate on Sunday instead of Monday?”
And my family said “We will have Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day corned beef and cabbage on Sunday for your birthday, which we will celebrate on Sunday instead of Monday, when people are more available.”
And then my mom said, “Since you are quite the grown-up now, I don’t suppose I still have to make you a chocolate-cherry cake this year?”
And I looked at her without saying a word. But a strange growly noise emitted from my throat.
She got the message.
And I’m getting the cake.
Happy Birthday to Me!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Mar 17, 2012
I’m learning more about our eating and spending habits with my new Meal Memo in a Jar dinner plan.
First, you can’t guarantee that even with certain foods on the menu, that’s what we’ll be hungry for; but our new motto is “Eat what’s on your plate!”.
Second, I need to add “fast” memos for the days when I’m too tired to cook. (What? You really believed I was SuperWoman?!) Foods like Little Ceasar’s $5 Hot-n-Ready, or a frozen skillet meal from Stouffer’s. Those super quick and easy and filling foods. But I should only allow one per week. I’ve also discovered that I’m more apt to go the fast-food route when I’m tired, busy, or just lazy. That’s not a good reason to eat junk food! And if they’re planned out, there are better options than just finding myself at the drive-thru and ordering whatever looks good in the moment.
Third, I have more food than I realize, and we usually eat less than I anticipate. That’s the great thing: I’ll be able to transfer all the unused Meal Memos to April’s Jar. There’s so much still there! I originally planned one Meal Memo to last two days, but they average three. That gives me two more days a week that I don’t have to cook. That’s an average of eight days a month! That’s a lot of food/savings for next month. How great is that?
Fourth, the few days I’ve eaten fast foods or “made do”, I don’t feel as good as when I follow the Memo Plan. I need to come up with ideas for really quick meals, maybe freeze-ahead’s so all I have to do is microwave or reheat on the stove top.
Well, here’s the next recap of March’s Meal Memos:
10th: Dot was at a Youth Group function and I was at the Second Family’s house for the evening. We grabbed healthy snacks before leaving home, and had an egg-salad sandwich later when we stopped by my mom’s. My mom makes the best egg-salad. No joke. It’s the one recipe I don’t even try to make. I tried once. I failed. Now I just eat hers.
11th: Mom invited us to her house Mexican Steak: it’s a slow-cooked combination of tender steak bites, kidney beans and tomatoes served over rice. Fantastically delicious!
12th: Today was My Last Disney Day. Megan and I ate ate Chicken Fusilli and Dot had leftovers at my mom’s house.
13th: A really busy day today. Forgot to pull a Meal Memo from the jar. So we made do with sandwiches and snacks.
14th: I woke up not feeling well. Pretty sure it was a combination of allergies and weather. And a little altitude nausea… I rarely leave the desert so when I either go up to the mountains or down to Disneyland, it affects me. I’m just weird that way. So on the way home from errands we picked up a pizza from Little Caesar’s. Double feature: Dot gets to take the leftovers for her school lunch!
15th: The Meal Memo called for pork loin and baby potatoes. Easy, nutritious! I cheated and bought jar-gravy so I wouldn’t have to make it today. I chopped up a nice salad and we’ll also finish the last of the Jell-O. Since on Thursdays Dot goes to her grandparents, she wasn’t home for dinner tonight but I made it anyway. That will take care of the weekend meals too.
16th: Leftovers! Deliciously healthy leftovers.
Tonight we’ll be trying to find healthy foods via the local bowling center. It’s Dot’s best friend’s birthday and we’re celebrating!
I’m looking forward to the next few entries… but you’ll just have to wait til the next recap!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
