Jun 4, 2013 |
Last winter, I offered the occasional email newsletter. With the Blog being recreated, I’m back on track with that idea and am hoping to now offer it on a monthly basis. June’s will go out shortly, and I’m already formatting July’s. The newsletter will offer content exclusive to subscribers.
If you already receive Frankly, My Dear… blog updates via email, you’ve been added to the newsletter subscriber list. But if you’re just stopping by and not yet a subscriber to the Blog or the newsletter, why not give it a try?
To subscribe to the Blog (receive emails each day there’s a new post or other new content), simply add your email address in the SUBSCRIPTION box in the column to the right of this post.
To subscribe to the monthly email, CLICK HERE and you’ll be taken to the sign up link. All you need is an email address. Aww, heck. Click it anyway. I designed the link and I’m kinda proud of that fact. Cuz, as you know from reading TGIF: A-P-P-R-E-C-I-A-T-I-V-E-L-Y and other posts, I’m not exceptionally talented in the design department. Dammit, Jim, I’m a writer, not a designer! (Five points if you get the reference…)
June’s email newsletter will be going out in just a day or two, so be sure to sign up now. Remember: you can always unsubscribe at any time. I promise not to disown you if the Newsletter isn’t your Cup o’ Tea.
But I also promise to do my best to give you amazing content. Each newsletter will have photos, a food post (usually a recipe or perhaps just some suggestions for changing up a recipe), reading suggestions, and other great stuff.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jun 3, 2013 |
It’s been a few months since I’ve written a Meal Plan post. Based on the success of my recent monthly WinCo trips, I’ve had enough foods in the freezer and pantry to not have to buy too much. So I’ve been winging it; making what I can find. Occasionally, I’ve put together some meals like this hearty chicken and pasta dinner.
Chicken & Pasta
I always keep frozen salmon filets in the freezer. Last month, I bought a 5 lb. bag of chicken breasts (admittedly not from WinCo). Sure, it cost nearly $17, but with 20 breasts, that’s less than $1/piece.
So my Plan for June is to eat more chicken. I don’t have an entire month of menus planned out. But I have my Aroma Rice Cooker. And I have a plan.
Again with the savings I find at WinCo, I’ll supplement what I already have and make some wonderful meals. My goal is to make some scrumptious dishes without having to cook too much in the summer heat. Some of the meals I’ll make more than once because they’re easy and delicious.
Not only do I want to save money, I want to eat better. My eczema has been rapidly improving as I now have prescription-strength ointment and have been eating less fast foods which, I’ve discovered, can significantly induce a flare up. So, for the health of my body and my wallet, June will be a Home-Cooked Meal Month.
Here’s my tentative meal plan (each meal is followed by how many days we can eat from one preparation by how many times I’ll make it for a total amount of dinner days):
- Chicken and Pasta (as pictured above), 2 x 2 = 4
- Steamed Chicken and Rice, 1 x 4 = 4
- Slow Cooker Chicken & Kraut, 3 x 2 = 6
- Steamed Salmon and Rice, 1 x 4 = 4
- Spaghetti with sauce and garlic toast, 2 x 2 = 4
- Baked Frittata (usually a weekend meal for brunch as well), 2 x 2 = 4
That leaves four days with no menu plan. We like to keep a few “open” days on the calendar. We’ll eat at least twice at my Mom’s house, or order a pizza on Pay Day, or just not feel like eating. I know, pizza. But it’s not regular fast food. And if I only eat it once a month, I should be okay…
With this great plan, I already have the main components. My grocery list is just the sauerkraut, cream of chicken soups, and frittata ingredients. I’ll include a cheap dessert like Jell-O and Cool Whip, pudding, or a few of Dot’s favorite cookies. We always keep ice cream in the freezer; especially in the summer.
It’s my goal to spend less than $100 this month, including the cat food, litter, and household needs. At a regular grocery store this would be nearly impossible. But, as I so often like to say, “WinCo Wins!”
*Cheater Meal: We did treat ourselves to Red Robin yesterday since I won a gift card from work.
Ava-Cobb-O Salad at Red Robin
Note, I ate the A-va-Cobb-O and Chicken salad.
So, as I also like to say, “Happy Eating!”
What’s on your plate?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
WinCo Wins
WinCo Wins: Lunch for a Dollar!
My Bento Box: Part I
How To Eat For Free And Have Fun Doing It (Or, How Printing Coupons Gave Me a Really Great Weekend!)
My February Meal Plan
