Jan 6, 2013 |
I admit, when I wrote my Meal Plan post, no matter how intensely I want to prove the worth of The Unemployment Cookbook, a tiny part of me thought I’d cave and order a pizza or grab a hamburger for lunch within the first week.
It’s not that I want to deceive anyone. But I like fast food. It doesn’t always agree with me, and I’ve learned to order without onions or special sauce when I need to. Yet now and then, I really enjoy my flame-broiled red meat. And if I found a few extra dollars in my wallet, I’m more likely to enjoy a Starbucks than buy a bag of vegetables.
I’m happy to say, six days into the New Year and new eating plan, I’ve stuck to it. It’s so much more than just satisfying. It’s like acing a test after a year of just homework. Not only have I loved cooking and baking this week. I’ve also enjoyed sharing my savings and recipes with others.
Imagine my surprise on New Year’s Eve when I received a tweet from WinCo Foods: they stumbled across the link to my WinCo Wins post, and thanked me. They thanked me.
I took the nudge and posted the link on their Facebook page. It took just 15 minutes for them to respond by asking if they could share my savings tips with everyone. They actually said, “Would you mind…” As if I could possibly say “no”…
So now, I’m not only accountable to my family for my cooking. I’m accountable to you, my wonderful Blog readers. And WinCo followers. And, yes, to the Cookbook itself.
In keeping with my Plan, I came home on New Year’s Day and put a double batch of Ratatouille in the Slow Cooker.
In the Slow Cooker
It filled the Slow Cooker. So much, that the lid wouldn’t sit flat for the first 20 minutes. But, oh, what a delicious smell! When it was ready, I had the first bowlful.
The aromas, the steam, the flavors… I wish there was internet magic that could let you indulge in this wonderful dish.
Ratatouille
I immediately put half into my freezer for later this month. Then I took half of what was left and put that portion in the fridge. The remainder is what we had for dinner January 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. There was still two servings left! I put those in the freezer for February.
Friday night I topped a frozen pizza crust with a little spaghetti sauce, half of the refrigerated Ratatouille, and the 4-blend shredded cheese.
Veggie Pizza
How hearty and delicious is this?!
The Meal Plan called for us to have Baked Frittata on Saturday morning, that would also provide leftovers for dinner.
Unfortunately, my furnace broke down for the second time since Christmas and I had trouble learning to work the new thermostat. It’s incredibly easy. That was my problem. I’m so used to technical issues and Steps 1 through 3 and whatnot… I couldn’t grasp the idea of “Arrow Up” and “Arrow Down” and nothing else. Well, it took the better part of the morning, but I figured it out and now Bedford Manor is once again cozy and enjoyable.
Yesterday was also a big day for Cheeseheads: the Green Bay Packers were hosting the Minnesota Vikings for the playoffs. Anyone will tell you: I am a huge Cheesehead. I’m from the Midwest, so I love all the teams from Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. But when it came down to it, I had to root for my Packers. So of course we found ourselves at my Mom’s house, enjoying her cable TV and, deliciously, her dinner.
She made Taco Soup. It’s one of the recipes she provided for The Unemployment Cookbook. And can I just say… it was good. Better than good. It. Was. Amazing.
Taco Soup
And don’t you just love her soup bowls? These are so on my Christmas wish list for next year!
After Church this morning we stopped by her house for lunch. Hey… she’s one person with a gallon or more of soup. We’d hate for it to spoil if she couldn’t eat it all. (We’re only thinking of you, Mom…!)
Finally this evening, as Dot was heading out with friends, Mom came over to my house and I repaid her Kitchen Kindness by sharing my Baked Frittata. I just scrambled eight eggs with a little milk, drained the last of the refrigerated Ratatouille, and added about 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese mix. Less than an hour later, we were at the dinner table.
Baked Frittata
The photo doesn’t do it justice. We topped it with a dollop of the spaghetti sauce. After two servings each, there’s still over half of it left. That’s breakfast and lunch for Dot tomorrow, and dinner for the both of us tomorrow night.
According to the Plan, I should have the Turkey Chili in the Slow Cooker right now. But with this wonderful leftover begging to still be enjoyed, I won’t have to make the Chili until Tuesday.
That sets back my Meal Plan by two days. Yet another boon for the savings book. Since half the Ratatouille and spaghetti sauce are now in the freezer, that means I’ve fed my family for five days (I won’t count the one day we spent at Mom’s) for $11.65. And I still have a dozen eggs and half a gallon of milk in the fridge.
Breakfast? Packs of instant oatmeal or a cup of Malt-o-Meal. For lunches, I’ve taken fresh-cut vegetables and Campbell’s Soup at Hand. Dot’s been enjoying small frozen foods we stocked up on: mini corn dogs and personal pizzas. The total cost here isn’t more than $5.00.
That’s not bad for feeding both of us, and sometimes company, for nearly a week. In fact, I think those savings are downright delicious!
How do you save money in your Kitchen?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
[To pre-order your copy of The Unemployment Cookbook, click here.]
Oct 27, 2012
We spent the day with the Second Family at one the great local attractions: Frazier’s U-Pick Pumpkin Patch.
It’s refreshing because there aren’t a lot of farms in the So Cal desert. We have to drive a distance to get to the Orchards. Entering the gates at Frazier’s is like entering a different climate.
The large fields offer quite the selection of pumpkins. It’s almost like a Dr. Seuss book: Big, Small, Short, Tall, One or Many, Take Them All.
Hanging Pumpkin
Pumpkins!
Through the Tall Grass
More Pumpkins!
This time of year, it’s a booming business. With their amazingly affordable selection, there are pumpkins for everyone.
Julie’s Pumpkins
Multi-Colored
It is, as their name states, a U-Pick patch. They grow the pumpkins on the vine and leave it to the customer to pluck them from the fields. Most of the time, they will cut them off the vine to make it easier for the younger children.
Hopie’s Find!
It’s free to enter and wander. There’s no structure or path. You can easily spend hours enjoying the fresh air, sunshine, and people-watching.
They have a mini-train tour that circles the fields. It makes several stops as the Engineer tells how the pumpkins are grown and how the Corn Maze is structured.
The Pumpkin Train
We saw some wonderful pumpkins that the girls wanted to share.
Dot’s Delight
Padme’s Perfect Pick
Eating the Cinderella
I adopted Fred.
I shall call him Fred, and he shall be my Pumpkin.
Then we bought tickets for the Corn Maze.
The Corn Maze is an annual Must-Do. Each year has a different layout. My two Un-Sons assured Dot and I that they could easily get us out. *Insert laugh-track here*.
Un-Son Number One says go Thatta-way!
But Little Man says, This-a way!
We finally split up, with Dot and Un-Son Number One going one way, as I let Little Man lead me to the exit.
Lost in the Corn Maze.
After we regrouped and headed out, we drove down the street to the Pizza Factory and earned back our calories.
Yumm with a Slice of Fun
The kids entertain themselves differently than when Julie and I were kids…
“Snape. Snape. Severus Snape.”
We’ll be carving our bigger pumpkins on Monday, and I can’t wait! Tomorrow (Sunday) we’re going to Un-Son Number One’s hockey game.
And now if you’ll excuse me, Fred and I are going to watch the Game. All I can say, since they beat my Beloved Yankees, is
“Let’s Go Tigers!”
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Nov 3, 2011 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
It’s a new month, which means a new Thursday Theme for my recipes. Since November tends to bring with it an abundance of busy-ness and activities, I thought perhaps Party Foods would be nice. Simple recipes you can make for gatherings, potlucks, open houses, or just because!
Today’s recipe was inspired when I took my daughter to visit family in Las Vegas about five years ago. We stopped at a snack bar and I delighted in this wonderful blend of Italian flavors, seasonings and salty pretzel goodness.
Since we had no such snack vender back home, it was up to me to recreate the taste. I did the best I could and you know what? I think I did pretty well!
Taste for yourself:
INGREDIENTS:
1 pkg – active yeast
1-1/2 Cup warm water
1 tsp salt
1 TBS sugar
3 – 4 Cups flour (more or less)
Pepperoni slices
Shredded cheese
Pizza or marinara sauce
I egg
1 TBS water
1 TBS Kosher salt
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar and salt. Add flour, mix well until you have a stiff dough, not sticky. Roll dough out onto a clean, dry floured surface, to approximately 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into 3-inch strips. Down the middle of each strip, spoon 1 TBS sauce. Place pepperoni on sauce. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Fold over then twist into pretzel shape.
Beat egg and 1 TBS water. Glaze each pretzel. If preferred, sprinkle more shredded cheese and Kosher salt on top of pretzels.
Line cookie sheet with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Place pretzels of foil. Bake at 425 for approximately 18-20 minutes, until golden brown.
Apr 16, 2011 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
I met Robin H. today. A nice man, a little bit older than myself, beautiful eyes… and a world’s worth of hurt behind them.
Robin is homeless, and very much ashamed of that fact.
I was eating outside at a pedestrian mall at the Mission Inn when I saw him, discreetly looking into the tops of trash cans. His clothes were ill-fit; not that they didn’t belong to him originally, but the “him” they belonged to must have been at one time, long ago, much heartier.
My daughter and her friend were enjoying a pizza inside. I approached them delicately to ask if they were finished. There were two slices left and they offered one to me. I shook my head, then nodded toward the window. “There’s a homeless man out there looking for food.”
Suddenly the ambiance shifted. Our carefree afternoon quickly turned into something more caring. We put the remaining pizza into a box and carried it outside with pride and generosity. My daughter’s friend approached him as we stood back. He accepted it without looking up, and sat on the nearest bench to immediately start eating.
As we began to walk away, I tried not to stare. I didn’t want to embarrass him. But I couldn’t help notice how slowly he ate. Each bite was thoroughly savored, properly chewed and digested. Nonetheless, within a matter of us walking 100 feet away, the first slice was gone.
My mind went to the bag of snack food I had left in the car, and we promptly retraced our steps to retrieve it. The blue lunch tote felt so light, so empty. I slipped $5.00 in as well, for whatever else he might need.
We found him again, on the same bench, the empty pizza box under his feet. Politely, I offered him the bag of snacks. He couldn’t lift his eyes up. He seemed in wonder that someone had noticed him, let alone showed him kindness. The mall was bustling with people: weekenders from the Mission Inn and the many children’s pre-Easter activities surrounding the area. And they had all ignored him. He was invisible to everyone, even though the bench he sat on was in the middle of the square.
“Cookies,” he said, sifting through his new loot. “Cookies. I can maybe share these with my friend around the corner?” It seemed as though he was asking my permission.
I introduced myself, and he finally looked up from the bag of goodies. He stopped counting his blessings long enough to make much needed eye contact and repeat my name. “Molly,” he said. “My name’s Robin. Robin Hamilton.” And he held out his hand for a firm shake. I took his hand and returned his gaze.
I introduced my daughter and her friend. I was impressed with his manners, as he shook their hands and made eye contact. He was down on his luck, but he wasn’t ignorant. He turned his attentions back to me.
His eyes were clear, but sad; his entire body weighted down by something unseen. Just as he was invisible to others, his cares were invisible to us. He returned to the bag and found the cash. “I can, I can use this.”
He looked up again. “God bless you.” I took the opportunity. “Do you know God?” I asked him. And I could see him struggling against his thoughts.
“I used to,” he glanced away. “I used to drink. A lot. I got in trouble. But I talk to people. I got friends.” And he shared, more by eyes than by words, how drinking was his downfall. How the bottled demon took control and he lost so much. He tried a sober-living shelter, but had a moment of weakness with a tiny 99-cent bottle of booze and they kicked him out. “Rules…” he nodded. It struck me how lonesome he seemed, for want of a tiny sip of alcohol. How just a drop has kicked him to the curb, literally.
I could sense his pain. He hadn’t had a drink in quite a while. I asked if he would rather I took the cash and bought water or tea for him, so he wouldn’t be tempted. He said no. “Thank you. I don’t buy drinks with money given to me from people. I buy things I need. Food. Alka-Seltzer.” He told me of his friends around the corner who watch out for him, and if he needs a sip now and then, they take care of him. I saw the hope begin to glimmer, and I knew he meant they were his support group.
I asked if we could pray for him, with him. “Here?” he asked. “Can we hold hands?” I smiled and assured him that would be fine, if that’s what made him comfortable.
So there we were; four people standing and sitting on a bench in the middle of a bustling center, praising God and giving Him glory for Robin’s testimony. And thanking God that he was no longer invisible.
I pray for tonight, Robin and his friends are sheltered and fed. And I pray, for every night, that I will never forget him.
What does this have to do with our family date? Absolutely nothing. Except for the fact that this was truly a man of integrity, clear-headed and filled with regret and humility for his sins… even the 99 cent size.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
