There are people out there--and I guarantee that each one of you knows one--who cannot stand to see a single foodstuff to be laid to waste. There is a bowl with three bites of potato salad left? Back in the fridge it goes, covered in plastic wrap because someone at some point might want to finish it. Oh! You see that half-eaten seeded roll? No no, not in the garbage! Best wrap that one in tin foil and place it atop the fridge. You never know when someone might want that roll with their soup!
Now I have never been one of those people, no sir. But tonight, I have crossed over. Crossed over, I tell you! Do you know what I am doing right now? I am baking. BAKING! It is ninety some degrees outside and I am baking cookies in a 350 degree oven, sweating my face off in the kitchen.
Why, you ask? Why, well apparently I have lost my ever-loving mind because I am baking chocolate zucchini cookies because there was a zucchini...a fifty-cent zucchini, mind you, that looked like it was close to its end and I just HAD to use it in some recipe or other so as not to waste it!
Look out my friends. You may have lost me!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Lovely dinner
 |
| Our lovely dinner |
I made a dinner last night and here is the recipe:
1.5 lbs pork tenderloin
1 summer squash
1 sweet potato (peeled)
4 baking potatoes (peeled)
2 carrots (peeled)All of the above should be cubed.
Marinate in 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup worcesterhire sauce and bake on an olive-oiled baking sheet at 450 degrees for 20 minutes
served with a cornbread muffin (29 cents for a mix box on sale) and brussels sprouts soaked in cold water for 10 minutes and simmered for another 10 minutes.
It probably cost roughly $10.00 for the whole meal and will last us for two dinners and two lunches. For four people!
Coen was disturbed by the cubed shapes and said he wasn't sure if he could eat it because he didn't know what it was. So we played a game where he ate a piece and then guessed what it was. It was fun and he finished it all!
Lucy, being two, threw herself on the floor upon seeing the dinner and screamed, "I can't eat that! It's too smushy!" But being the experienced mother of a former two-year-old, (who has played out this scene incorrectly several times in my life) I held my ground and told her, that's what we are having. And if she didn't want to eat, she didn't have to but we weren't having anything else. After much ado, and Tad, Coen and I were all finished, I was in the kitchen packing up leftovers. Lucy came in, chewing, another bite perched upon her fork triumphantly. "I'm eating my dinner, Mamma!" she said, mouth full. "Can I still have a popsicle?" (homemade by the way).
And she did. Another successful dinner over and done!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Filled up freezer
My freezer is full of individually wrapped items for later on... the round flat ones are pancakes. I made a triple batch when we had breakfast on Saturday and now can pop a pancake or two in the toaster in lieu of much more expensive frozen waffles. The other round ones are muffins that I made for yesterdays breakfast--three kinds! Banana flax seed, banana chocolate chip flax seed, and bran. These will be snacks. The rectangular ones are pieces of zucchini bread for snacks as well. And the square ones are leftover pizza pieces which will be thawed and put into school lunches. The more I bake and cook. the more I freeze..I'm going to have to come up with a label system!
Right now my kids are watching a show: "Charlie and Lola" which we got from the library: free! And Lucy is eating a banana flax seed chocolate chip muffin and a smoothie. (I've been buying strawberries-on sale- and freezing them immediately for smoothies). Coen is having bran muffins and cantaloupe (on sale this week 2 for $3) I also have a surplus of watermelon so today we are going to play outside and then cool off with watermelon slushies
4 cups watermelon
10 ice cubes
1/3 cup lime juice
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 t. salt
Blend it together in the blender and serve with a dollop of whipped cream!
Today is officially the last day of summer (for me). I'm home with the kids. Tomorrow they're at their grandparents and Wednesday school starts. With our watermelon slushies and thaw-ready snacks, were going to have a lovely day.
Right now my kids are watching a show: "Charlie and Lola" which we got from the library: free! And Lucy is eating a banana flax seed chocolate chip muffin and a smoothie. (I've been buying strawberries-on sale- and freezing them immediately for smoothies). Coen is having bran muffins and cantaloupe (on sale this week 2 for $3) I also have a surplus of watermelon so today we are going to play outside and then cool off with watermelon slushies
4 cups watermelon
10 ice cubes
1/3 cup lime juice
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 t. salt
Blend it together in the blender and serve with a dollop of whipped cream!
Today is officially the last day of summer (for me). I'm home with the kids. Tomorrow they're at their grandparents and Wednesday school starts. With our watermelon slushies and thaw-ready snacks, were going to have a lovely day.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Bartering and bags of potatoes
Bartering is a great way to save money. Have kids? Babysit your neighbors' and they'll babysit yours in return. No charge! We have a babysitting swap going with our neighbors; we both have two kids so it's a nice even exchange--hour for hour. It saves 1. money on a babysitter and 2. asking our parents for the millionth time to help us out.
Yesterday I took care of two of Coen's school friends and Coen and Lucy for five hours. Now let me tell you, I got out of teaching for a reason. I'm horrible at behavior management. I am not the best at directly approaching behavior problems or issues, especially with kids that are not my own. I'd rather just be the pied piper, the circus clown...swinging kids around and regaling them with my sense of silly and storytelling skills. But alas, that is not the way to do things with the little ones--especially as an argument over a shared toy breaks out...and if you want kids who feel secure in their boundaries. Anyway, I offered to watch two friends of Coen's and would therefore be spending the better part of the day with a 2 year old, a 4 year old and two 6 year olds. Definitely out of my comfort zone, though I wanted to do it. But I did it and I did it well. We had a structured day; I did not let a minute of idle time pass. Free time, snack, slip-n-slide, fort making, lunch, tv show, painting and oil-based crayons. I was so proud of myself! I feel like I even spent more quality time with my kids that way as when they're alone, I tend to leave them to play awhile while I do dishes or check email. With the double quantity yesterday, I spent every moment with them. It was fun!
After our adventure in babysitting, I hosted a small dinner party. My friend Stephanie came with her girlfriend and my sister came with her family. My sister generously brought two rotisserie chickens. I made sides of corn on the cob (8 for $2) and mashed potatoes (5 lb bag for $4) Now we have leftovers for tonight. Also my neighbor Julia (with whom I do the babysitting swap) very sweetly thought of me when she found five pound bags of potatoes for $1 a piece at a market and brought me one. So I'll be making potato salad for a picnic we're going to tomorrow and we'll have roasted potatoes with dinner on Monday. Another night next week, I believe we'll have a baked potato bar with all the fixins'. I feel like I'm living in Ireland! But darn it, I'm saving money!
Yesterday I took care of two of Coen's school friends and Coen and Lucy for five hours. Now let me tell you, I got out of teaching for a reason. I'm horrible at behavior management. I am not the best at directly approaching behavior problems or issues, especially with kids that are not my own. I'd rather just be the pied piper, the circus clown...swinging kids around and regaling them with my sense of silly and storytelling skills. But alas, that is not the way to do things with the little ones--especially as an argument over a shared toy breaks out...and if you want kids who feel secure in their boundaries. Anyway, I offered to watch two friends of Coen's and would therefore be spending the better part of the day with a 2 year old, a 4 year old and two 6 year olds. Definitely out of my comfort zone, though I wanted to do it. But I did it and I did it well. We had a structured day; I did not let a minute of idle time pass. Free time, snack, slip-n-slide, fort making, lunch, tv show, painting and oil-based crayons. I was so proud of myself! I feel like I even spent more quality time with my kids that way as when they're alone, I tend to leave them to play awhile while I do dishes or check email. With the double quantity yesterday, I spent every moment with them. It was fun!
After our adventure in babysitting, I hosted a small dinner party. My friend Stephanie came with her girlfriend and my sister came with her family. My sister generously brought two rotisserie chickens. I made sides of corn on the cob (8 for $2) and mashed potatoes (5 lb bag for $4) Now we have leftovers for tonight. Also my neighbor Julia (with whom I do the babysitting swap) very sweetly thought of me when she found five pound bags of potatoes for $1 a piece at a market and brought me one. So I'll be making potato salad for a picnic we're going to tomorrow and we'll have roasted potatoes with dinner on Monday. Another night next week, I believe we'll have a baked potato bar with all the fixins'. I feel like I'm living in Ireland! But darn it, I'm saving money!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Money money money
I have worried about money for as long as I can remember. And I am taking this time to try and stop that. Now, you might say, well Alie, if there ever was a time to worry about money, this is it. And for that validation and support, I thank you friends and readers. But I have always worried about it. Always.
The past year, Tad and I were making more than we ever have before and we own a home which means equity and I have a great job which I love and though I complain about my salary sometimes, I work at a nonprofit that has among the most generous of salaries in the city. And Tad is guaranteed a job next year. Plus we have parents who live near us who help us with our kids, or house and who would never let us starve, lose our house or get the heat turned off. So really, what's the point in worrying so much?
And though, before this change, we were living paycheck to paycheck, we were MAKING IT! We were buying things and going out to dinner and getting groceries and paying all our bills. And I had my three for five dollar undies all in a bundle because we weren't saving a lot. And what did I want to save for, you might ask. I don't really need much. I don't wear diamonds, nor do I need an ipad or a wii fit. I'm okay with all my furniture, which is hand me down or rummaged (though we could use a new couch. We have let Coen hop from couch to couch or "from couch from couch" as he called it, since he was two and suddenly he's almost seven and broke the leg off of the couch in his jumping. Let that be a lesson my friends. Jumping on couches at any age is never a good idea. But I digress) What I want is security. But we're in a recession. Do any of us really have security? And can't I get security in having what I see as a good life, a great love, and the ability to laugh at almost anything?
But the point, I'm getting to it... When I was about ten years old I kept this Hello Kitty diary and in it, there is an entry I wrote when I was at a party with my parents. All the grown-ups were pushing each other into the hot tub with their clothes on and my diary entry is a major panic about my dad having money in his pocket when he was shoved into the bubbling water and what if it was ruined and how could we dry it and what would we do if it WAS ruined? So its been a long history for me. Why? Well, my parents owned a house and paid their bills.. We were never hungry. But money was an issue, I suppose. We were audited. Maybe I picked up on it.
When I was in high school I worked hard and saved money enough to buy a car for college. And when I was a single twenty three year old, I put away money like nobody's business. What for? I have no idea. And in the Peace Corps I would constantly fret about money, even though DUH I was working for the government and they obviously wouldn't let me starve. I was in the peace corps--a volunteer~ What was I doing worrying about money? I wasn't even making any!
And that brings us basically to the present. I constantly balance, stress, worry, shift things from one bank account to another, complain, feel like I'm not doing as well as I should for a thirty five year old with a master's degree. And to what end? It's a waste of time, worrying about it.
It balances out. I love my job. If I looked for a job this instant that paid me what I want to be making, I might not love it. I love our life. And what fun is life without crazy risks and big changes once in a while? Anyway, there's that saying....grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, change the things I cannot accept and the wisdom to know the difference. Sometimes its a blurry line, isn't it? And I don't always know the difference, not right away. But damnit, I'm going to accept, accept, accept and then enjoy it.
The past year, Tad and I were making more than we ever have before and we own a home which means equity and I have a great job which I love and though I complain about my salary sometimes, I work at a nonprofit that has among the most generous of salaries in the city. And Tad is guaranteed a job next year. Plus we have parents who live near us who help us with our kids, or house and who would never let us starve, lose our house or get the heat turned off. So really, what's the point in worrying so much?
And though, before this change, we were living paycheck to paycheck, we were MAKING IT! We were buying things and going out to dinner and getting groceries and paying all our bills. And I had my three for five dollar undies all in a bundle because we weren't saving a lot. And what did I want to save for, you might ask. I don't really need much. I don't wear diamonds, nor do I need an ipad or a wii fit. I'm okay with all my furniture, which is hand me down or rummaged (though we could use a new couch. We have let Coen hop from couch to couch or "from couch from couch" as he called it, since he was two and suddenly he's almost seven and broke the leg off of the couch in his jumping. Let that be a lesson my friends. Jumping on couches at any age is never a good idea. But I digress) What I want is security. But we're in a recession. Do any of us really have security? And can't I get security in having what I see as a good life, a great love, and the ability to laugh at almost anything?
But the point, I'm getting to it... When I was about ten years old I kept this Hello Kitty diary and in it, there is an entry I wrote when I was at a party with my parents. All the grown-ups were pushing each other into the hot tub with their clothes on and my diary entry is a major panic about my dad having money in his pocket when he was shoved into the bubbling water and what if it was ruined and how could we dry it and what would we do if it WAS ruined? So its been a long history for me. Why? Well, my parents owned a house and paid their bills.. We were never hungry. But money was an issue, I suppose. We were audited. Maybe I picked up on it.
When I was in high school I worked hard and saved money enough to buy a car for college. And when I was a single twenty three year old, I put away money like nobody's business. What for? I have no idea. And in the Peace Corps I would constantly fret about money, even though DUH I was working for the government and they obviously wouldn't let me starve. I was in the peace corps--a volunteer~ What was I doing worrying about money? I wasn't even making any!
And that brings us basically to the present. I constantly balance, stress, worry, shift things from one bank account to another, complain, feel like I'm not doing as well as I should for a thirty five year old with a master's degree. And to what end? It's a waste of time, worrying about it.
It balances out. I love my job. If I looked for a job this instant that paid me what I want to be making, I might not love it. I love our life. And what fun is life without crazy risks and big changes once in a while? Anyway, there's that saying....grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, change the things I cannot accept and the wisdom to know the difference. Sometimes its a blurry line, isn't it? And I don't always know the difference, not right away. But damnit, I'm going to accept, accept, accept and then enjoy it.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Potluck problems
So tomorrow my son's school is holding the big orientation potluck--all the families come and get introduced to new teachers, new students, and start thinking about school starting next week. I figured, on our budget, I'd just make some nice molasses cookies from scratch. Well then yesterday I noticed the invite and saw that types of food to be brought were broken up by last names. People with last names letters K-P are to bring main courses. Dangit!!! Stupid middle of the alphabet last name!!!! I considered briefly just ignoring it and bringing cookies anyway. I considered emailing our organizer and asking if I could just bring dessert....then I talked to Tad and he said, "Let's just bring what we need to bring. I'll pick up one of those rotisserie chickens you have a coupon for!" Alright, alright So I'll suck it up and bring a main course.
Today, however, I'm feeling really good. Some things I did yesterday account for that. I spent some time in the kitchen. I grilled and froze cut up chicken breast to be used on salads, I made a HUGE pot of homemade spaghettios (new recipe and it is DELICOUS!!! Go to
http://feedyourvegetarian.blogspot.com/2007/09/homemade-spaghettios.html
and try it...YUM-o-rama) which I'll be bringing to tomorrow's potluck. And when you think about it...I made a meal to serve a huge group of people for about $4.50. I also made two loaves of zucchini bread and froze it by individual slices for snacks for my kids.
Plus I talked to Tad. We had a good, long, cleansing talk. About how we will handle this and how we will handle each other's individual neuroses, ways of dealing and anxieties about the year. It was lovely.
AND....week three grocery shopping done! Total: $71.63. Ta-Da!!! I even shopped for house guests, the potluck, the whole week's worth of meals, got new toothbrushes and spent like thirty percent of the whole bill on produce. I was so proud, I did a little dance with my cart on the way out. And then crashed into the table where people were renewing their savings cards. Whoops!
Today, however, I'm feeling really good. Some things I did yesterday account for that. I spent some time in the kitchen. I grilled and froze cut up chicken breast to be used on salads, I made a HUGE pot of homemade spaghettios (new recipe and it is DELICOUS!!! Go to
http://feedyourvegetarian.blogspot.com/2007/09/homemade-spaghettios.html
and try it...YUM-o-rama) which I'll be bringing to tomorrow's potluck. And when you think about it...I made a meal to serve a huge group of people for about $4.50. I also made two loaves of zucchini bread and froze it by individual slices for snacks for my kids.
Plus I talked to Tad. We had a good, long, cleansing talk. About how we will handle this and how we will handle each other's individual neuroses, ways of dealing and anxieties about the year. It was lovely.
AND....week three grocery shopping done! Total: $71.63. Ta-Da!!! I even shopped for house guests, the potluck, the whole week's worth of meals, got new toothbrushes and spent like thirty percent of the whole bill on produce. I was so proud, I did a little dance with my cart on the way out. And then crashed into the table where people were renewing their savings cards. Whoops!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Christmas in August
So, every year Tad teases me because I start talking about Christmas in the summer. And this year even more, I want to start thinking about it now because I will need to buy presents for people (or MAKE presents for people) starting early so I can spread it out over the next four months.
Now, likely people I know will be reading this—like my mom—so I won’t go into what I’m getting (or making) for whom for the most part. But I can say that my coworker offered me her daughter’s old dollhouse and I took it. I will make some new wallpaper for it and sew some tiny little blankets and pillows for the bed and give it to Lucy for Christmas. She’ll never know it was second-hand, nor will she care. Actually, I cleaned our closet the other day and noticed an accidental stockpile of potential presents. There were space books, still in packaging from Coen’s space phase; there was unopened playdoh and a pile of Tad’s old Star Wars Toys. Guess what Coen’s getting for his seventh birthday next month!!!!
I plan on spreading these goodies out over various gift giving events for the kids and putting my crafting, sewing and knitting skills to good use for some other gifts. But it’s taken me since last February to knit the half scarf I have done now, so I best get crackin’ I suppose. Is it rude to get knitting done in a work meeting?
I suppose it prolly is.
At any rate, Happy Christmas in August everyone!
Now, likely people I know will be reading this—like my mom—so I won’t go into what I’m getting (or making) for whom for the most part. But I can say that my coworker offered me her daughter’s old dollhouse and I took it. I will make some new wallpaper for it and sew some tiny little blankets and pillows for the bed and give it to Lucy for Christmas. She’ll never know it was second-hand, nor will she care. Actually, I cleaned our closet the other day and noticed an accidental stockpile of potential presents. There were space books, still in packaging from Coen’s space phase; there was unopened playdoh and a pile of Tad’s old Star Wars Toys. Guess what Coen’s getting for his seventh birthday next month!!!!
I plan on spreading these goodies out over various gift giving events for the kids and putting my crafting, sewing and knitting skills to good use for some other gifts. But it’s taken me since last February to knit the half scarf I have done now, so I best get crackin’ I suppose. Is it rude to get knitting done in a work meeting?
I suppose it prolly is.
At any rate, Happy Christmas in August everyone!
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