Food for Thought

Time for some random food-related thoughts that have been bouncing around in my head lately.

{grin}

 



Here's a new recipe we tried this weekend.  I doubled it for us, figuring that one 13x9 pan wouldn't be enough for 7 people.   It ended up really filling the casserole dishes, so we have one pan left for lunches this week.  :)

http://2reciiipes.blogspot.com/2014/06/loaded-baked-potato-chicken-casserole.html

Next time, we'll cut back a little on the garlic powder.  Also, we don't typically use hot sauce, so I left that out of the marinade; the dish still had great flavor, though.  Definitely a keeper!


I've decided to stop price matching groceries at Wal-Mart.  For many months, I've been checking 10 - 12 regional circulars and making a list of things to PM.  I had developed a streamlined system, and I love finding a deal on something I needed to get anyway.  But lately it's not paying off in savings for the time it takes to make the list.

It seems like, in my area, other stores are not putting their best deals in their circulars; they are listing them more on the shelf instead.  Also, many times I find that my local WM suddenly doesn't have certain things out on the shelf, when there is a PM for it.  It was there last week, and it will be back next week, but it's not out when I can PM it.  :(  I don't know of any official policy to "hide" PM items, but it's awfully coincidental, don't you think?

Even though my local WM management claims that there haven't been any changes to their policy in months, it seems that the checkout employees don't know this.  It's such a hassle sometimes, that I don't even want to bother with it.

But, on a better note - no price matching means I can go through the self-checkout!  I *love* bagging my own groceries.  :)

So, we do the bulk of our two-week grocery shopping trips at Ruler and Aldi, and only pick up the few things left at WM.  I love the convenience of WM, but they've lost a lot of money when they make it less appealing to get groceries there, IMHO.  Ah, well.....

Gargantuan Grocery Gathering - #1

I believe Wal-Mart is a time warp.

Seriously, I can walk in for a couple things, and an hour later I walk out in a daze, trying to figure out where I somehow lost 45 minutes.  And how all this stuff (that was not on my list) got into my cart.  :)

I really do like Wal-Mart, for numerous reasons:  everything in one place (Oil change while getting groceries?  Yes, please!), pretty good prices on most things, and price matching (which is an entire post lurking in the future).  And also to annoy the annoying people who vilify WM for being an enormous, evil corporation.  Cue maniacal laughter.

(Rabbit trail warning!  This also reminds me of one of my favorite bumper stickers: 
ANNOY A LIBERAL - WORK HARD, SUCCEED, BE HAPPY)

Back to the subject at hand - grocery shopping.  :)

WM used to be our main grocery shopping destination, back when the price match policy was shiny and new, but lately, good price matches have been few and far between.  So we do the bulk of our grocery shopping at Ruler and Aldi, and then go to WM for the few things I can't get elsewhere and my meager price matches. 

Also, to attempt to cut down superfluous driving, we try to hit the library and any thrift stores in the area on the same day.  Sometimes we schedule doctor or dentist appointments on grocery day too.

Here's what a typical "big grocery" day looks like for us.  By "big" I mean enough groceries to keep 7 people fed and in soap, toilet paper, etc. for two weeks.  (And enough produce and milk for a week.  Or at least 4 days.  Hopefully.)

1. Wake the troops early (or at least, on time, for once) and feed them breakfast (preferably something with some protein to it).
2. Clean out the car of any miscellaneous items; we are going to need the room.  So, strollers, fishing gear, jackets, etc. get removed.  Then we pack two giant coolers (unless it's the middle of winter) and our enormous collection of grocery bags.  I like the plastic bags you can buy at Aldi and Ruler, but I reuse them so I don't have to buy them very often;  we also have some cloth bags from various stores.
3. Drive 35 minutes to nearest large town, in which is located the library we most frequently use, two nice thrift stores, a Super Wal-Mart, Aldi, and assorted other discount stores.
4. Visit thrift shops, library, bank, and do any other errands that can be done.
5. Usually it is lunch time by now, so we grab sandwiches to eat en route to another large town about 10 minutes away from the first one, where we start our grocery shopping at Ruler.
6. Return to town #1, and go to Aldi.
7. Pick up anything that can only be had at Wal-Mart, or that is price matched at Wal-Mart.
8. Head home to unload and put away everything before starting supper.

So, it's a big day, but we only do it every two weeks.  I know that I'm going to have the basics for a number of different meals on hand, so it reduces emergency trips to the store (unless I forget things, but I try to avoid that).  I don't enjoy running out every other day to get stuff.  I always end up getting more than the one or two items I ran in to buy.  It saves money by just keeping me away from the checkout!

I like to just have it done, for the most part, so I can think about other things.  I can't fathom having to go and get groceries every night on your way home from work, or making the trip for only a few days' worth of food.  I know some people prefer to shop that way, but I am sure I operate better with the less frequent giant trip.

I'm thinking about turning this into a series, with topics like menu planning, what my grocery list looks like, the proper way to sack groceries (yes, I'm a control freak), why I don't use coupons, our experience with price matching, how we fit all this in the car, etc.  Let me know if there's something specific you'd like to know!

A Miscellany/Menu Post, in which we learn that I ramble really well :D

What would be a good post for a Monday?  Probably a Miscellany or Menu post.

Or maybe both rolled up into one?

:)

Monday
bf - probably cake and donuts for the kids (What?!  We had a birthday over the weekend, and it has to be eaten before it goes stale.)

lunch - leftovers

supper - spaghetti, green beans, peas


Tuesday
bf - probably taters and eggs (made with French fries leftover from the weekend)

(Actually, bf may end up being pb&j they can make themselves, because I intend to be out late Monday night at a Mom's Night Out at our Co-op.  :)  This is the point where, if I were telling you this face-to-face, I'd probably break out into a chorus of "Everything is awesome!"  from the Lego Movie.  'Cause I'm a geek like that.)

Where was I?  Ah, yes, lunch - probably leftovers again, with mac & cheese to fill out the meal.  And I'll probably throw in whatever leftover veggies are lurking in the fridge, because everyone knows that you can't taste veggies if they are covered in cheese.  Right?

supper - something chicken, maybe with mashed potatoes? and gravy?


Wednesday
supper - Salisbury steak (or meatloaf), green beans, broccoli/cauliflower w/cheese


Thursday
supper - chicken with ... I'm not sure yet, but I'll have it figured out by then.  It's only Monday, people!  Chill.


Friday
This is a big grocery shopping day for us.  Maybe I'll even get around to explaining that, what with my newfound (or rediscovered?) passion for blogging.  Anyway, bf will be quick, lunch will be at Wendy's, and supper will be burgers (of the frozen variety) and some veggies.


Well, as you can see, I'm very decisive and uber-prepared in the area of cooking.  Not.  Actually, our menus are on a rotation, and I've been doing it long enough that I pretty much know what I have available and what is next up on the list.  That makes it easy to not have to devote so much time to it.  And thought, because some days, it feels like there are only so many little grey cells on the job, and they really should be employed in some important pursuit, like making sure the kids get taught that day.  And that I brush my teeth.  And stuff like that.

(Am I the only mom who forgets to brush her teeth more often than she'd like to admit?  I hope not.  But oh, well.  The truth hurts.)

And if you know what literary character I'm referencing in that next-to-last paragraph, you get brownie points! 

Long Time, No See

Well....

Long time, no see, huh?

I've been pretty busy lately here on The Home Front.  A school year to finish up, a high school graduation, a middle school graduation, doctor appointments, orthodontist consults...

I'm very grateful that we have finally reached summer... 

Time for playing outside in the cool morning air, drinking lemonade in the shade of the patio table umbrella, trekking across the rocky shore of the lake to the perfect fishing spot for catching crappie and spotted bass.

Also, I must add, more time to do dishes and laundry.  To paraphrase Jack Prelutsky, Oh dishes and laundry, I love you, you stink...

But not really.  I kind of enjoy having clean plates on which to eat, and clean clothes to pull out of my closet at need.  So while there never seems to be time to completely get these two chores "caught up" during the school year, I have made it a priority to work on these areas now that our days aren't quite so packed. 

And I've resolved to not complain about the dishes and laundry when they have piled up and threaten to bury me.  It seems like almost every day I run across a post or article in which moms are complaining about the enormous burden of D & L, and how they can't ever be kept up on, and how it's not fair to expect moms to take care of the kids and the housework and the laundry and ....

Enough already!  Sometimes, yes, I'm the mom that needs some commiseration and grace because things are out of control.  Sometimes, I'm the mom that totally needs to suck it up and get my rear in gear.  (Ooh...idioms that rhyme!  Bonus!)  Sometimes, I'm the mom who is complaining about other people's complaining, which is kind of a double dose of unpleasant-ness...but sometimes it's called for, don't you think?

Just because I'm home all day and set my own hours doesn't mean I get to slack off.  Just because it's summer (and you know that all teachers get summer off, right?) doesn't mean I get to let things slide.  Being a mom is my job.   Besides, a clean counter and sparkling sink are a joy to behold in the morning, even if they take some effort the night before.

I am not trying to make anyone feel bad.  Often times, we get busy doing things (many of those things being essential, fun, and otherwise good things) and the D & L suffer.  That's life.

But most of the time, I can keep up on them pretty well, with a little effort.  [And by me, I mean me and my awesome cleaning crew.  They're very cheap; in fact, they work for room and board.   :D ]  And I bet a lot of the moms who are complaining could probably do it too.  After all, those yucky plates and sweaty socks didn't get that way on their own, did they? 

I'll leave you with a favorite mom-ism (at least at my house):

Whiners never get what they want.

Frugal: Of Paper Plates and Dusting Cloths

I've been trying to be more frugal lately.  Saving money for the sake of saving is okay, but my real goal is to be a better steward of the money my husband works so hard to earn, and the resources that God has given to us.

Now, one big part of our spending every month is the groceries.  We feed a lot of people in this house!  Consequently, this post is not about buying less, going meatless, etc.  (We are carnivores here at the Home Front.  <grin>)  But our grocery budget includes cleaning items.

So, I'm trying to reduce the amount I spend on disposable things.  Some things are no-brainers.  Like using real plates instead of paper when possible.  Sometimes they come in handy, and we use them.  But usually, I'm going to be doing dishes anyway...the pans, serving utensils, cups, silverware...and adding six plates to the pile in the sink is not going to kill me.  :D

Another no-brainer is making my own Swiffer-type cloths.

If you search for patterns for homemade Swiffer cloths, you'll get all sorts of fancy designs, involving lots of sewing and terms like hem, elastic, selvage...  Gives me hives just thinking about it!  All the photos online look sweet and pretty, but they involve way more time and skill than I'm willing to invest.

I just wanted something to pick up the dust and hair from my wood floors.  Solution:  old sweatshirt.

I took an old sweatshirt - and I mean old like too-ragged-to-donate old - and cut it up.  I laid one of my store-bought Swiffer cloths on it and cut around it with pinking shears.  I managed to get 14 cloths from that one sweatshirt.  It took me about half an hour, and that's only because my hands get tired using the big shears.  Just attach it like the store-bought variety, dust away, and wash it with your rags or towels when you're done.

I did some rough calculations (okay, the kids did the calculating, during lunch...there's math being used in real life!), and figured that we will save about $140 a year by using our new washable, reusable, totally awesome because there's no sewing, absolutely free to make homemade Swiffer cloths.