I make this awesome smoothie every morning, but I made the mistake of telling Cam what was in it before he tried it and now he refuses to drink it - what a baby!!
Anyway I dare you to make it with an open mind and closed eyes and let me know if it isn't the best drink ever.
Start with 1 cup milk - I use skim milk.
Add 1 cup of frozen fruit - banana, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries. etc.
Top Secret Ingredient - 1 cup of raw spinach.
Blend and enjoy - you get a super healthy drink and it tastes great - if it isn't sweet enough for you, you could add a little sweetener.
I guarantee you can not taste the spinach - it defiantly looks green-speckled but who doesn't like fun colors first thing in the morning - if they only made clear spinach, maybe I could get Cam to drink it.
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Let's Do Lunch!
When Megan was in high school she had a group of friends she ate lunch with. They decided to play a little game with their food. Beginning with the letter A -they would bring in food that started with a letter - avocados, artichokes, animal crackers. Next day it was B - bananas, bagels, butterfly shrimp. Now that's fun!
When my kids started school, the lunchbox was an important purchase - it would get used everyday. So they would choose carefully and then we would get to work. After dinner we would pull out the lunch supplies and they would make their lunches. I would check to see what they were putting in, but for the most part, they were responsible for making it and you know what - they ate it. There was very little wasted or returned food since they were deciding what to eat.
Along the way we learned a few things:
1. Nutrition - we talked a lot about what should be in their lunch and tried to model balanced meals at dinner but it was only one meal - if they brought 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches everyday - who cares, they were getting fruits and veggies at home. I would also have them come up with ideas for the shopping list so the pantry would be well stocked for them. They rarely bought lunch since they could make a better tasting meal than the cafeteria and they said that standing in line wasted too much of their time.
2. Water only - I rarely bought juice boxes. They each had a water bottle that they would fill half way with water and then freeze. This also worked as an ice pack in their lunch - it tends to "sweat" so you could slip it in a clean sock to keep other things dry.
3. The "Snack Basket" - we were having "issues" with the snacks for the week being eaten the first day I bought them, so I gave each kid a basket for their snacks. All their snacks for the week go in there and it has to last them - if they run out early - oh well - and there is no "stealing" from other basket, but there is plenty of trading!!
4. Family Meeting - before I go shopping, I'll ask what they want for that week (as long as it's on sale!) I used to always buy lunch meat, but now they are on a yogurt and salami kick. My sister-in-law Laurie told me a great idea. She buys whole cuts of meat - turkey, ham, roast beef - cooks it and then slices it for sandwiches. This is so much cheaper than buying it from the deli - I usually don't buy meat if it's over $4 a pound, but I was shelling out $7 a pound for lunch meat - what's wrong with this picture!
5. Reusable vs. Disposable - when the kids were in elementary school all their food was in Tupperware and they would bring it home to use the next day. They make a really neat sandwich wrap - it's a piece of material on one side and plastic on the other - you place your sandwich in the middle and fold in the sides - it stays shut with Velcro. They would be super easy to make. A place mat and cloth napkin are an added nice touch. By the time the kids got to jr. high the lunch box was out and paper bags were in. I can compromise - I buy the generic bags and single containers of yogurt and applesauce - it's a little more money, but cheaper than buying lunch.
6. Leftovers - that is what I usually bring for lunch - after dinner I spoon what's left into a Tupperware and my lunch is packed. If you have kids at home or are homeschooling - this is a great option. It's also a great time to let your kids try their hand at cooking - let them plan and make this meal - consider it home economics.
Packing your lunch can save you a lot of money - school lunches are up to $2.50 - $5 and eating out will cost you even more, let alone the time and gas you will spend getting there. Do a little preplanning and save some cents!
When my kids started school, the lunchbox was an important purchase - it would get used everyday. So they would choose carefully and then we would get to work. After dinner we would pull out the lunch supplies and they would make their lunches. I would check to see what they were putting in, but for the most part, they were responsible for making it and you know what - they ate it. There was very little wasted or returned food since they were deciding what to eat.
Along the way we learned a few things:
1. Nutrition - we talked a lot about what should be in their lunch and tried to model balanced meals at dinner but it was only one meal - if they brought 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches everyday - who cares, they were getting fruits and veggies at home. I would also have them come up with ideas for the shopping list so the pantry would be well stocked for them. They rarely bought lunch since they could make a better tasting meal than the cafeteria and they said that standing in line wasted too much of their time.
2. Water only - I rarely bought juice boxes. They each had a water bottle that they would fill half way with water and then freeze. This also worked as an ice pack in their lunch - it tends to "sweat" so you could slip it in a clean sock to keep other things dry.
3. The "Snack Basket" - we were having "issues" with the snacks for the week being eaten the first day I bought them, so I gave each kid a basket for their snacks. All their snacks for the week go in there and it has to last them - if they run out early - oh well - and there is no "stealing" from other basket, but there is plenty of trading!!
4. Family Meeting - before I go shopping, I'll ask what they want for that week (as long as it's on sale!) I used to always buy lunch meat, but now they are on a yogurt and salami kick. My sister-in-law Laurie told me a great idea. She buys whole cuts of meat - turkey, ham, roast beef - cooks it and then slices it for sandwiches. This is so much cheaper than buying it from the deli - I usually don't buy meat if it's over $4 a pound, but I was shelling out $7 a pound for lunch meat - what's wrong with this picture!
5. Reusable vs. Disposable - when the kids were in elementary school all their food was in Tupperware and they would bring it home to use the next day. They make a really neat sandwich wrap - it's a piece of material on one side and plastic on the other - you place your sandwich in the middle and fold in the sides - it stays shut with Velcro. They would be super easy to make. A place mat and cloth napkin are an added nice touch. By the time the kids got to jr. high the lunch box was out and paper bags were in. I can compromise - I buy the generic bags and single containers of yogurt and applesauce - it's a little more money, but cheaper than buying lunch.
6. Leftovers - that is what I usually bring for lunch - after dinner I spoon what's left into a Tupperware and my lunch is packed. If you have kids at home or are homeschooling - this is a great option. It's also a great time to let your kids try their hand at cooking - let them plan and make this meal - consider it home economics.
Packing your lunch can save you a lot of money - school lunches are up to $2.50 - $5 and eating out will cost you even more, let alone the time and gas you will spend getting there. Do a little preplanning and save some cents!
Jello - Yogurt Cups
1 package jello (I use sugar-free)
1 Cup boiling water
1 Cup yogurt (any flavor)
Blend in the blender, pour into cups and chill for 3 hours.
My kids LOVE these!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
My Cereal Is Homeless!
Comedian Jim Gaffigan does a bit where he talks about buying generic food and how embarrassing it it. He says his cereal, that is located on the bottom shelf of the aisle, comes in a bag - it's worse than a homeless person, because even a homeless person has a box to sleep in - his cereal has none!
Generic brands have come a long way. It used to be that you could tell the difference between a food with a "designer label" and one without - not so much anymore. I read an article about a pickle company that would fill a vat with pickles and after they were done filling the jars for a nationally known name brand, they would place the generic jars on the conveyor belt to be filled from the same vat - same pickles - two different prices.
And I do mean different prices - generic is significantly cheaper, even when you are using a coupon. That's why I don't bother too much with coupons, I can usually buy it cheaper by choosing generic, but at times they do discount the name brand so it does beat generic - be vigilant about checking prices and it helps to keep a price book. You write down the prices of products you buy consistently - that way you know when you are getting a deal and you should stock up. You can scan the grocers ads and see if it is worth a trip to their store to stock up on what's on sale.
"But Mary, my family won't eat generic"!!
If this sounds like you, try these tips:
1. Don't ask, don't tell - use the generic product and throw out the evidence - make sure you bury it deep in the trash can. When they rave about the meal, you can choose whether or not you want to let them in on your secret. You will probably get the most resistance from your spouse - kids are easy. At youth group they were playing a game about breakfast and my boys yelled out Crunchy Heads (the generic brand of Captain Crunch) - that's my boys!!
2. Pull a switch-or-roo - I make my own syrup - 3 cups sugar, 1 1/2 cups water, 3 Tab. molasses, 2 Tab. vanilla - boil and serve. For years I poured it into Mrs. Buttersworth - no one knew the difference.
3. Have a blind taste test - When the kids were little I bought tri-colored pasta - it looked colorful and was a little more nutritious than regular. But the kids would fuss - so we'd play a game where they would close their eyes and I would feed them one - if they could guess what color it was, they only had to eat the white ones - I won every time! If your family truly can tell the difference, offer to buy their brand when it is on sale or you have a coupon. Long ago I could tell the difference with peanut butter so I would buy Jif but I continued to search for a generic brand. I tried other stores' generics and soon found a brand that tasted just as good and is almost $2 cheaper.
It's funny how a visual can keep you from being frugal. When I was comparing groceries prices at a Super Walmart I bought their generic brands. The packaging looked cheap, and I felt its tasted that way too. So I decided it wasn't worth the extra trip to save a couple pennies. I also don't shop at Sam's or BJs - they only sell name brands, so even though it might be cheaper than Giant, it's not cheaper than generic - it helps to know your prices and to not have product loyalty - I'm always saying "give me the cheapest brand".
Jim Gaffigan finishes his bit by explaining to the check out girl that he is buying these generic brands for a neighbor and that he buys all his groceries from Sky Mall!
Well, I make no apologies - I buy generic - it just makes cents!
Generic brands have come a long way. It used to be that you could tell the difference between a food with a "designer label" and one without - not so much anymore. I read an article about a pickle company that would fill a vat with pickles and after they were done filling the jars for a nationally known name brand, they would place the generic jars on the conveyor belt to be filled from the same vat - same pickles - two different prices.
And I do mean different prices - generic is significantly cheaper, even when you are using a coupon. That's why I don't bother too much with coupons, I can usually buy it cheaper by choosing generic, but at times they do discount the name brand so it does beat generic - be vigilant about checking prices and it helps to keep a price book. You write down the prices of products you buy consistently - that way you know when you are getting a deal and you should stock up. You can scan the grocers ads and see if it is worth a trip to their store to stock up on what's on sale.
"But Mary, my family won't eat generic"!!
If this sounds like you, try these tips:
1. Don't ask, don't tell - use the generic product and throw out the evidence - make sure you bury it deep in the trash can. When they rave about the meal, you can choose whether or not you want to let them in on your secret. You will probably get the most resistance from your spouse - kids are easy. At youth group they were playing a game about breakfast and my boys yelled out Crunchy Heads (the generic brand of Captain Crunch) - that's my boys!!
2. Pull a switch-or-roo - I make my own syrup - 3 cups sugar, 1 1/2 cups water, 3 Tab. molasses, 2 Tab. vanilla - boil and serve. For years I poured it into Mrs. Buttersworth - no one knew the difference.
3. Have a blind taste test - When the kids were little I bought tri-colored pasta - it looked colorful and was a little more nutritious than regular. But the kids would fuss - so we'd play a game where they would close their eyes and I would feed them one - if they could guess what color it was, they only had to eat the white ones - I won every time! If your family truly can tell the difference, offer to buy their brand when it is on sale or you have a coupon. Long ago I could tell the difference with peanut butter so I would buy Jif but I continued to search for a generic brand. I tried other stores' generics and soon found a brand that tasted just as good and is almost $2 cheaper.
It's funny how a visual can keep you from being frugal. When I was comparing groceries prices at a Super Walmart I bought their generic brands. The packaging looked cheap, and I felt its tasted that way too. So I decided it wasn't worth the extra trip to save a couple pennies. I also don't shop at Sam's or BJs - they only sell name brands, so even though it might be cheaper than Giant, it's not cheaper than generic - it helps to know your prices and to not have product loyalty - I'm always saying "give me the cheapest brand".
Jim Gaffigan finishes his bit by explaining to the check out girl that he is buying these generic brands for a neighbor and that he buys all his groceries from Sky Mall!
Well, I make no apologies - I buy generic - it just makes cents!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Most Important Meal of the Day
My "baby" turns 16 today!
Yes, and this is the famous ice cream cake.
So the tradition in our house is that on your birthday you get breakfast in bed - usually made by your siblings!! We have a tray and it gets filled with all kinds of yummy treats - you are the king for that day. And why not, breakfast is probably the best meal of the day. But let's face it, morning is no time to be making it!!
Most mornings we have quick, but hopefully nutritious meal - we save the "grand slam" breakfasts for the weekends or for dinner!
Let's take a look at some options for the morning and maybe you can share some of your own to give me some fresh ideas!
Smoothies - this is an anytime meal in our house. We have two different kinds- orange juice base and milk base. Then you add frozen fruits - blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and I stick "almost bad" bananas in the freezer (peel first) to add in too. In the milk base, I add yogurt - about 1/2 cup of plain plus the frozen fruit. - delicious and really good for you!
Oatmeal - I was never a fan growing up, I was more of a Cream of Wheat kind of girl, but Cam loves it and now so do I. We do the slow cook method, so when I come back from my walk, I boil the water, add the oats and then take it off the stove, by the time I'm done my shower it is ready to eat. I add frozen blueberries and walnuts. My boys love the instant packets and will eat them anytime of the day, too.
Muffins - This can be labor intensive, so what I do is make the batter the night before, usually while making dinner, fill the tins and put them in the fridge, then in the morning all I have to do is pop them in the oven - 20 minutes later hot, fresh muffins, yum. My boys will eat them anytime of the day - are you noticing a theme here???
Yogurt - I buy a big tub of plain yogurt and then add my own frozen fruit and nuts, Ryan takes a granola bar and crushes it on top. When I take this to school, people will stop me and ask where I bought it! It's that good!
Pancakes and Waffles - when we makes breakfast for dinner, I will cook extra to put in the freezer - that way you just have to heat them up in the microwave and they taste much better than the store bought frozen ones.
Egg Casserole - again, a little bit of work, but if you do it the night before all you have to do is put it in the oven and serve.
Bagels - they travel well and can be topped with anything - egg sandwiches are a favorite in our house.
Bagels - they travel well and can be topped with anything - egg sandwiches are a favorite in our house.
Most mornings it's a grab and go, but we all know how important breakfast is - for everyone! And cold cereal gets old pretty quick so stock your cupboards with some quick, nutritional foods and start your day off right - it makes good cents!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Mom, there's nothing to eat!!!!
We are on week 2 of "Pantry Week" (have you heard the moans coming from my house) Now, you may be asking what exactly is pantry week - good question!
Pantry Week is when I stop grocery shopping and try to eat only what we already have on hand - I did cheat a little because I bought milk - actually Cam bought it and also came home with a box of Yodels!! Since I like to stock up on products when they are a good price, we tend to have a surplus of food. When I feel like it hasn't been rotated out quick enough or if we are planning to go away I stop buying. Since both were happening last week - we were going down to my brothers and we were getting a little overloaded = Pantry Week.
It's always a good idea to clean out your fridge before you go away - my mom was famous for this. When we would leave on vacation the only thing left in the fridge would be a bottle of ketchup and the light bulb - she was famous for her fried bologna sandwiches! I hated this, but as any good parent will tell you, we tend to do the same things our parents do! So there!!
I also clean my house and do all the laundry before I go away - this is just psychological or is that psycho- it is nice to come home from a trip to a clean house and the only laundry you need to do is in your suitcase. I also make sure there is a meal waiting in the freezer - since obviously there is no food in the fridge.
So when we returned from our trip, I anticipated a trip to the grocery store, but no one has been complaining about the lack of food, so I bought milk and we are now on week 2. I am going to see how long I can make this last!
I've had to be creative to make it this far, below are some of the meals and snacks that we've had:
Chicken - lots of chicken
Carrot and Squash Soup
Grilled Cheese made on bread that had been in the freezer a little too long, but tasted delicious as grilled cheese
Steak that we had received as a gift for Christmas
Pasta - lots of pasta
Salad with leftover meat on top
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
And now for the snacks:
Chocolate cake
Rice Crispy Treats
Celery and Peanut Butter
Carmel Popcorn - this recipe is courtesy of my sis in law - and is too good not to share:
Combine first 4 ingredients in a sauce pan over medium heat. When blended, add baking soda and stir quickly till frothy - pour immediately over popcorn in the brown bag, close and shake vigorously. Place bag in microwave and cook for 1 minute, remove, shake, repeat. Then spread hot camel popcorn on clean surface and let cool. Store in an airtight container - if any makes it past the cooling stage - we eat it right off the counter!
This is a great treat to send to college students - it's light, cheap and delicious!!
Pantry Week is when I stop grocery shopping and try to eat only what we already have on hand - I did cheat a little because I bought milk - actually Cam bought it and also came home with a box of Yodels!! Since I like to stock up on products when they are a good price, we tend to have a surplus of food. When I feel like it hasn't been rotated out quick enough or if we are planning to go away I stop buying. Since both were happening last week - we were going down to my brothers and we were getting a little overloaded = Pantry Week.
It's always a good idea to clean out your fridge before you go away - my mom was famous for this. When we would leave on vacation the only thing left in the fridge would be a bottle of ketchup and the light bulb - she was famous for her fried bologna sandwiches! I hated this, but as any good parent will tell you, we tend to do the same things our parents do! So there!!
I also clean my house and do all the laundry before I go away - this is just psychological or is that psycho- it is nice to come home from a trip to a clean house and the only laundry you need to do is in your suitcase. I also make sure there is a meal waiting in the freezer - since obviously there is no food in the fridge.
So when we returned from our trip, I anticipated a trip to the grocery store, but no one has been complaining about the lack of food, so I bought milk and we are now on week 2. I am going to see how long I can make this last!
I've had to be creative to make it this far, below are some of the meals and snacks that we've had:
Chicken - lots of chicken
Carrot and Squash Soup
Grilled Cheese made on bread that had been in the freezer a little too long, but tasted delicious as grilled cheese
Steak that we had received as a gift for Christmas
Pasta - lots of pasta
Salad with leftover meat on top
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
And now for the snacks:
Chocolate cake
Rice Crispy Treats
Celery and Peanut Butter
Carmel Popcorn - this recipe is courtesy of my sis in law - and is too good not to share:
Microwave Carmel Popcorn
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Stick of Butter
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
4 quarts air popped popcorn- place in brown grocery bag
This is a great treat to send to college students - it's light, cheap and delicious!!
Back to my story - so I'm going to see how long I can go without shopping and try to use up some of my bargain groceries - everything does eventually expire. Meanwhile, I will be searching for a recipe that calls for 20 cans of dented tuna fish. Saving money by skipping a few weeks of grocery shopping - that makes cents!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
To All My College "Peeps"
One of my favorite college girls left a comment yesterday asking how college kids can shop more efficiently and save money. Great question!
When Colin decided he wanted to go to Full Sail University - everything looked great - the teachers, the location,the program - he will come out with his bachelors in just under 2 years - not bad!! The only downside was that there are no dorms - our son would not only be living on his own, doing all his own laundry, cleaning his apartment but also cooking all his own meals. The first 3-no problem, the last took a little prep work. So the summer before he left, he grocery shopped, cooked more meals and we talked a lot about meal planning. We even wrote up 3 x 5 cards that listed meal options and all the ingredients he would need to make it. Since he has a limited budget, eating out is not on his meal plan. He called me last week at 9pm to ask how to make chicken cordon blue - yeah, I would say he is doing OK!
So if you need some help with frugal ways to make your grocery money last as well as the food that you buy with it - read on.
You defiantly get a better deal on food if you buy in bulk but how do you keep it fresh as long as possible. When I get home from grocery shopping I divide all the meat I bought into amounts that I would use for a meal - so a 3lb package of ground meat will go into 3 separate *Ziploc, I write the date on the bag and then put it into the freezer.
If I am feeling ambitious I will cook it up first, then divide it and freeze it - that way when I pull it out, all I have to do is defrost and add it to the recipe - that cuts the prep time in half.
Chicken is great for this - I cook it in the crock pot or you can put it in a pot of water on the stove - just add salt and pepper - then pick out the bones and skin and will have cooked chicken to use for the week or I can put it in the freezer and pull it out as needed. Just make sure you package it in smaller portions.
Added bonus - I make chicken soup from the stock.
Repeat after me "The freezer is your friend" - but keep track of what you have in there and how long it's been there. Tape a piece of paper on the outside of the freezer and write the food you put in along with the date. When you use it, cross it off. So at a glance, you know what you have and how long it's been in there. I'm a generous landlord, but after a year - it has to go.
Things that I freeze:
Bread,bagels and rolls - if rolls start to go bad, I stick them in the freezer and use them for garlic bread.
Butter
Shredded cheese - it defrosts great in the fridge (never defrost in the microwave) and will last for months - I stock up when it is 3/$5
Nuts and Frozen Fruit - we always have this on hand for smoothies, oatmeal and yogurt
Bananas - I peel them, put them on a plate and when frozen put them in a *Ziploc and back in the freezer
Ice Cream - are you still with me????
So there are some ideas. When you are shopping for 1 or 2 people it is still worth it to look for a good deal, stockpile, food share with some friends and freeze all that you can - hope these ideas make you a lot of cents!! Now get back to studying and call your mom!!
* When I say Ziploc what I mean is the cheapest generic brand of bag that zips shut!
When Colin decided he wanted to go to Full Sail University - everything looked great - the teachers, the location,the program - he will come out with his bachelors in just under 2 years - not bad!! The only downside was that there are no dorms - our son would not only be living on his own, doing all his own laundry, cleaning his apartment but also cooking all his own meals. The first 3-no problem, the last took a little prep work. So the summer before he left, he grocery shopped, cooked more meals and we talked a lot about meal planning. We even wrote up 3 x 5 cards that listed meal options and all the ingredients he would need to make it. Since he has a limited budget, eating out is not on his meal plan. He called me last week at 9pm to ask how to make chicken cordon blue - yeah, I would say he is doing OK!
So if you need some help with frugal ways to make your grocery money last as well as the food that you buy with it - read on.
You defiantly get a better deal on food if you buy in bulk but how do you keep it fresh as long as possible. When I get home from grocery shopping I divide all the meat I bought into amounts that I would use for a meal - so a 3lb package of ground meat will go into 3 separate *Ziploc, I write the date on the bag and then put it into the freezer.
If I am feeling ambitious I will cook it up first, then divide it and freeze it - that way when I pull it out, all I have to do is defrost and add it to the recipe - that cuts the prep time in half.
Chicken is great for this - I cook it in the crock pot or you can put it in a pot of water on the stove - just add salt and pepper - then pick out the bones and skin and will have cooked chicken to use for the week or I can put it in the freezer and pull it out as needed. Just make sure you package it in smaller portions.
Added bonus - I make chicken soup from the stock.
Repeat after me "The freezer is your friend" - but keep track of what you have in there and how long it's been there. Tape a piece of paper on the outside of the freezer and write the food you put in along with the date. When you use it, cross it off. So at a glance, you know what you have and how long it's been in there. I'm a generous landlord, but after a year - it has to go.
Things that I freeze:
Bread,bagels and rolls - if rolls start to go bad, I stick them in the freezer and use them for garlic bread.
Butter
Shredded cheese - it defrosts great in the fridge (never defrost in the microwave) and will last for months - I stock up when it is 3/$5
Nuts and Frozen Fruit - we always have this on hand for smoothies, oatmeal and yogurt
Bananas - I peel them, put them on a plate and when frozen put them in a *Ziploc and back in the freezer
Ice Cream - are you still with me????
So there are some ideas. When you are shopping for 1 or 2 people it is still worth it to look for a good deal, stockpile, food share with some friends and freeze all that you can - hope these ideas make you a lot of cents!! Now get back to studying and call your mom!!
* When I say Ziploc what I mean is the cheapest generic brand of bag that zips shut!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Do you have a reservation??
I heard on the radio yesterday that the average couple will spend just under $200 on Valentine's Day - I'm glad I'm not average - aren't you??
Cam just called me upstairs to show me the toilet seat he put in our bathroom - it lowers by itself. I'm pretty sure that isn't my Valentine's gift, but if it is I hope it was under $200!
That amount might seem high but if you think about eating out - that amount isn't too far off base. Which brings me to what I really want to talk about - eating out - is it worth it?? Fast food is around $5, sit down can be about $15 plus tip and nice sit down can cost you about $30 and those numbers are if you are dining alone - times it by 6 and you see why I obsess about this!
Cam LOVES to eat out. He likes to tell me the story of how his Dad had diabetes and after church he would say he was going to have an episode if they didn't get to Perkins in 5 minutes - he loved his Dad!!
My family rarely ate out. The first trip Cam went on with my family we drove to Martha's Vineyard. We pulled into the rest area and Cam thought - great - fast food. That smile was quickly replaced by a look of horror as my mom pulled out the picnic basket complete with plastic tablecloth and wet wash cloth in a Ziploc. He quickly ate and then excused himself to use the bathroom (and buy a burger!)
Fortunately in Cam's line of work he takes people out for lunch and breakfast quite often so you would think his need for other people preparing his food would be satisfied, but he tells me it is hard to enjoy your food when you're trying to listen and give wise counsel - BOO HOO!
I do enjoy eating out and the break from cooking and at times will look around the kitchen and cry out -PIZZA!!
But when I think about eating out and the expense that is involved in it I have to ask myself "Is it worth it"?
This is a good rule of thumb for anything you buy, not just food.
Take for example a cheeseburger and fries that would cost about $5. To buy the same meal at the grocery store and make at home would probably be about $1 - did I enjoy that fast food meal 5 times more than my home cooked meal? Probably not! Let's get fancier. A couple took us out to an expensive Italian restaurant and paid $120 - I could have made the same meal for around $12 did I enjoy it 10 times more? I do enjoy eating out - the atmosphere, the service, the way every one of my "needs" is met! And granted some meals are good - really good especially when cooked by a real chef but are they that much better? That is the question you need to ask when you are planning to eat out. I love Greek food and have tried to make it at home with little success so for me, that is worth it!
The key word PLANNING. Am I just going out because I didn't plan well at home. Am I using restaurants as a meal planner? It's a personal question. If you don't have the money - eat at home. But if you do have the money - choose wisely and use a coupon. If it's a special occasion or you have a good reason, go ahead but with a little preplanning, you can make those special meals right at home.
It turns out the toilet seat wasn't my gift for Valentine's Day -Cam cooked some steaks that we had received as a Christmas gift on the grill and made a Cesar salad. No long lines, no tips, no reservations - just dirty dishes, but that's why I had children. Eating at home does makes cents!
That Makes Cents Tip: Homemade Pizza
Take frozen bread dough and let defrost - follow directions on the package -I take mine out in the morning. Spray a cookie sheet, stone or pizza pan with olive oil. Spread out dough - little kids love to help with this, just flour your hands and knead on the tray. Cover with sauce (I just use spaghetti sauce, but you could try tomatoes too) Then put shredded mozzarella cheese, and any other toppings your family likes. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning or fresh Basil if you have it. Cook at 400 for about 15 minutes. It is delicious and costs about $3 for one pizza.
Cam just called me upstairs to show me the toilet seat he put in our bathroom - it lowers by itself. I'm pretty sure that isn't my Valentine's gift, but if it is I hope it was under $200!
That amount might seem high but if you think about eating out - that amount isn't too far off base. Which brings me to what I really want to talk about - eating out - is it worth it?? Fast food is around $5, sit down can be about $15 plus tip and nice sit down can cost you about $30 and those numbers are if you are dining alone - times it by 6 and you see why I obsess about this!
Cam LOVES to eat out. He likes to tell me the story of how his Dad had diabetes and after church he would say he was going to have an episode if they didn't get to Perkins in 5 minutes - he loved his Dad!!
My family rarely ate out. The first trip Cam went on with my family we drove to Martha's Vineyard. We pulled into the rest area and Cam thought - great - fast food. That smile was quickly replaced by a look of horror as my mom pulled out the picnic basket complete with plastic tablecloth and wet wash cloth in a Ziploc. He quickly ate and then excused himself to use the bathroom (and buy a burger!)
Fortunately in Cam's line of work he takes people out for lunch and breakfast quite often so you would think his need for other people preparing his food would be satisfied, but he tells me it is hard to enjoy your food when you're trying to listen and give wise counsel - BOO HOO!
I do enjoy eating out and the break from cooking and at times will look around the kitchen and cry out -PIZZA!!
But when I think about eating out and the expense that is involved in it I have to ask myself "Is it worth it"?
This is a good rule of thumb for anything you buy, not just food.
Take for example a cheeseburger and fries that would cost about $5. To buy the same meal at the grocery store and make at home would probably be about $1 - did I enjoy that fast food meal 5 times more than my home cooked meal? Probably not! Let's get fancier. A couple took us out to an expensive Italian restaurant and paid $120 - I could have made the same meal for around $12 did I enjoy it 10 times more? I do enjoy eating out - the atmosphere, the service, the way every one of my "needs" is met! And granted some meals are good - really good especially when cooked by a real chef but are they that much better? That is the question you need to ask when you are planning to eat out. I love Greek food and have tried to make it at home with little success so for me, that is worth it!
The key word PLANNING. Am I just going out because I didn't plan well at home. Am I using restaurants as a meal planner? It's a personal question. If you don't have the money - eat at home. But if you do have the money - choose wisely and use a coupon. If it's a special occasion or you have a good reason, go ahead but with a little preplanning, you can make those special meals right at home.
It turns out the toilet seat wasn't my gift for Valentine's Day -Cam cooked some steaks that we had received as a Christmas gift on the grill and made a Cesar salad. No long lines, no tips, no reservations - just dirty dishes, but that's why I had children. Eating at home does makes cents!
That Makes Cents Tip: Homemade Pizza
Take frozen bread dough and let defrost - follow directions on the package -I take mine out in the morning. Spray a cookie sheet, stone or pizza pan with olive oil. Spread out dough - little kids love to help with this, just flour your hands and knead on the tray. Cover with sauce (I just use spaghetti sauce, but you could try tomatoes too) Then put shredded mozzarella cheese, and any other toppings your family likes. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning or fresh Basil if you have it. Cook at 400 for about 15 minutes. It is delicious and costs about $3 for one pizza.
Monday, January 31, 2011
What's For Dinner?
Now, don't get all excited - this is not going to be a blog full of recipes. I grew up with a Mom who not only was a phenomenal cook but also very daring. We dined on anything from liver and onions to cow tongue and that was in the days before chicken nuggets - not that she would have made a separate meal. My sister took after my mom and I have 2 sister-in-laws who could create their own cookbook. So I decided early on to be good at other things.
But I do cook dinner just about every night. Now most people make a schedule of dinners for each night of the week, grocery shop and then cook accordingly. But I never felt comfortable having so much power over the dining enjoyment of 5 other people.
So when I go grocery shopping instead of making a list (I'm bound and determined to prove that i didn't lose all my memory giving birth to 4 children) I shop what is on sale. If chicken is at a good price I buy 5 - 6 packages, if spaghetti is buy one get one free - I fill the cart. Then when I get home I write down all the different meals we could have that week from what I bought and post it on the fridge. Then the requests come in "can we have chicken scampi tonight?" "I have volleyball - just soup and grilled cheese on Thursday". I make ONE meal for the night - no ala ca rte - and then I cross that meal off the list. This way the family knows what they might be eating that week and when they want to make dinner- they know all the ingredients are on hand.
Another time and money saver is the crock pot - it's the miracle of the kitchen - and to think, I got it as a wedding gift! I will put a whole chicken in with a can of tomatoes and like magic - dinner! I can make 3 different meals from that 1 chicken and the best part is that it is already cooked and ready to go for the next meal.
A number of years ago I had the whole family brainstorm their favorite meals. I wrote them on cards and when I was stumped as to what to make, I consulted the cards.
Dinner times are family time in our house and this system puts good, nutritious meals on the table with minimal effort and expense and doesn't that just make cents!!
But I do cook dinner just about every night. Now most people make a schedule of dinners for each night of the week, grocery shop and then cook accordingly. But I never felt comfortable having so much power over the dining enjoyment of 5 other people.
So when I go grocery shopping instead of making a list (I'm bound and determined to prove that i didn't lose all my memory giving birth to 4 children) I shop what is on sale. If chicken is at a good price I buy 5 - 6 packages, if spaghetti is buy one get one free - I fill the cart. Then when I get home I write down all the different meals we could have that week from what I bought and post it on the fridge. Then the requests come in "can we have chicken scampi tonight?" "I have volleyball - just soup and grilled cheese on Thursday". I make ONE meal for the night - no ala ca rte - and then I cross that meal off the list. This way the family knows what they might be eating that week and when they want to make dinner- they know all the ingredients are on hand.
Another time and money saver is the crock pot - it's the miracle of the kitchen - and to think, I got it as a wedding gift! I will put a whole chicken in with a can of tomatoes and like magic - dinner! I can make 3 different meals from that 1 chicken and the best part is that it is already cooked and ready to go for the next meal.
A number of years ago I had the whole family brainstorm their favorite meals. I wrote them on cards and when I was stumped as to what to make, I consulted the cards.
Dinner times are family time in our house and this system puts good, nutritious meals on the table with minimal effort and expense and doesn't that just make cents!!
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