Trying to make budget amends, I am doing some batch cooking. I cooked up two pounds of hamburger for Sloppy Joe's, some for today, and two portions to freeze. I have beans soaking for soup since yesterday, and will start sauteing the veg shortly. I need to freeze a few in lunch size portions for grab and go next week. I boiled eggs to grab. I'll throw some chicken in the crock pot to prepare for easy meals as well for the week, like wraps or fajitas. Last night was a quick meal of tuna pasta bake and sweet potato fries. I felt like comfort food as did DD2, who had spent most of the day working on a project-and my camera came home in just fine shape. DD1 went back home from her friends, so I didn't see her after we had coffee together yesterday morning.
I needed hamburger buns,milk, bananas, and saltines. I decided to use one of my free Sabra hummus vouchers for a tub for snacking during the games later. I'll just have the Sloppy Joe's and soup, cheese crackers, celery and carrots, and not worry about real meals so I can keep puttering and getting things done. I had bought DD2 a hummus cookbook for Christmas, a $2.00 Barnes and Nobel bargain. She said she might use some of her Christmas money towards a food processor, and maybe she can find one second hand in like new condition.
She mentioned she doesn't have a baking dish, like for pasta, rice hot dish etc. I have several, one of which, a brown Pyrex, was buried in the back of a cupboard for years. As I have a bigger one, plus several smaller, I sent that one, with its cover home with her. There was no reason for her to buy one, and she can save her funds. I'm trying to think every potential purchases, even for others, and see if a usable substitute already exists. Win-win-saved her some funds, and one more item out of my house.
It is a win/win, and I find that it's just as rewarding to save others money as it is myself. Good for the earth, helps you declutter, & saves money. Now that's a huge win! :-)
ReplyDeleteI was busy in the kitchen yesterday as well: granola, cookies, homemade dinner rolls, & two chicken pasta dishes (one from the freezer). Tonight I'm going to try my hand at a Persian recipe that M's mom used to make. Fingers crossed.
We love middle eastern foods, and I hope the recipe works well. I still remember a business trip to the Detroit area where we had a dinner at a restaurant of various middle eastern descents, and each dish they brought out was more delicious than the one before. This is where my love of hummus, babaganush (?), figs and grapes cooked within savory dishes, first was unveiled. Please share if you are happy with your results.
DeleteGood idea to give her the extra pan, I think we all have enough in our cupboards for 2 or 3 households without spending anything
ReplyDeleteI do the same SAM. When we went to K and A's for Christmas, I took a 3 tier steamer, and a large saucepan. Both were surplus to requirements,and I know that K and A needed new pans but they were bottom of the list due to them throwing every spare penny at overpaying the mortgage last year. I now have more space in my cupboards and they have something they needed. Both things make me happy!
ReplyDeleteNothing like having food prepared for the week. It just makes life so much easier all the way around!
ReplyDeleteI would love to share things from my kitchen with my sons, but by the time I ship them there is no savings (well except for their savings) so I tend to Goodwill all extras around here.