Sometimes the store had 5 pound bags of potatoes for 99 cents. It is during these times that our household enjoys what I like to call Irish Potato Feasts. Except I'm not Irish and I'm sure the potatoes aren't Irish, but Husband has been called a "thievin' Mick" before so I guess that's close enough. (Note: He's never really stolen anything.)
I used a potato or two in the Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot Pie I made awhile ago but now I'm getting serious about potato cooking. Especially since I brought home a metric ton of sweet potatoes from Parents' after Thanksgiving. Do you know what I forgot? The pumpkin I was gonna cook.
This is a recipe I like to call Loaded Scalloped Potatoes. It's like a loaded baked potato, only they're scalloped potatoes. I don't know what the difference is between scalloped and au gratin. I don't need to know, really. They both scared me as a child. Probably because school lunches and church dinners were the only place I came into contact with anything scalloped or au gratin. And during school lunches and church dinners, you must choose wisely. Once at a church dinner Sibling and Friend found a rubber band in a dessert. Pops had a theory about how the rubber band got there--something to do with a newspaper. We call that recipe Rubber Band Dessert at our house. It's good, minus the newspaper detritus.
Despite my scalloped fear, I settled on this recipe because I was going to load it with good stuff. Free ham from Thanksgiving and a box of frozen chopped broccoli. And cheese, lots and lots of cheese. Cheese is always the right choice. I used a scalloped potato recipe out of my BH&G cookbook just to make sure I did the scalloped part right.
Loaded Scalloped Potatoes
1/2 cup chopped onion 25 cents
1 clove garlic, minced 5 cents
2 tbsp butter 14 cents
2 tbsp flour 1 cent
salt and pepper
1 1/4 c milk I use powdered milk for stuff that isn't drinking. 12 cents
1/2 c mozzarella cheese 32 cents
1/4 c Parmesan cheese 21 cents
3 medium potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced 18 cents
10 oz chopped, frozen broccoli, thawed and drained 99 cents
2 cups chopped ham free
1/2 cup cheddar cheese 32 cents
In a pan, cook onion and garlic in butter until soft. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened. Add the white cheeses and stir until melted.
In a greased 1 1/2 quart casserole, layer 1/2 the potatoes, 1 cup of ham, and 1/2 the broccoli, top with 1/2 the sauce. Repeat.
Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Uncover, top with cheddar and bake 15-20 minutes more.
Total: $2.59
___________________
Breakfast: Oatmeal with cranberry sauce 33 cents
Snack: 1/2 granola bar 10 cents
Lunch: turkey wrap and oreos (from the honor snacks) $1.70
Dinner: Not-so-Hamburger Helper 63 cents
Total: $2.76
This made about 6 servings so 43 cents per serving. It went very fast!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
These Weeks' Lessons
So what did we learn these weeks?
1. I love being at home.
2. Once you get this song in your head, it is there forever. And don't invite In-Laws over for dinner if you want leftovers.
3. I'll have to make this post more vague if I want to share my blog with more people.
4. Only vaguely related to this blog post, when I asked my father about his home remedies for sinus troubles, he told me anhydrous would clear them up. WTF?
5. Black Friday: the downfall of our species or natural selection?
6. Along with snotting eyes, old man handkerchiefs are also good props for proving you're too sick to work.
7. My Thanksgiving turkey tryptophan kicked in a little late. Also? I can spell tryptophan and anhydrous right but I have to think hard to get handle right.
8. The way to In-Laws hearts is through their stomachs.
9. I like to play -- not turn -- tricks. Also, the way to Husband's heart is Alexander Hamilton.
10. I love my grandpa.
11. Flaming poo is the answer to a lot of things.
12. We're crafty people.
_________________
Breakfast: Biscuits, sweet potato and banana, cranberry sauce
Lunch: deer summer sausage and cheese on saltines
Dinner: Pizza and cookies
Total: ?
1. I love being at home.
2. Once you get this song in your head, it is there forever. And don't invite In-Laws over for dinner if you want leftovers.
3. I'll have to make this post more vague if I want to share my blog with more people.
4. Only vaguely related to this blog post, when I asked my father about his home remedies for sinus troubles, he told me anhydrous would clear them up. WTF?
5. Black Friday: the downfall of our species or natural selection?
6. Along with snotting eyes, old man handkerchiefs are also good props for proving you're too sick to work.
7. My Thanksgiving turkey tryptophan kicked in a little late. Also? I can spell tryptophan and anhydrous right but I have to think hard to get handle right.
8. The way to In-Laws hearts is through their stomachs.
9. I like to play -- not turn -- tricks. Also, the way to Husband's heart is Alexander Hamilton.
10. I love my grandpa.
11. Flaming poo is the answer to a lot of things.
12. We're crafty people.
_________________
Breakfast: Biscuits, sweet potato and banana, cranberry sauce
Lunch: deer summer sausage and cheese on saltines
Dinner: Pizza and cookies
Total: ?
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Waste Not...
*I'm doing my Reverb 10 on a special page dedicated to it. Look over there if you're interested in that kind of thing.------------->
No waste not post on the holiday weekend so I have a lot to catch up on.
Last week the only thing that would have made the list was bacon. Sacrilege. It was moldy. I pulled it apart, slapped it into the pan, and then took a closer look when I noticed a furry patch. How could I have possibly wasted bacon? That is a cardinal sin. Was I saving it for something special? Is this my own Egg Nog Dilemma?
I cleaned the fridge yesterday. I found some other things that should have gone a long time ago. They certainly didn't go bad this week. But since I found them this week, they are:
1/2 a loaf of gluten-free bread. This is old. I tried to help my husband solve his acid reflux issues with an allergen-free test. He didn't last long on it. But that is when I discovered my favorite sweet potato and banana breakfast. So I consider it a success even though the acid reflux is still with us from time to time.
A few green onions and carrot slices. These went in the compost bin. They were from Step-Daughter's birthday party. If I mention when her birthday was, you may be afraid to enter my house.
There hasn't been a lot of other waste in this household, unless you count the run to Steak and Shake. Which I do.
On the more successful side of the coin, we have been practicing our three Rs--recycle, reduce, reuse--in a few different ways.
We had a big jar candle that the wick had burned up on. There was still a lot of wax left in it. We went to the crafty store and got a new set of four long wicks for $2.99. I rescued a roasted red pepper jar from the recycle bin. I melted the old candle wax in a water bath, set a new wick in the pepper jar, poured the melted wax in, propped up the wick with scotch tape and a clothespin, and let it set overnight. Trimmed the wick the next morning. (We have enough to make another candle. You can buy the metal things for the bottom separately at the craft store.) Then we got all the residual wax out of the original jar and washed it. Now we have a new candle and a jar to stash stuff in. The best part? Husband (candle-lover, Alexander Hamilton-lover, girl) won't have to spend good money on a new candle for a long time.
We bought a Christmas wreath on sale after the season last year. During Thanksgiving at Parent's I rummaged through old decor. I found some red satin balls, a string of red beads, and an old holly candle wreath. As of this afternoon, we have a new Christmas wreath to hang outside. I just have to scare up a hot-glue gun to affix the holly and beads. Do you have one you want to loan me?
And lastly...remember green bean bundles? Well, the thing about leftover refrigerated green bean bundles is that you're left with a lot of bacon-infused, brown sugar butter in the bottom of the dish. It doesn't look pretty, but in this house, wasting bacon-infused, brown sugar butter is tantamount to dumping a beer on a fancy computer keyboard or busting out a window--maybe you do it, but you don't feel good about it. So when the beans were gone, I saved the congealed melted butter. I had a plan because I had free sweet potatoes. Sometimes the most heavenly dinner is the simplest: baked sweet potato, melted leftover green bean bundle butter, and a biscuit from breakfast. Now that's what I'm talking about.
__________________
Breakfast: oatmeal, blueberries and milk 11 cents
Lunch: biscuits, sausage and gravy, orange marmalade and apple butter 46 cents
Snack: cookies 30 cents
Dinner: sweet potato, green bean bundle butter, biscuit 10 cents
Total: 97 cents
No waste not post on the holiday weekend so I have a lot to catch up on.
Last week the only thing that would have made the list was bacon. Sacrilege. It was moldy. I pulled it apart, slapped it into the pan, and then took a closer look when I noticed a furry patch. How could I have possibly wasted bacon? That is a cardinal sin. Was I saving it for something special? Is this my own Egg Nog Dilemma?
I cleaned the fridge yesterday. I found some other things that should have gone a long time ago. They certainly didn't go bad this week. But since I found them this week, they are:
1/2 a loaf of gluten-free bread. This is old. I tried to help my husband solve his acid reflux issues with an allergen-free test. He didn't last long on it. But that is when I discovered my favorite sweet potato and banana breakfast. So I consider it a success even though the acid reflux is still with us from time to time.
A few green onions and carrot slices. These went in the compost bin. They were from Step-Daughter's birthday party. If I mention when her birthday was, you may be afraid to enter my house.
There hasn't been a lot of other waste in this household, unless you count the run to Steak and Shake. Which I do.
On the more successful side of the coin, we have been practicing our three Rs--recycle, reduce, reuse--in a few different ways.
We had a big jar candle that the wick had burned up on. There was still a lot of wax left in it. We went to the crafty store and got a new set of four long wicks for $2.99. I rescued a roasted red pepper jar from the recycle bin. I melted the old candle wax in a water bath, set a new wick in the pepper jar, poured the melted wax in, propped up the wick with scotch tape and a clothespin, and let it set overnight. Trimmed the wick the next morning. (We have enough to make another candle. You can buy the metal things for the bottom separately at the craft store.) Then we got all the residual wax out of the original jar and washed it. Now we have a new candle and a jar to stash stuff in. The best part? Husband (candle-lover, Alexander Hamilton-lover, girl) won't have to spend good money on a new candle for a long time.
We bought a Christmas wreath on sale after the season last year. During Thanksgiving at Parent's I rummaged through old decor. I found some red satin balls, a string of red beads, and an old holly candle wreath. As of this afternoon, we have a new Christmas wreath to hang outside. I just have to scare up a hot-glue gun to affix the holly and beads. Do you have one you want to loan me?
And lastly...remember green bean bundles? Well, the thing about leftover refrigerated green bean bundles is that you're left with a lot of bacon-infused, brown sugar butter in the bottom of the dish. It doesn't look pretty, but in this house, wasting bacon-infused, brown sugar butter is tantamount to dumping a beer on a fancy computer keyboard or busting out a window--maybe you do it, but you don't feel good about it. So when the beans were gone, I saved the congealed melted butter. I had a plan because I had free sweet potatoes. Sometimes the most heavenly dinner is the simplest: baked sweet potato, melted leftover green bean bundle butter, and a biscuit from breakfast. Now that's what I'm talking about.
__________________
Breakfast: oatmeal, blueberries and milk 11 cents
Lunch: biscuits, sausage and gravy, orange marmalade and apple butter 46 cents
Snack: cookies 30 cents
Dinner: sweet potato, green bean bundle butter, biscuit 10 cents
Total: 97 cents
Friday, December 3, 2010
Sometimes You Just Have to Ask for It
Shortly after we became a single-income family, my renewal notice came for my favorite magazine. I planned to cancel my subscription, then I thought, "You know what, mother-in-law will probably appreciate having this on my Christmas list." She did and my favorite magazine will continue, uninterrupted.
________________________________________________
Before I worked in my current job, I basically worked in my current job. It's confusing, but I was a consultant for a consultant. An independent contractor working on a team of consultants for a company that was quarterbacking the gig. Obvs, this led to my current, non-consultant job. Not only was the pay shit, but I also didn't get paid for all my work. A few months after the gig was over, I resorted to a guilt-trip and got most of what I was due. But not all--so the third thing I did on the Monday after my husband was handed his walking papers (after health insurance and flexing) was e-beg for my money. I didn't get an e-response and expected the e-worst...but a week and a half later, I got a check for about half of what I'm owed.
Sidebar: If you ever run a company, don't make people beg for what they are owed. Oh, and in case you're wondering, no one really cares when employers screw their employees. If you're owed something, no one will stick it to the man for you. If you've exhausted all your other efforts and it will cost more to get a lawyer than you're owed, just resort to flaming poo on their doorstep.
Same story different dance for a travel stipend I was owed for a workshop I went to. I'm cashing (and saving) checks left and right.
_______________________________________________________________
So the moral of the story is don't work for a company that won't pay you. The second moral is don't count your travel stipends before they hatched. And finally, mothers-in-law like it when you make Christmas easy for them. Oh, yeah, and the title of this blog post.
________________________________
Breakfast: Oatmeal and 1/2 banana and milk 25 cents
Lunch: Ravioli Casserole 75 cents?
Dinner: Cookies. What? It's Friday.30 cents
Total: $1.30
________________________________________________
Before I worked in my current job, I basically worked in my current job. It's confusing, but I was a consultant for a consultant. An independent contractor working on a team of consultants for a company that was quarterbacking the gig. Obvs, this led to my current, non-consultant job. Not only was the pay shit, but I also didn't get paid for all my work. A few months after the gig was over, I resorted to a guilt-trip and got most of what I was due. But not all--so the third thing I did on the Monday after my husband was handed his walking papers (after health insurance and flexing) was e-beg for my money. I didn't get an e-response and expected the e-worst...but a week and a half later, I got a check for about half of what I'm owed.
Sidebar: If you ever run a company, don't make people beg for what they are owed. Oh, and in case you're wondering, no one really cares when employers screw their employees. If you're owed something, no one will stick it to the man for you. If you've exhausted all your other efforts and it will cost more to get a lawyer than you're owed, just resort to flaming poo on their doorstep.
Same story different dance for a travel stipend I was owed for a workshop I went to. I'm cashing (and saving) checks left and right.
_______________________________________________________________
So the moral of the story is don't work for a company that won't pay you. The second moral is don't count your travel stipends before they hatched. And finally, mothers-in-law like it when you make Christmas easy for them. Oh, yeah, and the title of this blog post.
________________________________
Breakfast: Oatmeal and 1/2 banana and milk 25 cents
Lunch: Ravioli Casserole 75 cents?
Dinner: Cookies. What? It's Friday.30 cents
Total: $1.30
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Grandpa's Banana Bread
*I'm doing my Reverb 10 on a special page dedicated to it. Look over there if you're interested in that kind of thing.------------->
My Grandpa was awesome. As grandparents usually are, my grandpa was old. He turned 70 the year I was born. By the time I knew him, he walked with a cane and wore a very natty hat. After my grandma died, he moved a couple blocks from our house. He loved baseball and worked in our garden. He went on our Great Summer Vacations with us. He was an great pitch player and had Ricky Skaggs records. He had cable television way before we did so sibling and I watched old shows on Nick at Nite at his house. He always kept "sody pop" for us--the generic kind that was so full of sweetener it was a can of heaven. He was in Europe during World War II, only went to school until the 8th grade, and always knew what was going on in the news. He was most excellent.
He also baked. Chocolate chip cookies were his specialty. My friend still makes them for her daughter and husband. I haven't made his famous cookies for awhile, but I have been making his banana bread quite alot.
My step-daughter likes banana muffins in the morning for breakfast. The pre-made banana muffins from the grocery store bakery are expensive. These are cheap and easy. Instead of putting the batter in a bread pan like Grandpa did, I put it in muffin cups.
Grandpa's Banana Bread
3 bananas 21 cents
1/2 c oil 16 cents
2 c flour 16 cents
3/4 c sugar 25 cents
1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking soda 4 cents
Mash the bananas. Mix everything up. Put those paper liners in a muffin tin. Fill 2/3. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes or until done.
Total: 82 cents plus muffin liners 16 cents. 98 cents
This makes 16 muffins so they're 6 cents each.
________________________
Breakfast: Banana muffin 5 cents
Lunch: Leftover free turkey and green bean bundles 72 cents
Snack: Granola bar 21 cents
Dinner: I got suckered into Steak and Shake by husband. $5.14
Total: $6.12
My Grandpa was awesome. As grandparents usually are, my grandpa was old. He turned 70 the year I was born. By the time I knew him, he walked with a cane and wore a very natty hat. After my grandma died, he moved a couple blocks from our house. He loved baseball and worked in our garden. He went on our Great Summer Vacations with us. He was an great pitch player and had Ricky Skaggs records. He had cable television way before we did so sibling and I watched old shows on Nick at Nite at his house. He always kept "sody pop" for us--the generic kind that was so full of sweetener it was a can of heaven. He was in Europe during World War II, only went to school until the 8th grade, and always knew what was going on in the news. He was most excellent.
He also baked. Chocolate chip cookies were his specialty. My friend still makes them for her daughter and husband. I haven't made his famous cookies for awhile, but I have been making his banana bread quite alot.
My step-daughter likes banana muffins in the morning for breakfast. The pre-made banana muffins from the grocery store bakery are expensive. These are cheap and easy. Instead of putting the batter in a bread pan like Grandpa did, I put it in muffin cups.
Grandpa's Banana Bread
3 bananas 21 cents
1/2 c oil 16 cents
2 c flour 16 cents
3/4 c sugar 25 cents
1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking soda 4 cents
Mash the bananas. Mix everything up. Put those paper liners in a muffin tin. Fill 2/3. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes or until done.
Total: 82 cents plus muffin liners 16 cents. 98 cents
This makes 16 muffins so they're 6 cents each.
________________________
Breakfast: Banana muffin 5 cents
Lunch: Leftover free turkey and green bean bundles 72 cents
Snack: Granola bar 21 cents
Dinner: I got suckered into Steak and Shake by husband. $5.14
Total: $6.12
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