We always celebrate Chinese New Year. Karen says it's because Angel is Chinese. This year Doris' Chinese/Vietnamese friends gave cards/money, so that added to the fun. While I made dinner, Karen and Doris made a calm jar, ala Moody Cow. Doris was having a very Moody Cow day and when I suggested she read this book with Amma, she said yes, like she knew it would help her calm her emotions down. It seemed to work and we had a much better night.
I didn't plan for this meal. We have a lot of food at home so we aren't going to the grocery store for a while, so I didn't plan and buy stuff for this meal. I just made what I had. And amazingly, I had a lot. Except for rice. We only had a little left but it worked out to be enough.
I made some spring rolls in the toaster oven. I made a dipping sauce of lemon juice, vinegar, soy sauce, chili sauce, and hoisin sauce. It was pretty good. Karen's taking the leftovers for lunch today.
I made Orange Mandarin Chik'n by Gardein. This is really good. It says on their package that it's their most popular product and I can totally believe it. Last time I made it, Doris wouldn't touch it, but this time she ate a lot of it. Most Gardein products are way too expensive, but this one is affordable so I buy it. Doris liked it so much that she is eating the leftovers for lunch today.
I made a tofu and veggie stir-fry with a Thai style peanut sauce. I used fresh mushrooms but the rest of the veggies were frozen. I used half a bag of green beans and a quarter of a bag of Asian stir fry veggies. The sauce was made of peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, chili sauce, and lemon juice. It was quite tasty. Doris ate a lot of the tofu. The only problem with making dishes like this is that Doris can't take the leftovers to school because of the peanut butter so I try not to make them too often. I'm eating these leftovers. Two lunches worth.
Rice: 40 cents
Spring Rolls: $3
Chik'n: $4
Tofu: $4
Mushrooms: $2
Green beans: $1.50
Veggies: 75 cents
Sauces: $1
Total: $16.65 ($5.55 per person)
That's a lot. We could have probably done without the spring rolls, which would have brought it down to 13.65, which is still a lot. We had some leftovers but only enough for lunches, not dinners. So this is okay for a holiday but not otherwise. Probably the chik'n, though cheaper than other Gardein products, is still not a value product.
Showing posts with label chick'n. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chick'n. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, 1/17/12: Burgers
**Winner: Cheapest meal of the week**
I bought burger buns instead of hot dog buns. Karen picked up hot dogs at Trader Joe's last week, so that was the plan. But then I bought burger buns. So I raided the freezer. We had one Boca burger, one spicy chick'n patty, and one regular chick'n patty. We really needed to clean this out. So it was good that we used them up. But now we have 6 burger buns left, so...
I served it with the leftover sweet potatoes and salad from the night before.
Buns: 50 cents
Burgers: $3
Cheese: 50 cents
Condiments: 20 cents
Total: $4.20 ($1.40 per person)
Great cheap meal and it helped clean out the freezer.
I bought burger buns instead of hot dog buns. Karen picked up hot dogs at Trader Joe's last week, so that was the plan. But then I bought burger buns. So I raided the freezer. We had one Boca burger, one spicy chick'n patty, and one regular chick'n patty. We really needed to clean this out. So it was good that we used them up. But now we have 6 burger buns left, so...
I served it with the leftover sweet potatoes and salad from the night before.
Buns: 50 cents
Burgers: $3
Cheese: 50 cents
Condiments: 20 cents
Total: $4.20 ($1.40 per person)
Great cheap meal and it helped clean out the freezer.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Monday, 1/16/12: Cutlets
MLK Day. Doris is annually sick on this day. 3 years running. Because Karen stayed home, I was able to get to work pretty early, so I left early and went to the grocery store by myself. I did the whole trip in 30 min. and only spent $86. I should totally go without Doris more often.
I wanted to make BBQ cutlets, but could only find two cutlets. So I made two BBQ cutlets and six veggie nuggets. I also made 3 sweet potatoes and a salad (spring mix, cucumber, radish sprouts, blueberries, strawberries, and walnuts, raspberry walnut dressing).
Doris' sickness meant she wasn't very hungry. Also I found out that she had afternoon tea at 4pm so she was probably full up.
We only ate 1.5 sweet potatoes and we have a lot of salad left.
Cutlets: $2
Nuggets: $1
Sweet Potatoes: $4
Lettuce: $3
Cucumber: $1
Berries: $1
Walnuts: 50 cents
Sprouts: 40 cents
Total: $12.90 ($4.30 per person)
Much higher than it was when I made this with CSA veggies. But luckily there are lots of leftovers. Tonight I'm going to serve hot dogs with just the salad and sweet potatoes, so it will work out.
I wanted to make BBQ cutlets, but could only find two cutlets. So I made two BBQ cutlets and six veggie nuggets. I also made 3 sweet potatoes and a salad (spring mix, cucumber, radish sprouts, blueberries, strawberries, and walnuts, raspberry walnut dressing).
Doris' sickness meant she wasn't very hungry. Also I found out that she had afternoon tea at 4pm so she was probably full up.
We only ate 1.5 sweet potatoes and we have a lot of salad left.
Cutlets: $2
Nuggets: $1
Sweet Potatoes: $4
Lettuce: $3
Cucumber: $1
Berries: $1
Walnuts: 50 cents
Sprouts: 40 cents
Total: $12.90 ($4.30 per person)
Much higher than it was when I made this with CSA veggies. But luckily there are lots of leftovers. Tonight I'm going to serve hot dogs with just the salad and sweet potatoes, so it will work out.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Thursday, 1/5: Cutlet Parmesan
This is a recipe I learned from the National Body Challenge. We did that a few years ago and lost a lot of weight but then they changed the program and the recipes became much more complicated and now the y are completed disbanded. That's too bad because both of us really liked that program. We ate things like hot dogs and nachos and lost a lot of weight.
I sauteed 4 cutlets and then put them in a baking dish topped with marinara and cheddar cheese. Covered the dish with foil and baked it at 350 for 15 min. I also cooked some pasta and marinara with frozen broccoli.
Doris loved the broccoli and ate some of the cutlets. Karen and I enjoyed it. There is one cutlet remaining for someone's lunch and enough broccoli & pasta for Doris to have for two lunches.
Cutlets: $4
Marinara: $3
Broccoli: $3
Pasta: 50 cents
Cheese: $1.50
Total: $12 ($4 per person)
It's so much more expensive to eat when we don't have the CSA
I sauteed 4 cutlets and then put them in a baking dish topped with marinara and cheddar cheese. Covered the dish with foil and baked it at 350 for 15 min. I also cooked some pasta and marinara with frozen broccoli.
Doris loved the broccoli and ate some of the cutlets. Karen and I enjoyed it. There is one cutlet remaining for someone's lunch and enough broccoli & pasta for Doris to have for two lunches.
Cutlets: $4
Marinara: $3
Broccoli: $3
Pasta: 50 cents
Cheese: $1.50
Total: $12 ($4 per person)
It's so much more expensive to eat when we don't have the CSA
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Tuesday, 11/15: Sesame Broccoli
I found a sale on Gardein products at Safeway so I bought a new one - Mandarin Orange Chik'n. Easy and yummy. Definitely a winner. To go with it, I made Sesame Broccoli, and wow, that was amazing! I'm still thinking about it. And it was so easy. I really love sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds are so yummy. Definitely a keeper recipe. We used the frozen broccoli from Whole Foods and it tasted like fresh. Really good. I used one bag of broccoli and double the other ingredients.
Doris has been complaining about her tummy hurting for a few days so I let her eat yogurt and bananas for dinner. She really liked that and ate 2 of each.
Chik'n: $4
Broccoli: $2.29
Sesame seeds: 20 cents
Sesame oil: 30 cents
Soy sauce: 10 cents
rice: 50 cents
yogurt: $1.50
banana: $1.34
Total: $10.23 (3.41 per person)
Doris has been complaining about her tummy hurting for a few days so I let her eat yogurt and bananas for dinner. She really liked that and ate 2 of each.
Chik'n: $4
Broccoli: $2.29
Sesame seeds: 20 cents
Sesame oil: 30 cents
Soy sauce: 10 cents
rice: 50 cents
yogurt: $1.50
banana: $1.34
Total: $10.23 (3.41 per person)
Monday, 11/14: Mac & Cheese & broccoli
We had bought some Halloween themed Mac & cheese on clearance. Ghosts, bats, pumpkins. The boxes looked like normal boxes, but we learned something. There are a lot less noodles in themed mac & cheese than the regular boxes. I served it with frozen broccoli and mini corn dogs. Good meal but left us a it hungry since there wasn't enough mac & cheese to go around. Karen also ate a spicy chik'n patty to supplement.
Mac & cheese: 50 cents
broccoli: $1
corn dogs: $2.67
Chik'n patty: $1
Total: $5.17
I chose this to be a cheap and easy meal and it succeeded in that goal.
Mac & cheese: 50 cents
broccoli: $1
corn dogs: $2.67
Chik'n patty: $1
Total: $5.17
I chose this to be a cheap and easy meal and it succeeded in that goal.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wed 11/1: Sweet Potatoes
**Winner - Cheapest Meal of the Week**
BBQ Quorn cutlets, sweet potatoes, salad (fall mix, pear, walnuts, and 2 cherry tomatoes added by Doris, raspberry walnut dressing).
Cutlets: $3
CSA veggies: $2
Pear: 75 cents
Total: $5.75 ($1.92 per person)
BBQ Quorn cutlets, sweet potatoes, salad (fall mix, pear, walnuts, and 2 cherry tomatoes added by Doris, raspberry walnut dressing).
Cutlets: $3
CSA veggies: $2
Pear: 75 cents
Total: $5.75 ($1.92 per person)
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tuesday, 10/25: Salad
, We were very happy to have Karen home for dinner. Everything is right again. We got along okay without her, but everything is better with her.
Another kitchen cleaner favorite of mine is salad for dinner. If you have the right vegetables, this is a very healthy way to clean out your fridge. I had to stop at Target on the way home from work, so while there I picked up some Texas Toast. This used to be a staple in our home. It's seriously the yummiest frozen bread there is. For the salad, I used fall mix lettuce, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, and a granny smith apple. I sauteed a Quorn chick'n cutlet with BBQ sauce and added that as well. It was topped with raspberry walnut salad dressing from my work.
Doris loved the bread. She's not a bread eater, but she loved this one. After just one bite, she laid claim to the rest of the bread on the table. "I'm going to eat it all so don't eat it, alright?" She made a sandwich of olives and bread and ate it that way. Karen snuck a piece and when I tried to, she started crying. "I'm eating that. You don't eat it!" After dinner Karen and I finished what she had left on her plate.
Doris also liked the salad. She ate everything but the lettuce and asked for more. Who doesn't like fruit for dinner, so that makes since, but it's crazy what an olive lover she is.
I forgot to add cheese. Karen has told me many times that a salad absolutely must have cheese. But this time I forgot and she didn't say anything. I may forget more often because it's healthier this way.
CSA veggies: $2
Olives: $3
Apple: 75 cents
Bread: $1.23
Total: $6.98 ($2.33 per person)
Another kitchen cleaner favorite of mine is salad for dinner. If you have the right vegetables, this is a very healthy way to clean out your fridge. I had to stop at Target on the way home from work, so while there I picked up some Texas Toast. This used to be a staple in our home. It's seriously the yummiest frozen bread there is. For the salad, I used fall mix lettuce, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, and a granny smith apple. I sauteed a Quorn chick'n cutlet with BBQ sauce and added that as well. It was topped with raspberry walnut salad dressing from my work.
Doris loved the bread. She's not a bread eater, but she loved this one. After just one bite, she laid claim to the rest of the bread on the table. "I'm going to eat it all so don't eat it, alright?" She made a sandwich of olives and bread and ate it that way. Karen snuck a piece and when I tried to, she started crying. "I'm eating that. You don't eat it!" After dinner Karen and I finished what she had left on her plate.
Doris also liked the salad. She ate everything but the lettuce and asked for more. Who doesn't like fruit for dinner, so that makes since, but it's crazy what an olive lover she is.
I forgot to add cheese. Karen has told me many times that a salad absolutely must have cheese. But this time I forgot and she didn't say anything. I may forget more often because it's healthier this way.
CSA veggies: $2
Olives: $3
Apple: 75 cents
Bread: $1.23
Total: $6.98 ($2.33 per person)
Monday, October 24, 2011
Sunday, 10/23: Sweet Potatoes!
Karen's traveling so it's just Doris and I for dinner. Doris had a late nap so I had the luxury of making food while she was sleeping. We got these massive sweet potatoes from our CSA. When Doris was a baby she gobbled up sweet potatoes but now they are only okay to her. I thought I would give it a try anyway. I baked one very large sweet potato in our toaster oven at 350 degrees for about an hour. It was perfect inside. When Doris woke up, I sauteed a Quorn Chick'n Cutlet in a frying pan with a bit of oil. After it turned brown, I spread on BBQ sauce on each side and let it cook a bit before serving. Last night's leftover mac & cheese and broccoli were served as side dishes.
Doris ate a lot of mac & cheese and broccoli while "helping" me cook, so she didn't eat much for dinner. I told her about how she loved sweet potatoes as a baby to get her interested in the sweet potatoes, which certainly helped a bit. I thought it was a tasty meal and easy enough to prepare.
CSA veggies: $2
cutlets: $2
BBQ: 10 cents
Total: $4.10 ($2.05 per person) *
*Would be $5.10 ($1.07 per person) if Karen were home.
Doris ate a lot of mac & cheese and broccoli while "helping" me cook, so she didn't eat much for dinner. I told her about how she loved sweet potatoes as a baby to get her interested in the sweet potatoes, which certainly helped a bit. I thought it was a tasty meal and easy enough to prepare.
CSA veggies: $2
cutlets: $2
BBQ: 10 cents
Total: $4.10 ($2.05 per person) *
*Would be $5.10 ($1.07 per person) if Karen were home.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Thursday, 10/20: Leftovers
We have a lot of risotto left. I warmed up some veggie nuggets and made a salad of cucumbers and arugula. The salad had a really nice flavor.
CSA veggies: $2
veggie nuggets: $4
Total: $6 ($2 per person)
Butternut Squash Risotto
We have this problem that whenever Karen tastes someone else's butternut squash dish, she loves it. But when I make it, it's always too bland. But I keep trying. When we were in Lewes, Andrea made butternut squash risotto and Karen loved it. When I got a butternut squash from the CSA, I thought we should give it a try.
I found this recipe. I takes about an hour to make but I got home at a good time yesterday and Karen was planning to come home late, so it worked out okay. It would have worked even better if Doris hadn't had a pee accident in the middle of it.
Doris likes to try new foods while I'm cooking and last night she was really enjoying raw butternut squash. She doesn't like cook with me anymore because she's scared of the blue fire. I'm not sure what happened, but one day she just stopped and said she was scared. I hope she starts again soon because I really enjoyed that time.
I altered the recipe by using Apple Cider instead of wine because it's fall and I have a huge jug of apple cider in the fridge. And we are out of parmesan cheese so I used cheddar. The aborro rice I have had in our pantry for years so it was nice to finally use it up. And I forgot to add the chives which I actually did buy. The dish tasted great and Karen actually said she liked it, so finally, a butternut squash recipe that she likes. It makes a lot, so we are having leftovers tonight. Maybe I'll add the chives tonight.
I made fried veggies to go with it. The inspiration was the green tomato that I had, but I added eggplant and zucchini. I dipped each in egg and then bread crumbs and then fried it. The zucchini and eggplant tasted great but the tomato was soggy. I think the trick with tomatoes is to only cook for a few seconds and maybe to cut thick slices. But as a first effort at fried veggies, pretty good.
I also made Quorn veggie nuggets. All in all it was a heavy meal. When I make the leftovers tonight, just a simple salad or sauteed veggies will probably be in order.
Broth: $3
Butter: 20 cents
Onion: 75 cents
CSA veggies: $2
Rice: 75 cents*
Apple cider: 50 cents
Cheese: $1.50
Bread crumbs: 75 cents
Eggs: 75 cents
Veggie nuggets: $4
Total: $14.50 ($4.83 per person)
*Does the rice even count if I've had it for years?
Another big one. But it has leftovers, so another cheap meal tomorrow. I think it will work out okay.
I found this recipe. I takes about an hour to make but I got home at a good time yesterday and Karen was planning to come home late, so it worked out okay. It would have worked even better if Doris hadn't had a pee accident in the middle of it.
Doris likes to try new foods while I'm cooking and last night she was really enjoying raw butternut squash. She doesn't like cook with me anymore because she's scared of the blue fire. I'm not sure what happened, but one day she just stopped and said she was scared. I hope she starts again soon because I really enjoyed that time.
I altered the recipe by using Apple Cider instead of wine because it's fall and I have a huge jug of apple cider in the fridge. And we are out of parmesan cheese so I used cheddar. The aborro rice I have had in our pantry for years so it was nice to finally use it up. And I forgot to add the chives which I actually did buy. The dish tasted great and Karen actually said she liked it, so finally, a butternut squash recipe that she likes. It makes a lot, so we are having leftovers tonight. Maybe I'll add the chives tonight.
I made fried veggies to go with it. The inspiration was the green tomato that I had, but I added eggplant and zucchini. I dipped each in egg and then bread crumbs and then fried it. The zucchini and eggplant tasted great but the tomato was soggy. I think the trick with tomatoes is to only cook for a few seconds and maybe to cut thick slices. But as a first effort at fried veggies, pretty good.
I also made Quorn veggie nuggets. All in all it was a heavy meal. When I make the leftovers tonight, just a simple salad or sauteed veggies will probably be in order.
Broth: $3
Butter: 20 cents
Onion: 75 cents
CSA veggies: $2
Rice: 75 cents*
Apple cider: 50 cents
Cheese: $1.50
Bread crumbs: 75 cents
Eggs: 75 cents
Veggie nuggets: $4
Total: $14.50 ($4.83 per person)
*Does the rice even count if I've had it for years?
Another big one. But it has leftovers, so another cheap meal tomorrow. I think it will work out okay.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, 10/11: Doris wants Pasta
I hadn't been to the grocery store, but while we were gone, Catherine & Dale brought by our CSA. So I opened it up to see what was inside and asked Doris what she wanted for dinner. Pasta she says. Okay then.
So I made fettucine with zucchini, onion, garlic, marinara, and Gardein Chick'n Strips. The gardein Chick'n strips are much more expensive than the Morningstar version, but I sent Karen to the store and this is what she came home with. It was a tasty enough meal considering I hadn't been to the store in a while.
Pasta: 50 cents
CSA veggies: $2
Garlic: 10 cents
Marinara: $1.17
Chick'n strips: $4
Total: $7.77 ($2.59 per person)
So I made fettucine with zucchini, onion, garlic, marinara, and Gardein Chick'n Strips. The gardein Chick'n strips are much more expensive than the Morningstar version, but I sent Karen to the store and this is what she came home with. It was a tasty enough meal considering I hadn't been to the store in a while.
Pasta: 50 cents
CSA veggies: $2
Garlic: 10 cents
Marinara: $1.17
Chick'n strips: $4
Total: $7.77 ($2.59 per person)
Monday 10/10: Free Soup!
We were exhausted when we got home on Monday around 2pm. After a quick lunch of veggie nuggets and fruit salad, we all took a nap. Part way into the nap there was a knock at the door. Michael had bought us some soup from Whole Foods to welcome us back. We really do have the best neighbors.
For dinner we ate the Roasted Corn & Poblano Chowder and the Tomato Bisque. Karen pulled out some frozen Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits that we had made when we had some leftover buttermilk. And then I served some spicy chick'n patties from Boca.
It was a fine meal. Not special but not bad either. Much better because it required little effort.
Spicy Chick'n Patties: $4
Total: $4 ($1.33 per person)
For dinner we ate the Roasted Corn & Poblano Chowder and the Tomato Bisque. Karen pulled out some frozen Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits that we had made when we had some leftover buttermilk. And then I served some spicy chick'n patties from Boca.
It was a fine meal. Not special but not bad either. Much better because it required little effort.
Spicy Chick'n Patties: $4
Total: $4 ($1.33 per person)
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, 9/26: Asparagus and Tomato Pasta
Doris and I went to the grocery store again. She really likes shopping. I find that she's like me - she loves cooking, buying, preparing food. She rode in the car shopping cart this time and told me as we were leaving "I always ride in the car at the grocery store." Too bad because I found her much less able to control that way.
I came home to quickly pull together dinner. Doris kept saying that she wanted chicken nuggets at the grocery store, so I promised her veggie nuggets for dinner. I boiled some 'butterfly' pasta with asparagus and when they were cooked, I drained the water and mixed in some chopped cherry tomatoes and half a jar of 4 cheese roma sauce.
Karen was working late so it was just Doris and I for dinner. I thought the concoction was quite tasty but Doris only ate the veggie nuggets. For some reason she wasn't into the butterfly pasta this time.
Karen brought home kit kats from her conference so I had a tasty dessert. She says I can't eat too many because they are for potty training rewards. We'll see.
Pasta: 75 cents
CSA veggies: $2
Asparagus:$3
Pasta sauce: $2
Veggie Nuggets: $3.50
Total: $11.25 ($3.75 per person)
I find that the total for each meal has been going up. Strange. I can't figure out whats different.
I came home to quickly pull together dinner. Doris kept saying that she wanted chicken nuggets at the grocery store, so I promised her veggie nuggets for dinner. I boiled some 'butterfly' pasta with asparagus and when they were cooked, I drained the water and mixed in some chopped cherry tomatoes and half a jar of 4 cheese roma sauce.
Karen was working late so it was just Doris and I for dinner. I thought the concoction was quite tasty but Doris only ate the veggie nuggets. For some reason she wasn't into the butterfly pasta this time.
Karen brought home kit kats from her conference so I had a tasty dessert. She says I can't eat too many because they are for potty training rewards. We'll see.
Pasta: 75 cents
CSA veggies: $2
Asparagus:$3
Pasta sauce: $2
Veggie Nuggets: $3.50
Total: $11.25 ($3.75 per person)
I find that the total for each meal has been going up. Strange. I can't figure out whats different.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Sunday 9/11: Spanish rice
**Vegan**
We have a lot of tomatoes. It's tomato and pepper season for our CSA and we have to get creative. I went to the store Sunday morning to pick up muffins and fruit for breakfast at the park for Doris and two of her best friends Owen and Raiyan and while there I picked up two boxes of Rice-o-Roni Spanish Rice. I remember last year making this with fresh yellow CSA tomatoes instead of canned and it was amazing, so much better than what it usually is. I didn't know it could taste this good, and this is my favorite rice. So I thought this would be a good way to use up some tomatoes.
I made the Spanish Rice with 2 cups tomatoes, 1/2 cup white onion, and 1/2 cup green pepper and it was the best I'd ever tasted. I was afraid to add all of those fresh veggies to such a wonderful tasting box mix but wow, so much better. Will definitely be making that again because it uses tomatoes and peppers!
For a side dish I made a vegetable medley and just through in whatever I had - zucchini, carrot, white onion, green pepper, tomato and seasoned it all with cumin and chili powder to give it a Spanish flavor. I also served one box of Quorn chik'n nuggets.
Doris helped cooked. Now she wants to do so every night. It slows me down a bit because I have to let her help and also keep her from getting hurt, but we both really enjoy it. She didn't eat the vegetables, but loved the rice and nuggets. She ate 7 nuggets - she really likes those things.
Rice $1.50
CSA veggies $2
Nuggets $5
Total: $8.50 ($2.83 per person)
We have a lot of tomatoes. It's tomato and pepper season for our CSA and we have to get creative. I went to the store Sunday morning to pick up muffins and fruit for breakfast at the park for Doris and two of her best friends Owen and Raiyan and while there I picked up two boxes of Rice-o-Roni Spanish Rice. I remember last year making this with fresh yellow CSA tomatoes instead of canned and it was amazing, so much better than what it usually is. I didn't know it could taste this good, and this is my favorite rice. So I thought this would be a good way to use up some tomatoes.
I made the Spanish Rice with 2 cups tomatoes, 1/2 cup white onion, and 1/2 cup green pepper and it was the best I'd ever tasted. I was afraid to add all of those fresh veggies to such a wonderful tasting box mix but wow, so much better. Will definitely be making that again because it uses tomatoes and peppers!
For a side dish I made a vegetable medley and just through in whatever I had - zucchini, carrot, white onion, green pepper, tomato and seasoned it all with cumin and chili powder to give it a Spanish flavor. I also served one box of Quorn chik'n nuggets.
Doris helped cooked. Now she wants to do so every night. It slows me down a bit because I have to let her help and also keep her from getting hurt, but we both really enjoy it. She didn't eat the vegetables, but loved the rice and nuggets. She ate 7 nuggets - she really likes those things.
Rice $1.50
CSA veggies $2
Nuggets $5
Total: $8.50 ($2.83 per person)
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Candle-lit Chinese Take-Out
Last night was our anniversary. Well, one of them. It was the anniversary of when we met. 14 years ago. We had a date night in. It was interesting. We told Doris it was our anniversary and she said "Somebody going to be putting me to bed?" We haven't had an anniversary since March, and she still remembers that. She's amazing.
We gave Doris dinner and sat down with her while she ate it. She had 2 vegetarian hot dogs (Smart Dogs by Light Life) cold right out of the fridge, dipped in ketchup and mustard. She really liked it and wanted more (after eating 2 of them!) but there weren't any more. She said "Amma's going to buy some more at the store?" We served it with her favorite food - frozen broccoli, but she didn't really eat them. So I let her do her new favorite thing - pack it for lunch. Then she ate some strawberries (out of season but the girl loves her strawberries.
Then we put her to bed and I ran to Palais De Lune for some Chinese take-out. They are a local restaurant with a large selection of fake meat Chinese food. It's really amazing how popular that kind of food is. We got the hot & sour soup, fried vegetable dumplings, honey sesame chicken, and general tso's chicken. While I was out, Karen set the table with our China and candle light and crystal glass ware, and we had a fancy 4 course meal (appetizers, soup, entree, and dessert). Karen picked up some organic strawberry lemonade on sale so that was our drink. It was too much food and we have a lot of leftovers, so looks like we are having it again for dinner this week. Dessert was a raspberry tart that Karen picked up from Trader Joe's. It was pretty good but could have used more cream filling (but isn't that always true? more cream is always good.). We have a lot of dessert left, so I think we'll be having a nice evening tonight.
hot dogs: $1
broccoli: 50 cents
strawberries: 70 cents
take-out: $29
lemonade: $1
tart: $6
Total: $38.20 ($12.33 per person)
We certainly blew our food budget but we only have 4 anniversaries a year, so... At least we have lots of leftovers so that in the end it won't be that bad.
We gave Doris dinner and sat down with her while she ate it. She had 2 vegetarian hot dogs (Smart Dogs by Light Life) cold right out of the fridge, dipped in ketchup and mustard. She really liked it and wanted more (after eating 2 of them!) but there weren't any more. She said "Amma's going to buy some more at the store?" We served it with her favorite food - frozen broccoli, but she didn't really eat them. So I let her do her new favorite thing - pack it for lunch. Then she ate some strawberries (out of season but the girl loves her strawberries.
Then we put her to bed and I ran to Palais De Lune for some Chinese take-out. They are a local restaurant with a large selection of fake meat Chinese food. It's really amazing how popular that kind of food is. We got the hot & sour soup, fried vegetable dumplings, honey sesame chicken, and general tso's chicken. While I was out, Karen set the table with our China and candle light and crystal glass ware, and we had a fancy 4 course meal (appetizers, soup, entree, and dessert). Karen picked up some organic strawberry lemonade on sale so that was our drink. It was too much food and we have a lot of leftovers, so looks like we are having it again for dinner this week. Dessert was a raspberry tart that Karen picked up from Trader Joe's. It was pretty good but could have used more cream filling (but isn't that always true? more cream is always good.). We have a lot of dessert left, so I think we'll be having a nice evening tonight.
hot dogs: $1
broccoli: 50 cents
strawberries: 70 cents
take-out: $29
lemonade: $1
tart: $6
Total: $38.20 ($12.33 per person)
We certainly blew our food budget but we only have 4 anniversaries a year, so... At least we have lots of leftovers so that in the end it won't be that bad.
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