More Compacting In The Kitchen

I wrote a post about our "compacting in the kitchen" and how we had taken our food budget and knocked it in half without sacrificing the quality of our food (organic fruits & vegetables & diary & grains & eggs, hormone & antibiotic free local meats).

Well, I've been at it for another month and have come up with even more ways to cut our food budget. I am now under $400 a month for our family of 4 (without cutting coupons). Check back and I'll write out a list of what we're doing now.

Okay...

#1 On Sunday night I buy a rotisserie chicken. I cut off the breasts and legs and put them in a tupperware for sandwich meat. I set aside the carcass with the wings. On Monday I put it in a pot with onion, celery & carrot and cover it with water. I simmer it for 2 hours and drain it through a mesh sieve. That's stock people. I then pick off the remaining chicken and add that with some honey, plenty of salt, diced carrot & celery and whatever else I feel like throwing in. That's soup.
On Friday whatever chicken may be left from the legs & breasts I shred and put on our weekly pizza. It's delish. One chicken... 5 lunches... 2 dinners.

#2 Ground turkey is my friend. I buy a pound every week. I brown it up with salt, pepper, garlic powder & ground oregano. It's now good to go in just about anything. I usually divide it into two 1/2 pound portions. One I use that night and the other I put in a freezer bag. The day you are going to use it put it in your fridge and it will be thawed by dinner. I take 1/2 pound and add it to 1/2 jar of pasta sauce w/ 1/2 T sugar and I have meat sauce. I take a 1/2 pound and add it to a can of drained balck beans heat it in a skillet w/ salt, chili powder & cumin and I have taco filling. Make chili, make shepard's pie, top your pizza with it! It's so freaking versatile... I want to marry it!

#3 Random veggie storage tips... cause if I paid $3 a pound for organic produce I do not want them to go bad!...
Asparagus - trim the ends and put them in a glass of water... like a bouquet... they'll stay fresh & firm for days
Heads of lettuce - remove the twist tie, discard any bruised leaves, and shake off all excess water (from the sprinkler). Wrap in paper towels & put back in your plastic vegetable bag. Take off leaves as you need them and wash them then. Your head of lettuce will stay fresh over a week (probably over 2 weeks). If you want separate leaves for sandwiches at the ready... take them off wash and dry them (gently so not to bruise) and layer in a tupperware between paper towels... they'll also stay fresh over a week.
Keep your potatoes & onions in your fridge.
Once something is ripe and you don't want it to over ripen put it in the fridge... ie avocados, stone fruit... it will help retard the ripening and you may be able to eat them before they are too far gone on your counter. Bananas will keep the same way but the peel will brown.

#4 Make your own pizza. I'll post the full recipe for this another day. I use my bread machine but you can do this in a mixer or by hand with little extra effort... I used to make it by hand all the time. I make enough dough for two pizzas and once it is kneaded divide it up let half rise and put the other half in a oiled freezer proof tupperware in the freezer. The next time we make pizza I just take it out and put it in the fridge that morning. Before dinner I let it rise on the counter. It really takes little effort and I can roll it out and put it in the oven WAY faster than the pizza guy could ever bring it. Plus we use up all sorts of stuff as toppings.

A Sign Of The Times

"Why is there so much rice and not very much meat?" Kid asks at dinner.

Worst Fears

Today the thing I fear most happened.

Well... the thing I fear most that is the precursor to the thing I fear most Monday - Friday 9 AM - 2:30 PM... happened.

ring ring

Before I even answered the phone I saw that it was Kid's school and I started to tremble with adrenaline.

"Hello"

"Hello... Rachel?" The woman asked.

"Yes." I replied with a bit of fear.

"Um... It's Jessica" Kid's teacher said.

And that's when I knew it wasn't the office calling about something administrative. It's also when my heart may have stopped beating

"Ruby..." She continued hesitantly.

And I swear these long awkward pauses aren't for effect... that is how she was talking.... and I just wanted to scream "I can't take it!!! Just say it!!!"

"...doesn't feel well. She says her stomach hurts." She finished and I could hear the anxiety in her voice.

"I'm coming." I announced and hung up the phone.

In less than 3 minutes I had Baby dressed and buckled in the car.

I forgot my shoes. I was shaking.

Then I sat at the unbearably long light wishing I had cut through the gas station.

I had my spiel ready in case I should get pulled over by a cop on my way. I really didn't trust myself not speed down our 20 MPH road. I figured it helped that I was already crying.

It took me 5 minutes to get there and I was reminded why we chose this school and why I refuse to have Kid bused across town. I need to be able to get there in 5 minutes. Period.

Things had gotten settled into a safe rhythm around here. We want to have faith, or hope, that Kid is one of the lucky ones... but we never forget, and can never stop the hypervigilance of preparedness. It's our job. And her life does literally depend on it.

When I got out of the car I took a second to absorb the fact that an ambulance wasn't there. And I didn't hear one coming.

I walked in the room and could see the weary look of concern and fear on the teacher's face. She did not want to have to endure a day of worry and watching and disecting every potential clue.

Because this is how Kid's seizures start.

Or don't.

And you won't know until you know.

Does Anyone Else Hate Helen?

My heart was breaking for Shannon in the elimination room. She obviously wanted to stay. And should have.

She's Happy And She Knows It

Mrs F Looks Toward The Future

This Week The Plan

Hey remember when I used to put up a weekly plan?! Remember how boring those posts were to read? I sure remember how boring they were to write.

The thing is... they improve the quality of my life. Well, they improve the quality of my productiveness. Feeling more productive makes me feel more in control... and feeling in control makes me feel a little less like killing myself (I jest).

So the weekly plan makes it's triumphant return... TODAY!

Menu:

Sunday - Black Bean & Turkey Soft Tacos; mint brownies

Monday - Chicken Soup w/ Dumplings (in Cook's Country - this recipe rocks the house); mint brownies

Tuesday - Honey & Orange Glazed Salmon w/ smashed potatoes & asparagus; sugar cookies

Wednesday - Turkey Meat Sauce w/ Penne & California Mix veggies; sugar cookies

Thursday - Scallion & Ginger Shrimp w/ Noodles; sugar cookies

Friday - Homemade Pizza w/ salad; chocolate cake

Saturday - Frozen Chinese Food (ALDI); chocolate cake


Kid's School Snack & Lunch:

M - leftover pizza, hard boiled egg, yogurt, milk, kiwi

T- leftover soup, hard boiled egg, yogurt, milk, pineapple

W- school pizza day, hard boiled egg, pineapple, yogurt, milk

Th - leftover salmon, potatoes & asparagus, hard boiled egg, pineapple, yogurt, milk

F - leftover shrimp & noodles, hard boiled egg, yogurt, banana, milk


Diet & Exercise:
Well my body is falling apart. I'm having all sorts of body pain again... not just the tailbone. I really need to get my core strength back... but I'm not sure how I can. So this week I'm just going to start walking (no incline) at 3 mph for 30 minutes a day and focus on my posture. That's really all I can do for now.
I'm also going to get back to calorie counting.


Chores & Errands:

Sunday - house pick up, major grocery shop

Monday - laundry

Tuesday - put away laundry, vacuum, Baby's class

Wednesday - make sure we have all tax documents or have requested them

Thursday - start organizing tax documents

Friday - organize craft supplies, clean off counter

Saturday & Sunday - do whatever the hell I want

Now You Tell Me

The other day, while out doing errands, I pulled up behind a car at a light.

They had a bumper sticker on their rear windshield.

It read:

Don't Move Here

Valentine's Day Mr Furious Style

She Does Have A Point

Last night during dinner Mr F, Kid, and I were talking about "Parent's Night Out" a babysitting service offered at her school. Kid didn't understand the point of "Parent's Night Out" (why would she... we never go out) and I explained it was for grown-up dates.

"What do you think we do on dates?" I asked Kid.

"Talk." She responded and then sheepishly smiled and added...

"And eat."

Mr F and I laughed because... yep... that about sums it up.

"Well, there isn't anything else to do if you don't have any kids with you." Kid explained.

Mr F and I laughed even harder.

Design On A Dime

I love holiday decorating and I love making a big deal out of each special day. This year, even before the budget crisis, I had decided to stop buying holiday decorations as part of our compacting efforts. I find it is very hard not to want *new* decorations for every holiday... every single year. Places like Target do an amazing job of turning out new and improved decorations that always seem to one up the ones that they put out (and I bought) the year before. I am always fighting the strong urge to give into this marketing powerhouse. It's amazing how effective it is. Who would know that you can actually feel somewhat humiliated about your past heart shaped purchases upon spying new Valentine's Day decorations of all things? I wish I was kidding... but seriously... those marketing folks know what they're doing. And that is mostly the point behind the compacting. To sit with what you have. To enjoy what you already own without feeling that something *new* is something *better*.

And so I give you tissue paper hearts.

I cut out about 20 hearts (using every single scrap) from 2 pieces of old tissue paper. The kids hung them *artfully* with plenty of scotch tape and hung them in all of our windows.
The light shines through them like stain glass (not so much the 12 yards of scotch tape... but whatever).
And our house was instantly transformed into the most festive house on the street... both inside... and out.

Oops He Did It Again

Snack Time

One of the main ways I'm saving money is by slashing our food budget. I buy hardly any pre-made packaged foods (in fact I don't buy any). But my kids are just as hungry as they used to be. So once or twice a week I make muffins. They are tasty, cheap, and quick. They are also a really good way to use up fruits and vegetables that are starting to fade. These come together so fast that I can throw them together when we walk in the door after school and they are out of the oven about half an hour later... which is just how long it takes Kid to actually put away her coat and backpack so it works out just fine.


Basic Muffin Recipe
taken from How To Cook Everything by Mark Bittman

2 c all purpose flour
6 T sugar (1/2 c if you like them pretty sweet)
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 c milk
3 T melted butter (or veg oil)
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt

Heat oven to 400.
Whisk dry ingredients together.
Stir in wet ingredients just until incorporated. Do Not Over Mix... lumps are fine!
Bake in muffin tins until toothpick comes out clean, about 16 minutes.
Makes 12 muffins.


You can take this recipe and change it up any which way. I add shredded apple and carrot and cinnamon. Or I throw in frozen blueberries and cranberries, orange zest, and vanilla. You could put in mashed banana. They are infinitely flexible.

I always use half all purpose and half whole wheat flour. I also always dust the tops with raw sugar (the big crystals) before I bake them to give a little something special to them. This recipe is not too sweet, so it doesn't kill you calorie wise either... they are about 130 calories a pop. His original recipe calls for 1/4 c sugar as the base and adding more per your add ins. I find the 6 T works fine for most everything, but if you like a pretty sweet muffin you might want to start out with 1/2 c.

I store these in a big tupperware container with a paper towel underneath and the lid just slightly ajar. You want a little circulation or the tops will get moist.

Self Fulfilling Prophecies

Ever since I went to the doctor my tailbone actually hurts more.

Just goes to show you how big the mental aspect is.

If you think you are healed you can block out the pain.

When you find out that you aren't... it all comes flooding back.

Fascinating.

Or is just that the stupid bloke of a doctor jabbed me right on the broken bit?

Anger Management

I've crossed over.

Today I'm just pissed.

Pissed about the way things are.

Pissed about the way things are going to be.

Pissed that things aren't the way I thought they would be...

or wanted them to be...

or, quite honestly, felt I deserved them to be.

I'm not too big a person to admit that, though, I'm not proud of it.

I'm having a hard time not wanting to blame someone.

Mr F is closest.

Unfortunately for him.




The good news is TCM is airing 31 days of Oscar winning movies from years past. Oh I enjoy me some strange mix of movies when I'm feeling down. Last night was The Devil and Miss Jones (excellent). Tonight it's Never Cry Wolf.

All Men On Deck

We've got pukers!

Doctor Doctor Give Me The News

Well it's been six and a half weeks since that fateful ice skating trip.

I don't know what I was expecting.

I was kind of thinking that he would tell me it's been healing up nicely and to return to business as usual.

Or that I'd totally messed things up and needed a butt amputation.

Not that I like things to be all or nothing... or anything.

I had three sets of xrays (cannot wait for that bill) and the verdict is:

"Not healed"

What does that mean exactly? I don't really know. The doctor graced me with his presence for all of 2 minutes.

Basically it is healing slower than he had expected. I haven't done anything to screw it up though... it's just taking awhile.

"You did break it." He said.

Yes. I thought we'd established that 6 weeks ago.

He said I still need to watch my sitting. So that's a hinderance.

"No bike riding."

Duh.

I go back in 6 more weeks.

So that is a total of $120 in copays and all the xray fees... which will be repeated next freaking month.

Awesome.

One More Thing I Hate About Asheville

Yesterday I took Baby to the mall for the first time. Not the first time to a mall... the first time to the local one here in Asheville.

We were trying to snag some deals at the Land's End sale at Sears (and sadly we were a little late on that front). I parked in front of the Sears and loaded Baby in the stroller and in we went.

But before I opened the door to the store I noticed something.

A "no guns" sign on the glass of the door.

I don't know if that is supposed to make me feel safer... like "don't worry little lady with your little child no one in here has any guns." or what? That's not exactly the feeling it gave me.

Because it would never occur to me that my fellow shoppers would be packing heat.

So when I saw the sign my heart sank and I got a pit in my stomach. Much like I did when I saw the "no gangs" sign on the local public school door when we first moved here. Or the "no guns" sign on the door of the city preschool building that I take Baby to "Mommy & Me" classes at. Or on our doctor's office door for that matter.

When I see those signs I don't think "Well... PHEW... no guns in here!"

I think... "WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT MEAN?!!!"

What the hell is going on here?

This is not a big city folks. It is less than half the size of Ann Arbor.

I'm not hanging out down by public housing. I see these signs in my neighborhood. If you are trying to tell me my neighborhood is not safe... then it sure as hell shouldn't have cost us this much to move here.

I've lived in NYC, for crying out loud, and worked in the inner city public schools there. In NYC they had security guards sitting at desks in the front of those schools. Bring that on if there is really a problem... don't just put a sign up.

And at the Sears?!! Seriously? I have NEVER seen anything like that at any of the city stores I have ever been to. EVER.

Am I really to believe that someone toting a gun is going to see that and think "Oh shit... that's right I can't bring that in here... what was I
thinking?" smack their forehead and go stash it in their car?

Cause that is not what I think.

I think... enough people are carrying guns that they need to state where it is and isn't legal to carry them.

And that scares the shit out of me.

Period.

Get me out of here.

Don't Lose Your Heads...

I'll be back to my usual 10x daily posting soon.

Our Daily Bread

This bread is a perfect sandwich bread. The crumb is nice and even and tight without being too dense. It is easy to slice to boot. I have messed around with this recipe a lot and have tried all sorts of combinations. It is really difficult to produce a good sandwich loaf at home using 100% whole wheat flour. This balance turns out a really good loaf. I have also discovered using white sugar instead of honey (or molasses, or brown sugar) makes for the most consistent crumb. Go figure.

1.5 c water
2 c bread flour
2.25 c whole wheat flour
2 T powdered milk
3 T white sugar
1.5 t salt
2 t yeast
2 T butter

I'm using a bread machine and this is the order in which I load my machine. Check your manual. I bake it on the regular bread setting with the light crust setting. If you don't have a bread machine... or have one that you've never used... hop to! It has made it possible for us to make bread frequently with little trouble. It takes a couple of minutes to load the machine and then we're done. I usually make our right after dinner. When it is done I take it out and let it cool then double bag it in gallon ziploc storage bags that are inverted into each other (I do not seal them!). The bread stays nice and fresh this way for a couple of days.