Today I had lunch with a good friend. It was so nice to get out with an adult, go to a restaurant that does not have crayons on the table and have a nice conversation. We had a lovely time, I can't wait to do it again.

After lunch we went to a little Italian market nearby and bought those fun (and not so frugal)foods that you cannot find at your local grocery store. The store was great. Italian music was playing in the background and the smells, oh the smells. The store smelled like heaven, nothing is better than Italian food. Next on the agenda, a trip to Trader Joes, which is frugal. I stocked up on canned pumpkin (for my son) and other odds and ends that are so much cheaper than the alternative at the grocery store.

Tonights frugal meal is split pea soup in the crock pot and bread. With the holidays quickly approaching, I need to stick to cheap dinners for the family.

It is a cold and windy day here in Wisconsin. Winter is just around the corner.

How to make edible Brussels Sprouts

Tonight for dinner I did the impossible! I made Brussels Sprouts, and I liked them. To get why this is a big deal, one had to understand how much I truly hate Brussels Sprouts. They taste awful, the remind me of little brains and they smell terrible. As one can see, I have a very strong opinion about them. But, our CSA sent them in our last box. Since I do not like to waste food and I believe in frugal living, I was forced to prepare them for tonight's dinner.

This is how I made them. Cut the Sprouts in half, saute them flat side down in oil until they are browned, put them in a baking dish, smother them in balsamic vinegar and bake until blackened. They were delicious, crunchy and tart. I did not detect the taste of sprouts and they smelled like balsamic vinegar, delicious.

Dinner tonight was a nice occasion. We all ate together, at the table. Talked about the day and had many good laughs. My son told us about Super Hero's he is creating based on Pastries. He has hero's based on cupcakes, brownies, croissants, bread, etc. He had so much fun telling about his creations. It was the perfect end to a wonderful day.