Meals March 28 - April 3

Here is my meal plan for the week of March 28 - April 3. I am doing this for me more than anything. I try to stick to a menu for each week, but always seem to lose the little piece of paper that I have the menu written on:

Sunday 28 - Kung Pao Tofu

Monday 29 - Vegetarian Chili (frozen from a huge batch made a while ago)

Tuesday 30 - Pasta w/Red Sauce and salad

Wednesday 31 - Salmon, Sweet potatoes, salad

Thursday April 1 - Beef Stew (this will be made in my slow cooker)

Friday 2 - Pizza night!

Saturday 3 - Salmon w/mushrooms and greens, asparagus

Freezer Meals

For the last several months my husband has been making massive quantities of food and freezing for nights that we don't have time to cook. This practice has become a real lifesaver for our family. We do not eat fast food, ever! With 3 kids, jobs, grad school, activities, pets and all the other things going on, meal time could be a problem. When you consider that we don't eat fast food, dinner time would become stressful. Not anymore. Our freezer is stocked with at least 10 evenings of meals, large enough for lunch leftovers. I cannot take credit for this surplus of food. That honor goes to my husband, Eric. Thank you Eric, you are like a male version of Martha Stewart. Here is a list of some of the things we have on hand for future use:

Vegetarian Chili

Chana Masala (Indian beans)

Falafel and pita bread

Mexican Rice

Butternut Squash Casserole

These meals were made out dry beans and rice bought in bulk. Buying rice and beans in bulk is a major money saver when sticking to a budget. Fast food was never an issue for us as a money waster, but I would often times stop at the grocery store for a quick meal that was not cheap, probably as expensive as McDonald's would be. I know that having this inventory of premade meals has saved us a lot of time and money, as well as unwanted calories and fat.

Protein without Meat

We are trying to save money on groceries. One way we have found is to skip the meat as much as possible. Tonight we had Kung Po Tofu over Quinoa. The tofu and quinoa provided protein at a cheaper price than the same amount of meat would have cost us. For about $4 we got 2 pounds of tofu, 1 cup of quinoa cost us about $2. Not bad. We added some peppers and found that we had a very healthy, inexpensive and earth friendly meal for 5 for about $8 total.

The recipe for the tofu can be found at:

www.myveganplanet.com/2008/11/kung-pow-tofu/print/

My kids liked this meal, my youngest did not love it. But, she ate without a lot of complaints. It is so hard to get kids to eat tofu, so we were happy to get them to eat it at all. I really want to make more of an effort to skip the meat and eat more plant based foods. My daughter, the vegetarian, would be forever grateful. I also feel like we would be a much healthier family if we would just skip the meat. I think our checking account would also thank us. As a meat lover though, I think it will be so hard. I have tried so many times, and failed on the quest to vegetarianism. Small steps I guess.

Shopping Day

Today was one of those few days a year when I have to give in and take my kids shopping for clothes. I like to shop with them. I would be a liar if I did not declare my love of shopping, for myself that is. Taking 3 kids shopping for clothes can be....difficult.

My little girl still likes stores like Gymboree and Justice. Easy in and easy out. She finds a color that makes her happy, if the shirts have glitter, all the better in her opinion. My older daughter and son are not so easy. The stores they like are so loud, cluttered, dark and stinky (I am convinced that stores geared to the pre teen demographic have those glade timed air fresheners set with stinky cologne). But, I dealt with it because the stores had great deals and my kids are in need of clothes. Sadly, they refuse to stop growing, so I find I am required to continue to clothe them on an as needed basis. Sales are all I have got to make sure that they have what they need.

I will end this blog with some frugal acts for the last couple of weeks:

1. Bought several needed shirts for the kids today at buy 1 get 1 1/2 off

2. Ate all meals at home this last week.

3. Bought birthday party supplies for my daughter's birthday party at the Dollar Store

4. Used several coupons at the mall today, added to the savings of the buy 1 get 1 1/2 off.

5. Planned meals along with sales at Peapod.com

6. 2 minute showers for all of us

7. Laundry washed in cold water

8. Left over night at least one night

9. Credit cards paid in full, no interest!

10. I brown bag it to lunch at work

Blueberry Pancake Recipe

This morning I made the best blueberry pancakes, ever!! I wish I could take credit for the recipe, but I can't. It comes from "Family Meals: Creating Traditions in the Kitchen" by Maria Helm Sinskey. Here is the recipe:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose plain flour

1 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp baking powder

3/4 tsp kosher salt

1 cup milk

2 large eggs

4 tbsp melted butter

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups blueberries

pure maple syrup for serving

makes 12 pancakes; serves 4-6

In a small bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, melted butter and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and stir just until combined. A few small lumps are fine. To ensure tender pancakes, make sure you don't overmix the batter. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the blueberries. If using frozen blueberries, add them frozen, not thawed.

Heat a griddle or a large, heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium heat and add 1 tbsp butter. When the butter melts and sizzles, tilt the pan to spread it evenly over the bottom. Using 1/4 cup measure, pour the batter into the pan to form pancakes, being careful not to crowd the pan. Cook until the edges are set and the tops are covered with bubbles, about 2 minutes. Using a spatula, flip them over and cook until golden on the second sides, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer to warmed plate as they come off the griddle. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more butter to the griddle as needed. Pass the syrup at the table.

These pancakes are like blueberry muffins. They are amazing. They received the seal of approval from my entire family, husband included. Enjoy!

What a crazy, stressful, wonderful, hectic week it has been!

Last Friday, I went to see one of my favorite singers, Norah Jones. My husband bought me tickets for her show for Christmas. The condition was that I don't take him with me. He is not a fan. Instead, I took a friend I have had since childhood. We went out for Middle Eastern food before hand and then to the show. It was a great night. Thank you Eric.

Saturday night was my daughter's very belated birthday party. It was a sleepover. She has A LOT of friends! 12 girls were invited, 11 were able to attend, 10 were allowed to sleepover. Including my daughter, we had 11 girls sleeping in our basement. What a fabulous time they had. They decorated pillowcases for a craft, watched a movie, played games, toilet papered my son's bedroom (he was at a friend's house) and got along. I was so impressed with how well mannered the girls were and how kind they are to each other. Sometimes I think we tend to assume that girls will be naturally mean at this age. I don't see it, at all. I kept the cost of the party down. Pizza came from Dominoes with a coupon, supplies from Dollar Store and the movies were netflix.

Sunday, I took the kids to a movie. The much anticipated "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" came out last Friday. All 3 of my kids have read the whole series numerous times. They could not wait another day to see it. Even my sleep deprived daughter wanted to sacrifice a nap and go. It is a really cute movie. My kids say some of it was different from the book. But, doesn't that always happen?

My spring break was this week. I started my 25 page paper. I have a good start, my books and an outline. I think I will be fine and done with plenty of time to spare. My week was filled with cleaning, laundry and work. I found some time for reading for fun. I also took my girls to a local waterpark last night with my daughter's Brownie troop. One thing about Brownies, it can be a frugal moms best friend. Normally the tickets to get in are $25, we got in for $10 and my "brownie" was free.

Today we are driving to Green Bay to visit family. My son has a birthday party to go to tonight. This weekend is filled with soccer, classes, a couple sleepovers and I work.

I look at my past week and think I should be tired or stressed. But, I wouldn't have it any other way. I really am blessed to have such a wonderful family and active, happy life.

Whew!

The last 2 weeks have been CRAZY! My kids have been sick, I had my first midterm exam in 16 years and I have been trying to maintain a home. I completely forgot to blog.

My daughter and I finished the book Anne of Green Gables for our mother/daughter bookclub. We both loved the beginning but felt sad that Anne had to grow up in it. With loved her character as a little girl. I found it funny that both of us had the same reaction to the same part of the book. Like mother, like daughter.

I have been very frugal. Since I was trapped within the confines of my home for MANY days due to illness (not mine) I found that it was very easy not to spend money.

My 11 year old is having her birthday party this weekend. A sleepover with 11 girls! That is right, 11 girls. We are keeping it cheap. Netflix movies, board games we own, pedicures with nail polish we own, supplies from the dollar store. I ordered a cake and we will have pizza delivered. I am hoping for a decent nights sleep, hope does spring eternal!

Today my kids played outside after school. It was 60 degrees here in Wisconsin. The jump ropes, scooters and bikes were pulled out. I even saw some chalk art work on the driveway, a true sign or spring. Best of all, I saw a robin. The ultimate sign of spring. Yeahhhhhh!!!!!