Typical Monday

...except as we're all aware, it's raining!

It feels as if fall has finally gotten here with this first soggy weekend. I like putting on my sweater and socks.

I did my shopping today for the third week of the food stamp challenge. My list was so short I found myself looking for things to add, and I was still under by $4.23!

This exercise has been teaching me some important lessons.

•The first is I tend to purchase the same things week in and week out.

•A list and a calculator are imperative. I also make certain I look for specials as I'm going along and check the ads before starting to shop.

•I don't roam around the store. I know where everything is located, and don't spend much time browsing. If I have to go into unfamiliar territory (aka: the interior of the grocery store) I only head down the aisle that houses what I'm seeking.

•It's important to go grocery shopping when you have time. Rushing in is the best way to go over budget. It's nice to slow down once in awhile, why not at the grocery store?

•It pays to do the math. Today, I had almond milk on my list. One brand was on sale for $2.79. The competing brand wasn't on sale, but there was a coupon for 55¢ off. It was $3.29 before the coupon. After the coupon it was $2.74. Guess which one went into my cart?

•The scales in the produce department are nearly useless! My calculations on six of the bulk items I purchased were off. I had calculated high which is why I didn't spend the full amount this week.

Next week is the last week I'll be shopping on the budget I've given myself. I realize $33.50 per week is not much money to spend on food, but it can be done. I suspect once this personal challenge has come to an end I'll likely continue limiting the amount I spend on groceries.

In other Monday news....

My precious kitty had a visit with the vet today. He's hyperthyroid and has gotten quite thin. Today he weighed in at 8lbs. 11oz! He gained four ounces since his last visit. In human terms that's not much, but in cat terms it's pretty good. The vet was pleased, and depending on his thyroid levels we may adjust his medication. She's also hopeful that with this slight weight gain we may be able to get some lean muscle back onto his scrawny frame.

I sure hope so, he's rather knobby.

Time to go make salads for the week... and since I've had a few people inquiring about them, here's an illustration I found which explains how to make them::

Image source:: http://www.bureauofbetterment.com/blog/salad-in-a-jar/

A Chance Encounter

The weather has been so beautiful that I've been walking to the shop for the past few weeks.  Last night, on my stroll home, I had a chance encounter with one of our neighborhood turkeys!

There is a flock of them the roam the area around my house.  The other morning, my sweetheart encounter seven of them crossing the road on Main Street.  He said they seemed unconcerned with the traffic.

When I reviewed the video, I couldn't help chuckling.  The turkey was crunching through the leaves.  I guess it was enjoying the lovely fall evening, too.

Did She Make It?

Since I know the burning question on everyone's mind is whether or not I had a successful trip to the grocery store today... NOT! I know you all have much more interesting things to ponder than my personal challenge.

Just in case you're curious... I did it! I was under my budget of $33.50 by $1.12, which means I could have treated myself to the avocado I didn't put on my list because I'd added a bell pepper and knew it was going to be expensive.

When I first entered the store I made certain to check the circular that is always available to see if anything on my list was on sale. Sure enough, canned tomatoes were 2 for $1.00 with a coupon, so I gleefully tore it out and decided to get four cans instead of two. I now have tomatoes to last the rest of the month.

While I was at the store, I purchased freezer bags. The split pea soup I made last week is freezing. I cooked up ground turkey for one of the two salads I make ahead for the week. I froze half of it for next week. There are seven salads in the refrigerator for lunch this week. I also took the time to make the black bean and quinoa dish I wrote about last week.

As promised here is the recipe. I only had a list of the ingredients I use with no measurements. I paid attention (kinda) to what I was doing while I put it together so I could share.

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Carol's Black Bean and Quinoa {aka:: BeanWa}

1 1/2C cooked black beans (or a drained 14oz. can)
2C cooked quinoa
1/2C sliced leeks
1C packaged broccoli slaw or coleslaw
cumin
dried basil
salt
fresh ground pepper
2T olive oil

In a large saute' pan heat olive oil. Add leeks and slaw. Salt and pepper lightly, cook until veggies are translucent. Add quinoa to pan, stir in veggies, continue cooking. Add beans to mixture, stir well. Season with basil, and cumin. Be generous! Add salt and pepper to taste.

This dish is great warmed on top of salad. It's a nice side dish, and makes a good wrap in a spinach tortilla with cheese and salsa. I enjoy the texture of the quinoa, and the sweetness of the cabbage/broccoli in this dish. Plus I suspect it's pretty good for you.

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Now for something completely unrelated to my challenge.

I had a conversation with my next door neighbor this afternoon regarding a very large tree we share between our properties. It's a silver leaf maple. It stands over 40' and is a great source of shade for our west facing homes.

This winter, during a gusty night, a large branch came out of the tree and took out a couple of lines to my neighbor's house. They had a well respected Arborist take a look at it. This was the same gentleman I would have called for a second opinion.

The diagnosis for the tree is pretty grim. It has a fungal rot occurring in the root system. Additionally, a large portion of the tree is a sucker branch that has grown up to constitute more than half the tree. That part of the tree is dangerous in its own right. With the disease process going on it is only a matter of time before the tree comes down and does major damage to one or both of our homes.

My neighbors will be losing a large part of their landscaping when the tree comes down. It has been a shade source for two large rhododendrons, a couple of camillas, a Japanese maple, and many shade loving bedding plants. They're researching quick growing trees to plant in the maple's place, and will put in the largest one they can afford before the end of autumn. They're going to pay for the removal of the tree.

With a heavy heart I've agreed to let them proceed. I've asked they let me know the tree's removal date so I'm not surprised by the sound of chainsaws at a ghastly hour of the morning. Perhaps taking out the maple will let my very tall and columnar Gingko tree start spreading out at the top. It has always competed with the maple trees spreading branches.

As I told my neighbor I guess this is one way to avoid raking up all those leaves this year!

Week One - Done

The first week of my challenge is done.

I haven't quite made it in the posting every day portion, but I knew that would probably be the case. Busy, chatter-filled days can leave me feeling drained and without any more words to share. To refuel for the next day, I have to be quiet or I have nothing much left.

Tomorrow will find me back at the grocery store shopping for the week. As I've been running out or running low on items I've been noting them on my fridge master list.

Here is my shopping list for the upcoming week::

• Coffee
• Ground Turkey
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Cabbage
• Tomatoes
• Bell Pepper
• Mushrooms
• Leeks
• Dried Basil
• Taco Seasoning
• Canned Tomatoes
• Garlic
• Pasta
• Banana
• Apples or Oranges
• Yogurt

Looking at the list, I have a feeling I'll just make it. I've checked my coupons and find I have some that will take $3.00 off my total.

This past week I've become acutely aware of how much food I eat and how wasteful I can be in my storage of left-overs.

When I got home from the grocery store on Monday I cleaned out my refrigerator. The amount of bad produce and little containers of mystery food I threw out was embarrassing. I've added freezer bags to my list so I can properly save the larger left-overs I make.

I had an 'oh crap' earlier in the week when I cooked up a pot of black beans. I thought I'd cooked them long enough. I used them to top some pasta for a meal, and they were not done. I ended up moving the beans to the side, eating what I could, and throwing the rest down the garbage disposal. It made me sad to have wasted them.

Thankfully, beans don't mind being put back on the burner even if it is a couple of days later. The rest of the beans are now fully cooked, and ready to go into a concoction I created a few years ago that I call 'BeanWa.' It's a flavorful little dish made up of black beans, quinoa, veggies, and seasonings. It's terrific on salads, as a side dish, or in a wrap. I'll share the recipe and some pictures tomorrow after I've made it.

I've noted some good things at the end of week one. I'm sleeping better, and my energy level seems to be on the upswing. I've had no cravings. I'm just fine eating smaller portions... and my clothes are fitting better.

Best of all, I've enjoyed talking about my challenge with others. They may not go to the extreme I've taken, but I'm learning that many people are looking for ways to reel in their expenses at the grocery store, too. I'm grateful for their insights, ideas, and encouragement.

Image from:: Brenda Ferguson