Thrifty Thursday: End of the Month

Friday:  We made a breakfast sandwich this morning before leaving to tend to Caleb.  I was so tempted to ask to go by and pick up takeout.  I don't know if I'm just feeling the burn out of making so many meals at home of late or if I've got a case of summertime lazies.  I planned to pick up lunch out and when Katie treated us as she is in the habit of doing lately in exchange for the childcare, I thought, "I'll pick something up for supper then..."  Seriously?  John changed his afternoon plans, though.   We came home, and when he asked if I wanted anything, I kept my mouth shut.

I did ask if we could stop at the corner where the Truck Farmer parks.  I spent $20.  I got four huge tomatoes, 2 green and 2 ripe, a basket of yellow summer squash, a basket of beautiful black plums and a quart bag of boiled peanuts.  It's not peanut season.  However, this man must freeze his green peanuts because he always has a pot on to boil.  They tasted good, but not as good as fresh in-season peanuts.

The tomatoes were huge.  So big that tonight, when I made our salad for supper, I used only half of one.  I made my salad using tomato slices layered with cucumbers, Vidalia onion rings and the three tiny bell peppers I picked yesterday.  

I was pretty pumped about the bell peppers.  There are a few more tiny ones as well as blooms on the plants.  I noted too that the herbs finally took off.  The mint is lush, and the oregano is about a foot high and bushy.  The basil and sage... I don't know.  I used to have the best luck with basil.  As for Sage, I've heard folklore that says in a home where a man is strong there's healthy sage and where the woman is strong the Rosemary grows well.  I consider my husband a strong person, both in physical ability and in his psyche but it's the Rosemary that's a little frightening in how well it's growing.  I won't deny that when it comes to will, I'm pretty strong, but I sure wish the sage would act like John is equally as strong!

I received a Stitch Fix box today and I'm so happy.  All five pieces are keepers.  That nets me a 25% discount on the box.  I'm happy that everything Fit.  In fact, a few more pieces in my closet are fitting once more, which is a wonder since I've not been as much on my game with my eating these past two weeks.

One of the savings newsletters shared a sale at JCPenney for sandals, buy one get two free.  I found two pair finally that were my size and would ship to my home but not a third pair.  I decided to just look to see what they had and found several more pair on sale but not included in that particular sale.  In the end, I ordered NOTHING.  I got frustrated after looking at 20 odd pages of sandals and finding that nearly everything I liked was out of stock, not available for shipping or not in my size.  Phooey.  I told John I'd do better to just buy one pair that I actually like and forget trying to get any bargains.  

So I started looking at sandals at Kohl's.  Equally unimpressed.  I guess I'll just skip sandals for now.

Meals:  Breakfast Sandwiches.  Used the last of the English Muffins.  Honestly not sure I care for that recipe either.  It definitely needed a pinch more salt and it just doesn't have that little bit of a sour dough taste I'm looking for in an English Muffin.    I used ham instead of sausage this morning because it was in the fridge.

McDonalds, courtesy of Katie.

Roast Beef Hash, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Onions and Bell Pepper. I dressed my vegetable salad with a tiny bit of mayonnaise mixed with some Italian dressing.  Then I sprinkled the vegetables with black pepper and dried basil (last year's harvest).

Saturday:  There wasn't a lot frugal about our day today, that's for sure.  Well, it was frugal in that John stayed home.  And I took the kids to a crafting thing at the library that they thoroughly enjoyed which was free.  

But the rest of the day felt spendy.  The kids wanted to go to Subway for lunch (apparently a big treat to them) and I mistakenly thought one could still spend about $5 for a 6-inch sub.  Ha!  I'd promised chips and of course we must have something to drink too so it was a pretty penny for that lunch with the kiddos.  To be fair, the place offered the kids a FREE cup (which were appropriately about the size of a small drink way back in my childhood) and said they might refill them if they liked.  Which was very nice.  And then they wanted to give the kids free cookies, but I'd promised them peach ice cream and so I thanked the crew but asked they not give them to the kids.  If I'd taken them home full of soda and ice cream too their daddy would NOT have been pleased with me or them.

At the peach packing place, we all got a kid's cone.  That was roughly $1 cheaper per person than a small cup and yet, I'd dare say there was exactly as much ice cream in those cones.  As expected, Millie did not finish hers, but Josh threw himself on the sacrificial sword and finished it off for her.  Isaac begged off saying he was too full.

At home, once more, I peeled the last of the last box of peaches and made up my own 'cake mix' to use as a Peach dump cake.  I mixed two cups of flour, 1 cup of sugar, 1 box of instant vanilla pudding (from my expired stash of items), 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of baking powder.  I figured that was about equivalent to a box of cake mix.  I mixed it well and then sprinkled over the top of my 8 peaches which I'd sliced.  Then I poured a stick of melted butter over the top.  I baked at 350F for about 30 minutes and yes, I used the big oven.   I shared the peaches and the homemade 'cake mix' between two pie pans.  I'll take one of them to Katie's next weekend when I take Gramma's Fried Chicken over for Sunday dinner.

I made the best of using the big oven.  I baked frozen chicken tenders while the dump cake baked and used those to make our supper.  I figured since we were having salads it didn't matter if the chicken wasn't exactly hot, but I did want it cooked through.  

Meals:   Bagel for John, Croissant for me

Sandwiches.  John made one at home.

Buffalo Chicken Salads

Sunday:  John asked if I'd get us a sandwich for our lunch today.  I knew he was going to want one.  But as a price comparison: a 6-inch sandwich from Publix was just over $5.  It was a good reminder to me that just because you shop the grocery deli doesn't always mean you're paying a premium price.  I got two sandwiches; we each ate half and have another sandwich left. 

I went into Publix, not to get sandwiches, but to pick up a few really good buy one get one deals, cottage cheese, and fried chicken to freeze and hold for the weekend with Taylor in this coming weekend.  I earned $2 back on Ibotta deals, saved another $1 because I'd loaded a coupon from the store website.

When I was putting the chicken in the freezer, I set out two breasts and two wings for John and me to have for supper tonight.  We ended up eating only half a breast each.  We do not seem to be very hungry today at all.  Never mind.  I've just 'made' two lunches for the week ahead without even planning to do so. 

Meals:  Toast and Sausage

1/2 Sandwich, Chips, Melon

Fried Chicken, Beans and Potatoes, Squash with onions (me.  John doesn't care for squash), Sliced Tomato.

Monday: Today, I was up early and got my house tidy.  Then I headed into the kitchen.

I planned meals this week with the emphasis on using as many expired products as I could manage.  To insure I recalled what I meant to do this week with meals, I posted the full menu on the refrigerator.  Then I listed each item I planned to use from the expired foods shelf.  And finally, I went to work.

Yesterday, I pulled meats from the freezer and put in the fridge to partially thaw overnight.  I also gathered all the cans and packages of stuff I knew I'd be using in meals this week and set them on the counter.  I wanted to make doubly sure I kept my end goal of using expired items in mind.

I took bananas from the fridge freezer to thaw.  I also pulled all the random bags of breads together and put them in one place. I found a package with two pancakes.  Those I took out to thaw for John's breakfast. Then I found a single sausage biscuit. I can't recall how many months ago I put that in the freezer.  That got tossed. And then I found two muffins, which turned out to be Banana Chocolate Chip muffins.  I pulled those out to have one for my breakfast and one as a snack for John later today.

I mixed up a marinade (Lemon, dill, oregano, olive oil, garlic) to go over Chicken Breasts. I put a Ham portion into the slow cooker to thaw and cook.  

Then I set out eggs and butter to come to room temperature.

I started the still frozen ground beef on low heat in a covered Dutch oven.  When the beef was cooked through, I took out half the meat to make up the Corn Moussaka dish.  The rest of the meat was to make spaghetti sauce.

I gathered up all the ingredients required to make a big batch of spaghetti sauce.  I had saved the top and bottom pieces of the tomato we ate Saturday evening, a bit of bell pepper and a thick piece of onion that came off with the skin that I didn't want to finish cleaning up the other day.  I chopped those as well as spinach, then added canned tomatoes, paste, tomato sauce and leftover pizza sauce I'd saved in the fridge.  That is simmering on the stove as I write this out.

I mixed up a batch of carrot muffins and baked those then mixed the Pumpkin Banana bread.  Those loaves are baking.  I have a cup of pumpkin set aside to make pancakes in a couple of days.

Gracious I'm tired, but I should net a few extra items for the freezer which will be nice for August.

Meals:  Pancakes, bacon for John. Muffin and bacon for me.  John sliced peaches so I added those to the menu.

Pizza, courtesy of Katie.

Greek chicken, Lemon Rice Pilaf, Tomatoes and Cucumbers.  The chicken and rice was delicious!  I have a whole chicken breast half leftover.  

Tuesday:  I used all of the spaghetti sauce to make the lasagna.  I had not planned to use it all, but it was needed.  I can always make spaghetti sauce later.                                          

Up early this morning. I wanted to get the lasagna in the oven early today so that I wouldn't heat up the house as I did yesterday.  I know I can reheat smaller portions of the lasagna in the toaster oven or microwave, but I needed to get it baked.  As of this afternoon, it has been baked, cut into portions (I got 15) and it has been packed into the freezer with a small pan set aside for our supper tonight.  My freezer is looking full at present.  

I worked on getting the checkbook ready for the new month and made out checks that need to go out right away.   

Thursday:  Meals/Tuesday:  ? I don't recall what breakfast.  Lunch: leftover sub sandwiches.  For supper we had lasagna and salad.  The kids didn't want lasagna, so they got leftover pizza from Monday's lunch.  

Meals/Wednesday:  Toast and Smoked Sausage

I can't recall

Corn Dog Casserole, Slaw, German Potatoes.  I added potatoes to the menu because I found they were fast spoiling.  That's been a chronic issue this summer with all but Russets.  No clue what the issue is.

Tuesday evening, we had the children while the parents were out attending a church service.  It was planned to be an earlier evening, but it turned into a much later one.  Next time, I shall go to their house and keep them.  I did get two of the three bathed, since they all had school the next day.

Wednesday, I woke with a sick headache that I couldn't shake.  I did nothing but sit around and try to nap frequently.  I kept that headache all day long. I got John to take me into town to drop off bills which will likely arrive late because I slipped up on mailing them out in a timelier manner.  I know full well it's iffy whether or not the mail will arrive on time at present.  

I also attempted to work on my revised 3rd quarter budget, which had to be adjusted for two different price increases that will occur here in August.  I finally got that more or less sorted out.  I'm never happy when I realize that we literally have just enough money to cover our immediate needs and nothing over to cover those unexpected things, but what can you do?  Just try and maintain everything very well and know you have a reserve if needed and move on.  

John took the opportunity to get gas for the mower yesterday which will be sorely needed as it's rained every single day, heavy downpours that keep the grass wet nearly all day long the next day when it then proceeds to rain again.  I am not complaining over the abundance of rain, but it's made it hard to get an opportunity to mow.  

I set plants under the eaves of the back porch in the hopes that they'd get well watered.  Ridiculously, despite the porch getting wet, the plants barely got dampened.  I think the rain was coming more from the northeast and not from the west as is typical.

I had to re-order checks today.  The price of checks is absolutely shocking.  I know that you can shop around but I hate having my banking info spread around too many companies online.  I just do.  And the company I'd been using in the past would send me notice as I was waiting on my checks that I needed to send $15 or more extra every single time.  Even though I'd point out that I paid per what they calculated online!  The first time I felt it was my mistake and I paid up.  The second time, too, but the third time I started making phone calls and one customer service rep would adjust the balance to zero and then I'd get a bill demanding payment all over again.  I needed my checks so I paid, but I figured that was enough doing business with that company.   I'd begun to feel it was pure extortion.  They knew they had me over a barrell so they'd hold on to my checks and not release them to be shipped until they had extra money.   Anyway, shocked today at the new company, to put it mildly, and there's one of those expenses I wasn't really prepared for.  

I did read every single line and discovered I could save about $35 by going with a longer shipping period, that is still trackable.  It's higher than average postage but not extortion.

I used leftover chicken to make salads for our lunch today. 

@threerivershomestead #everybitcounts challenge: 

 I harvested herbs to dry today: basil, oregano, chives and sage.  I will freeze the mint I harvested as it confuses me in the bottle as a dried herb.  I always think it is oregano and must crush it in order to know the difference.  If I only dry oregano, then I know it's oregano.  If I only freeze mint, then I'll know it's mint.  

I had navel orange peels, so I made a batch of orange vinegar cleaner concentrate.  Those are under the counter soaking right now.  I have 1 quart with the peels in the jar, so likely a pint after I remove the peels.

I rustled around in the freezer, and I have mandarin orange peels that I saved this past spring.  Sam had told me that he'd been grinding his in the blender then spreading them out to dry.  He did not remove the white pith from the back since they had so little.  He then used the dried mandarin orange zest to season various items he was making, including a lovely orange flavored cake and frosting for Josh's birthday in June.  I plan to dry and then grind mine.

And I gathered all of my pieces of loaves and end pieces of bread.  I will figure out what to do with those in the days ahead.  I have plenty of dry breadcrumbs and croutons on hand at present.  

I also thought I'd use some to cube and make a strata, aka breakfast casserole, using some of the ham we're eating for dinner this week.  I do not want to make a huge pan though, as it's far too much for just John and I and I've found that it does not freeze and cook well, nor freeze and reheat well.  It's best freshly baked and freshly eaten in my opinion.

I could also dry some in small chunks to add to the dried cornbread crumbs I have and use them to make my own stuffing mix...That's an idea!

August Kitchen declutter challenge:  I repurposed a beautiful pasta bowl that I have never used into a fruit bowl for my kitchen.  I shall leave it on the counter and that is where I'll put our hardier fruits that do not need to be refrigerated.  Right now, that turquoise bowl is full or ripe peaches.  It's such a pretty thing to look at!

I bought this bowl because it matched two mixing bowls I'd bought, which have proven to be lovely but a little shallow to use as proper mixing bowls.  However, I have used them as salad bowls or side dish bowls now for a few years.  I was about to donate the pasta bowl when I realized that I would rather look at that on the counter than the box I bring peaches home in.  This bowl will serve me well, now that I have a purpose for it.

I cleaned out my spice drawer which is always crowded.  I moved celery seed, dry mustard and powdered cayenne pepper to the pantry cabinet where I keep the opened but less often used seasoning items.  I tossed a bottle of Tarragon I'd bought.  Truth, I hate the taste of tarragon and while I bought this herb on sale, it's no bargain if I'm not going to use it.  

Last, I tossed a broken black pepper grinder that I was going to supposedly utilize in some manner.  After months I admit I'm not.  Into the trash it went.

I also cleaned out the utensil drawer on the same cabinet.  I reluctantly left two items that John insists stay in the drawer though they are seldom to rarely used items.  However, that's where he expects to find them and it's simply easier to leave them than to argue.  I removed the excess of things that I don't touch (and neither does John).  I won't toss them.  Truth they are good quality items and will be nice to have for replacement purposes in the future.  They just aren't currently needed.

Meals: we didn't eat breakfast.  Sam came by to visit and talk.   We just drank coffee and listened.

Bacon, Ranch and Chicken Tossed Salads.

Supper will be Ham, Sweet Potatoes (canned), Green Peas, Fried Green Tomato.  This is a 29 ounce can of sweet potatoes and I doubt we'll eat them all.  I'll save some back to make Sweet Potato biscuits with.  

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