What I Spent
I was a grocery shopping slacker this week again. I got a $25 Hungry Harvest box, did a quick $27 trip to Harris Teeter, and spent $30 picking up a rotisserie chicken and a few other things.
So that means I’m starting out December with some nice, low spending.
But we know from history that some low spending is always followed by some higher spending. So I anticipate needing to buy a bunch of things next week!
Oh, and after missing a cat shift last week because of Thanksgiving, Sonia and I got to go see our cat friends last night.
December Spending
Week 1: $82
What We Ate
I may not have gone grocery shopping, but I did actually plan a menu this week, so that’s an improvement on last week!
Saturday
Mr. FG and I did a takeout date night from a local Italian place, and we watched some old episodes of Law and Order while we ate.
It was like the COVID version of a movie date night. 😉
I took advantage of the opportunity to order gnocchi because I am the only one here who really likes gnocchi. A date night is a perfect chance to eat exactly what I want because no one else has to share it!
Sunday
Continuing our current Sunday routine of supporting a local restaurant (because of current restrictions), we got takeout from a seafood spot near us.
Of course, Zoe did not get seafood, because of her allergies! She got chicken nuggets. 😉
Monday
I made chicken katsu with rice and tonkatsu sauce (recipe from Dinner Illustrated).
Tuesday
We had Swedish meatballs (made with this recipe) on top of egg noodles.
Wednesday
I grilled hamburgers, and we ate the burgers with potato chips and some raw fruits and veggies.
It was actually really cold for such a summery meal, but Zoe wanted burgers. So I grilled in the cold. 🙂
Thursday
I picked up a rotisserie chicken, which we ate with roasted potatoes and a green salad.
Friday
I think I’m going to make some tortellini soup, except in Sonia’s bowl, I’ll use rotini instead of tortellini.
I have never found cheese-free tortellini, despite lots of looking, so plain pasta will have to do for Miss Sonia.
MB in MN
Saturday 5th of December 2020
Here's what I can remember in no particular order:
Tomato bisque and salad Vegetarian reuben sandwiches and fruit Pasta with marinara sauce Wild rice blueberry pancakes Creamy butternut squash soup
Amy
Friday 4th of December 2020
Another birthday week for us! Monday- burgers and tots Tuesday- kid's cooked!!! Chicken Cordon Bleu and rice Wednesday- meatballs and noodles Thursday- lasagna with homemade noodles- yum Friday- Take out-hot wings- we let the birthday boy pick. Also supporting the restaurants.
Veggies and fruit for each day but I am happy to remember the main dish :)
priskill
Friday 4th of December 2020
After the whoo-ha of Thanksgiving, it was back to basics:
Friday -- Returned from brief trip and had frozen pizza and ice cream Saturday -- Big green salad with chicken breast on top Sunday -- Homemade chicken soup, using up frozen thighs and veggies. Monday -- Big green salad with chicken breast on top; last of the soup. Tuesday -- Very lame dinner but a personal victory as it was a very hard day and I got home late but resisted the siren call of Pollo Loco and opened cans of salmon, nuked a potato, steamed broccoli and called it good. Well, edible. Thank you for the inspiration! Wednesday -- Turkey burgers, steamed broccoli Thursday --Leftover Turkey burgers, roasted melange of all the things malingering in the crisper old wobbly carrot, the last of some kind of winter squash that was waiting to be peeled, onions, green pepper, and potatoes. Delicious, even the weird squash.
Tonight is treat night -- some kind of take out tv -- yup, the COVID date night ;)
Susan
Friday 4th of December 2020
Post idea: Kristen, could you detail your most successful substitutions you've found for your daughters' allergies/restrictions? My daughter is having lots of food related issues, and I could really use the tips on the dairy-free front! While this might not useful for all your readers, I think more and more people have to navigate these issues so probably it is of wider interest than it might seem to be.
cathy
Thursday 10th of December 2020
There are tons of great dairy-free recipes online. You can also search for vegan recipes. Dairy is also one of my kid’s allergies. I usually sub rice milk in cooking and baking, always sauté with olive oil instead of butter, and use Spectrum shortening instead of butter in baking. Enjoy Life makes delicious chocolate chips, chocolate bars, and other snack foods that are free from the top allergens.
Kristen
Friday 4th of December 2020
Sure, I can do that. Sonia's dairy issues are sort of odd (in that she can tolerate butter and cream, but not cheese or milk), but I'm happy to post about our workarounds.
jessica
Friday 4th of December 2020
Sunday was the last nice weather day for a long time so we grilled some steaks from our beef order and ate those with alfredo noodles and some frozen veggies.
Monday I was planning on sauteed chicken breasts but my husband decided we should make chicken nuggets.. so we made them in the air fryer and served with steamed cauliflower and green salad and he decided afterwords it was way more work for less than amazing product and he won't offer ideas like this again! lolol
Tuesday- I had an early booster club meeting so it was a great night to use up stuff from the freezer! We had cheddar pierogies, leftover sauted cauliflower( it was still too undone the night before!) and I air fried some little smokie links!
Weds- homemade meatloaf, baked sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli.
Thursday- last night was spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread.
Friday-we have more salad to eat so we will have that with beef and cheese sliders and tater tots!
Saturday hubby and I will have date day to get all the holiday shopping completed.. kids will stay home and will probably get pizza.
I decided to do some purging.. so I have a pie baking.. used the last of the frozen pie shells, the last of the pecans and karo syrup... added some dark chocolate pieces... My lunch is a sauted zucchini and I tossed in a handful of leftover pasta from last night! so simple and good! lots of garlic salt on it!