The people in my life love me. It's clear.
They also may have been afraid for my health and safety. :)
To give you an idea, I'm going to run through a list of everything (I can remember) that came into my kitchen over the past few weeks.
I think I need to see this list more than you do, because I have a plan.
Groceries
Coconut Milk x2 (Natural)
Coconut Milk (Chocolate)
Whole wheat pasta (2 boxes)
Red kidney beans
Rice
Turkey burgers (an entire box)
Tea biscuits
Bread
Bagel
English Muffins (6)
Ground Beef
Avocado (8)
Grapefruit (3)
Clementines (6)
Grapes
Orange Juice
Bacon
Ready-to-crock frozen soup concoction
Butternut squash soup
Quinoa
Tomato
Home Made Food
Hamburger & potato wedges
Cupcakes
Beef barley soup
2 other kinds of home made soup (theMom when i was sick)
Actually I can't even remember all of the home made stuff I was sent with! If I still had all the containers I'd be able to tell you but I actually was really good about giving them all back!
As you can see, the generosity was RIDICULOUS.
So, the plan.
I will calculate an an approximate dollar value of the grocery items listed above, do a grocery shop that matches the dollar value, and donate it all to the local food bank. I have more than I need here in my little house, and so it's my turn to give back a little where I have been blessed to the max.
Families in need, right here in Haldimand county, will be able to get through a few more meals worry-free thanks to the generosity of each and every one of you who has supported, encouraged and fed me over the past 45 days!
Thanks, everyone. Much love. :)
3 April 2015
Another Day; Another Dollar - Day 45
I failed at weekly blogging. Whoops.
So it's Day 45. I was going to spend $40 in 40 days on feeding myself and, for the most part, I did it. I came in under budget (although I forgot to keep my last two receipts) by about a dollar.
Some notable points:
1. I didn't get around to making ketchup. I have enough left for some scrambled eggs and a second-day serving of KD. I'll probably still try to make the ketchup. I probably won't like it. So I'll probably then turn it into one of my famous batches of Ossum Soss (my go-to, everything-but-the-kitchen sink BBQ sauce for ribs and pulled pork)
2. I have not been buying food for the last 5 days. It's day 45 so I technically should be able to do so, but I did decide from the beginning that it would be "from Ash Wednesday until Easter". Besides, I did cash in on a couple of Sunday freebies.
3. I purchased food for other people. I walked out of my office having purchased nearly 6 dozen eggs from a coworker. All of those eggs were given to Reuben's family (because they go through eggs like crazy and because they feed me lunch every Sunday). I also bought a birthday dinner for a friend (Reuben graciously paid for mine)
4. A couple of times I bought food that I would (also) be consuming when the situation was socially appropriate. For example, my brother took a few days out of his life to fix my car for zero dollars and, since we never get a chance to spend time together, I offered spontaneously to buy him dinner before he went home. It would be awkward and a little high-and-mighty feeling for me to have sat there, watching him eat and refusing to buy anything for myself. Rest assured I did purchase the most inexpensive menu item: a $6 chicken shawarma.
5. Yesterday I purchased 2 kg of chicken breast for $20 via a private order that only happens once every 3 weeks or so. I don't plan to eat it until after Easter, so I am not counting it toward my $40. I'm also going grocery shopping tomorrow, but again will not be consuming or touching any of it until Lent is over. Because....No Frills cheese. One day only. Again. Lol. It's all about timing this time around.
6. I learned about price-matching. My shop tomorrow will likely save me $20 using the handy dandy Flipp app. Definitely going to use this in the future!
7. I spent $5 of my $40 on items for a small group snack this past week. It was the last of the money I had available.I also donated $2 to some charity one day, deciding that I can last on $38.
8. The Cabbage. Roll. Casserole. lives on! I have about 2-3 meals worth still in the freezer. Sour cream required.
After all the calculations are said and done, with a few small exceptions, I spent approximately $33 on food in 40 days. Which means, with the generosity of so many people in my life, it can be done. I can't say I learned anything about sacrifice, to be honest. The only thing I've gone without over the last 4 weeks is chicken and a decent coffee creamer. My tummy has always been full, and usually with delicious food that others have given me.
So what now?
Well, as previously mentioned, I am going grocery shopping tomorrow. I am, at this moment, only JUST out of cream(er), egg whites, and butter (three necessities in my home). I'm almost out of ketchup, as I've said all along, and have to decide if I'm first going to try making a batch. Maybe I'll buy some corn syrup to do it according to the recipe, and maybe I'll like it? I'm off on Monday, so let's give it a shot. As far as "nice to have"s are concerned, I am going to pick up a loaf of bread, honey, bacon and parm. All in all, having searched and clipped my entire shopping list in the Flipp app, tomorrow's "big" shop should cost about...$33!
And for all of the food that was given to me, I have a plan... :) Stay tuned!
So it's Day 45. I was going to spend $40 in 40 days on feeding myself and, for the most part, I did it. I came in under budget (although I forgot to keep my last two receipts) by about a dollar.
Some notable points:
1. I didn't get around to making ketchup. I have enough left for some scrambled eggs and a second-day serving of KD. I'll probably still try to make the ketchup. I probably won't like it. So I'll probably then turn it into one of my famous batches of Ossum Soss (my go-to, everything-but-the-kitchen sink BBQ sauce for ribs and pulled pork)
2. I have not been buying food for the last 5 days. It's day 45 so I technically should be able to do so, but I did decide from the beginning that it would be "from Ash Wednesday until Easter". Besides, I did cash in on a couple of Sunday freebies.
3. I purchased food for other people. I walked out of my office having purchased nearly 6 dozen eggs from a coworker. All of those eggs were given to Reuben's family (because they go through eggs like crazy and because they feed me lunch every Sunday). I also bought a birthday dinner for a friend (Reuben graciously paid for mine)
4. A couple of times I bought food that I would (also) be consuming when the situation was socially appropriate. For example, my brother took a few days out of his life to fix my car for zero dollars and, since we never get a chance to spend time together, I offered spontaneously to buy him dinner before he went home. It would be awkward and a little high-and-mighty feeling for me to have sat there, watching him eat and refusing to buy anything for myself. Rest assured I did purchase the most inexpensive menu item: a $6 chicken shawarma.
5. Yesterday I purchased 2 kg of chicken breast for $20 via a private order that only happens once every 3 weeks or so. I don't plan to eat it until after Easter, so I am not counting it toward my $40. I'm also going grocery shopping tomorrow, but again will not be consuming or touching any of it until Lent is over. Because....No Frills cheese. One day only. Again. Lol. It's all about timing this time around.
6. I learned about price-matching. My shop tomorrow will likely save me $20 using the handy dandy Flipp app. Definitely going to use this in the future!
7. I spent $5 of my $40 on items for a small group snack this past week. It was the last of the money I had available.I also donated $2 to some charity one day, deciding that I can last on $38.
8. The Cabbage. Roll. Casserole. lives on! I have about 2-3 meals worth still in the freezer. Sour cream required.
After all the calculations are said and done, with a few small exceptions, I spent approximately $33 on food in 40 days. Which means, with the generosity of so many people in my life, it can be done. I can't say I learned anything about sacrifice, to be honest. The only thing I've gone without over the last 4 weeks is chicken and a decent coffee creamer. My tummy has always been full, and usually with delicious food that others have given me.
So what now?
Well, as previously mentioned, I am going grocery shopping tomorrow. I am, at this moment, only JUST out of cream(er), egg whites, and butter (three necessities in my home). I'm almost out of ketchup, as I've said all along, and have to decide if I'm first going to try making a batch. Maybe I'll buy some corn syrup to do it according to the recipe, and maybe I'll like it? I'm off on Monday, so let's give it a shot. As far as "nice to have"s are concerned, I am going to pick up a loaf of bread, honey, bacon and parm. All in all, having searched and clipped my entire shopping list in the Flipp app, tomorrow's "big" shop should cost about...$33!
And for all of the food that was given to me, I have a plan... :) Stay tuned!
10 March 2015
Another Day; Another Dollar - Day 21
I am learning that I'm pretty spoiled when it comes to my luxuries. As people ask how my fast is going, I find all I can really tell them is that I'm out of coffee cream and am running dangerously low on ketchup. There is just something about this immanent ketchup shortage that is making me crazy.So here we go. I found my keys (they were NOT in Reuben's car; they were in my coat pocket all along) and had 4 lesson cancellations today. So I went to the grocery store to continue my journey to research making my own ketchup.
The deal is that if supplies to MAKE a test batch of ketchup actually costs less than a bottle of ketchup, I would go with the experiment route. I checked out the cost for vinegar ($1.29) and tomato paste ($0.55) and compared it against the least expensive bottle of ketchup available.So I bought the vinegar and tomato paste. Just a small can, for a small batch. And who knows? I might end up making my own ketchup from now on. Results to follow, I'm sure.
I've spent a total of $18.87, and it's day 21. Score!
And look what I found in the center console on my way home!8 March 2015
Another Day; Another Dollar - Day 19
This weekend it was suggested to me that I learn to make my own ketchup!
So I went to my most trusted copycat recipe website (where I found a spot-on recipe for Mac sauce) and found a copycat recipe for Heinz Ketchup (because I'm a ketchup snob).
What I don't have in my house is white vinegar, tomato paste and light corn syrup. I did, however, decide that I have ample brown sugar to substitute and hope that it will do well in place of the corn syrup. So, as long as the cost is lower than an actual bottle of ketchup, I am going to buy white vinegar and tomato paste to attempt a budget-friendly substitute. If it costs more than a bottle of ketchup, then I will be definitely forfeiting ketchup for the rest of Lent. :)
I was about to head out the door before the grocery stores close in Hagersville when I noticed my purse wasn't here. It's in Reuben's car. In Caledonia. So I am forced to wait yet another day or two before picking up groceries. :)
I was sent home with a loaf of bakery bread and a veggie tray left over from this weekend's retreat, so I'm sure I'll be good for a while anyway.
So I went to my most trusted copycat recipe website (where I found a spot-on recipe for Mac sauce) and found a copycat recipe for Heinz Ketchup (because I'm a ketchup snob).
What I don't have in my house is white vinegar, tomato paste and light corn syrup. I did, however, decide that I have ample brown sugar to substitute and hope that it will do well in place of the corn syrup. So, as long as the cost is lower than an actual bottle of ketchup, I am going to buy white vinegar and tomato paste to attempt a budget-friendly substitute. If it costs more than a bottle of ketchup, then I will be definitely forfeiting ketchup for the rest of Lent. :)
I was about to head out the door before the grocery stores close in Hagersville when I noticed my purse wasn't here. It's in Reuben's car. In Caledonia. So I am forced to wait yet another day or two before picking up groceries. :)
I was sent home with a loaf of bakery bread and a veggie tray left over from this weekend's retreat, so I'm sure I'll be good for a while anyway.
5 March 2015
Another Day; Another Dollar - Day 16
What do you get when you mix:
- half a giant head of cabbage
- half a pound of ground beef
- a can of diced tomatoes
- half a can of leftover tomato soup
- one organic tomato "on its last legs"
- garlic
- onion powder
- water
- an "eyeballed" amount of uncooked rice
...in a crock pot on high for 4 hours?
CABBAGE! ROLL! CASSEROLE!
Not just cabbage roll casserole. But CABBAGE! ROLL! CASSEROLE! These three words will be taking over my meal-planning vocabulary for approximately the next FOUR YEARS.
 |
| Not pictured: another full kitchen bowl, covered in plastic wrap |
I told myself, on my way to the grocery store, that I was only going to buy sour cream if it was in the 50% off section. It was not. BUT the milk was, so I spent LESS than I would have with full-priced milk and half-priced sour cream. Win!
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I'm out of CoffeeMate. And I don't have enough cream for even one decent cup of coffee. So now I move on to milk, coconut milk, candy cane hot chocolate and Milo to sweeten and cream-ify my morning java.
Side note: I may not learn a dang thing about sacrifice this Lent season if people keep it up with the blessings. Perhaps what I'm supposed to learn is that there is always enough to share!
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