the ultimate cheap meal

Before I begin this final menu of the cheap week (today is payday and groceries!!!)....I must preface by saying that I saw my first robin!!!! Hurray....now I know that spring is almost near. I probably need to go to the YMCA and start doing some mild weight lifting to prepare for the gardening season (I have been having problems with my shoulders with pinched nerves that get aggrevated when I do lots of strenuous work...such as gardening :-) !).

Anyway...our meal last night was not served at home. It turned out that the 2 older kids had food at the Tech Club meeting (which they brought some leftover punch from campus ministry stuff....husband had it) and the rest of us ate some food in the kitchen before an event held at our church. Husband actually got to go through the line and said ALL the food was fabulous. The 2 younger kids and I had some green bean casserole and ham balls and apple slices. So yesterday was the ultimate in CHEAP!!

I did have to make an item for the meal at the church...it was escaloped corn. Super easy and cheap too and I had all the ingredients on hand (had to use powder milk in it....but with baked stuff nobody knows the difference). I had some crumbs left of garlic croutons which I used on the top of the dish. Spencer said it was Awesome.

Hope you all enjoyed this view into our homelife on a very interesting week.

Wednesday's meal

Wednesday's menu: I did manage to get bread going in the bread machine while I was home for lunch (that was leftover macroni and cheese with a peanut butter sandwich and a side of carrots). So for supper we had:
homemade bread
mashed potatoes
hamburger gravy (husband makes the best gravy and 2 of our kids just can't get enough of it...this is the ultimate compliment!!)
the rest of the pinapple chunks and some canned orange slices

It was a good meal....something for everyone. I ended up making scones for breakfast this morning. It's an easy recipe and I can make powder milk to use with it (nobody notices that when I use it for baking....it does taste gross for just drinking :-) !!). I have been making latte's in the morning with my espresso machine....that certainly gets me on the move. However, with no milk to add to it this morning I just put sugar in the espresso (it was probably a double shot worth). It was VERY strong but tasty. Husband kept trying to sneak a sip!! He's funny that way.

Tonight is the grand finale of our cheap eating week.....not sure what we will come up with. I think that I have some chicken nuggets left....I'll probably work with that.

Till tomorrow....blessings!

Tuesday menu

Onwards with the menu gig! Last night was the ever popular Speghetti and meatballs (used the last of the frozen meatballs and the 2 leftover spaghetti sauce containers from the fridge....there was some compliants about not enough sauce but I thought it was just fine). Garlic toast...always well received....and pinapple chunks. This is not Abby's favorite meal but she had food at the library's story time (pancakes and sausages...her favorite) so I didn't care if she ate supper.

I did run out of milk this morning so I'll scrounge around for money and get another gallon (cereal just has to have milk!!). I could just make pancakes in the morning and skip the milk (I use powder milk for that)....I'll have to decide.

I'm thinking that I'll make some homemade bread in the bread machine today (I can start that at lunchtime and set the timer so it comes out just in time for supper) not sure what to put with it.

Usually we are O.K. for groceries every month but for some reason we are short this month. I make it a mental game to try to make it stretch....then it doesn't seem so bad. Only 2 more meals to go until grocery day!!! (that is...2 more supper meals :-) !).

Monday Menu

I've calm down since my last post (and the weather has gotten warmer!!). Husband watched the younger 2 kids while I went to Ankeny to pick up the older 2 kids last Saturday night. I went early and had the chance to shop with my Christmas gift certificates (shopping therapy!). Anyway.....got a cubby shelf thing at Menards to use in my sewing room (acually more like a corner, but a girl has to dream :-) !). This inspired me to get my act together and get creating. I really love making things but the mess has been holding me back. My area is next to the laundry as well as next to the mud room area. Things/stuff usually get set there (i.e. dumped) and that leads to frustration. So, I've cleaned and organized the piles and life is moving back in the right direction and I'm feeling inspired...not sure what I will work on first but definitely gonna get going on something.

This is the last week of the month and we both get paid on Friday. Usually by now we are generally out of money and I have to stretch the groceries/menu until shopping day (Friday!!). So I thought I'd share our dinner menu for the week. Here was Monday supper:

Apple cinnamon muffins (from a mix....used the last of the oil but had enough!!)
Shells and Cheese (macaroni noodles with Velveeta cheese)
Tuna (to put with the shells and cheese)....used the leftovers for tuna salad for lunch today
beef hot dogs (the last 4)
the last 1/4 can of pizza flavored Pringles (much "discussion" on how much each child gets)
Tropical fruit mix

All were happy and we had leftover muffins....so that took care of breakfast!

the Edge

The other day I realized that I live very close to the emotional edge. That day started like this....I had not had a good night of sleep (I have been having trouble with my hands falling asleep during the night which wakes me up) and then husband was not feeling well so I had to take all the kids to school. This led to a serious time crunch. By the time I got to the elementary school and started walking Abby to class (I usually do this because she has a way of not getting to her destination well) I was very spent emotionally. Then a staff member of the school stopped me and told me I needed a visitor's pass (something that I had never needed before nor had I ever seen other parents of special needs kids have this in the morning). This really just tipped me over the edge!! I went to meltdown mode (NOT a pretty site!). I proceeded to unload on the school secretary about it (NOT something that I'm proud of). The rest of the day was shot!

After analyzing the whole thing, I realized that something has to change. I'm seeking God on life issues and how to get myself away from emotional overload! Also, I need to find a Bible study group or a mid-week meeting that would fuel up spirit. I definitely need a creative outlet!

Lots to think about....but I know that God is with me in ALL that I do!

LOVE

You know that you have married a great person when they are willing to go clean up puke in the middle of the night!! Rock On to my man!! He really is amazing....working on a full-time master's program, full-time campus ministry and full time dad/husband. He make the best food (although the less mature taste-buds in our house haven't caught on yet :-) !). He has a great sense of music and creativity....What a wonderful gift he has been (through thick and thin and all the other stuff that makes up a marriage vow)!

Lately I've been helping out (when I can) at a friends house. Their family is working on going out as missionaries to Belize. They have 4 kids about the same ages as ours....I can't imagine the logistics of the whole process! Anyway, they have been living in a extreme fixer-upper house and have been worried about selling/renting it. So, a group from our denomination has come forward to provide $$ and man-power to provide our own "extreme home makeover". It has been amazing to see so many come and help...incredible! Can't wait till they see it (they have been out raising support for their work and are expected home on Valentine's Day). I hope they feel the love that has been poured out to them.

To all who read my posts....make sure to share the love of Christ to all!!

Blessings....Mary