I think we’re getting the hang of this budget thing. We ate one (inexpensive) restaurant meal this week, Billy bought his lunch twice and had a couple of scones, I had some deep cheese cravings that led to a serious stocking-up on on-sale Tillamook cheddar, a LOT of organic fruit was purchased and consumed, and we still came in under budget.
The breakdown:
- Groceries: $74.92
- Restaurant: $24.93
- Billy lunches and breakfast: $20
Total: $119.85
How we’re doing it: Well, of course there’s the garden. You know…all that zucchini. We’re also harvesting beans, kale, baby greens, and cucumber right now. (We’ve got a ton of green tomatoes, and I’m getting pretty antsy for those to ripen.) But besides the garden, I’m also doing a better job of planning our meals ahead of time, and including leftovers in those plans, so nothing goes to waste. It’s the meal planning that’s doing it.
I’m encouraged that we’ve managed to work an inexpensive restaurant meal into the budget. I’m hoping we can figure out how to work in a nicer meal soon without living on bread and water the rest of the week. I’d like to have a date with my guy one of these days soon.
#1 by eve at November 28th, 2009
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Green tomatos are wonderful. Just before they turn red but start to have a white look to them is the best. You roll them in flour and fry them crispy. Now take some lettuce and good bread, a little Mayo and make the best veggie sandwich you will ever eat.
You can also use green tomatoes in stir frys, chop some up and cook till tender, add some scrambled egg and maybe purple onion and you have a great dish.
Or make some green salsa. I like to take my crock pot and add some chopped up beef, a little onion and a jar of salsa. Cook for about six hours and you will have a great meal over rice.