November Meal Plan Week 1 Review and Week 2 Options

Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll

I'm a day late with this post!  But, better late than never, right?

There were my meal plan options for the 1st week of November:

Brunches:  Scrambled eggs and toast or fried potatoes; Bagels; Sandwiches (cold cuts and/or egg salad); Pancakes or French toast (or both!); Leftovers

Dinners:  Rice, chicken curry, and vegetables; Rice, teriyaki chicken, and vegetables; Tortillas and chicken curry; Breakfast for Dinner (scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, fried potatoes or toast);  Fried rice; Hot pockets; leftovers

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit/fruit salad; Yogurt/cottage cheese; Pumpkin cinnamon rolls (compliments of daughter's friend A)

Here's how that worked out:

Monday:

Brunch: Leftover waffles with seeni sambol

Dinner:  Rice, teriyaki chicken, broccoli

Snacks/Dessert:  Pumpkin cinnamon rolls, cookies, ice cream, pistachios, apple slices

Tuesday:

Brunch: Leftover milkrice and chicken curry (me), pumpkin cinnamon roll (daughter)

Dinner: Hot pockets

Snacks/Dessert: Leftover waffles (me), pistachios, persimmon, dates

Wednesday:

Brunch: Leftover milkrice and chicken curry (me); pumpkin cinnamon roll (daughter)

Dinner: Rice, teriyaki chicken, broccoli

Snacks/Dessert: Cold cuts sandwich (at tea time; me), cookies, dates

Thursday:

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, bacon (last few pieces from what I cooked earlier), toast
Lunch: Hamburger/Chicken burger; fries, shakes (after the dentist appointment)

Dinner: Hot pocket (daughter); baked potato (me)

Snacks/Dessert: Cream crackers (me)

Ham Fried Rice 

Friday:

Brunch: Bagels with butter

Dinner: Ham fried rice (ham from the freezer from last Christmas)

Snacks/Dessert: Pistachios, pomegranates, diced pears fruit cup

Saturday:

Brunch: Banana and peanut butter

Dinner: Pizza and garlic bread "bites" 

Snacks/Dessert: Cookies, pistachios

Sunday:

Brunch:  Leftover pizza

Dinner: More leftover pizza

Snacks/Dessert: Garlic bread bites, cookies, bananas

We didn't keep to the plan options only and had unplanned, "spur of the moment" take out twice, but, that's okay.  Sometimes, you have to indulge in a bit of "spur of the moment" take out!  This week, we have a planned take out meal.

Here are November Week 2 meal plan options:

Brunches:  Scrambled eggs and toast or fried potatoes; Bagels/Sandwiches (cold cuts and/or egg salad); Pancakes or waffles; Leftovers

Dinners:  Rice, chicken curry, and vegetables; Tortillas and chicken curry; Breakfast for Dinner (scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, fried potatoes or toast);  Take out (to be decided); Leftovers

Snacks/Desserts: Fruit, cookies, cake or pastries, popcorn

Since the week has already started, I'll put down what we had on Monday:

Monday:

Brunch: Cold cuts sandwich (me); leftover pizza (daughter)

Dinner:  Rice, chicken curry, broccoli

Snacks/Dessert:  Bananas, cookies, fresh passionfruit (from the garden)

How about you?  Are you making a meal plan for this week?

A Jammy Weekend

 

Calamondin Marmalade

On Saturday, my daughter and I made calamondin marmalade with the fruit we had picked from our tree, earlier this year.  Daughter had halved and deseeded them and frozen the prepared fruit.  We let them thaw for a bit and blended them.  I know that for proper marmalade, one needs to slice the rind into thin strips, but, we omitted that step this time.  It's a whole fruit marmalade.  Six pounds of prepared fruit mixed with an equal amount of sugar and cooked until the mixture started to gel. 

While daughter stood and stirred the fruit and sugar mixture, I washed and sterilized the jam jars.  I'm planning to give the calamondin marmalade as gifts this holiday season, so, I chose small 4 oz. jars for the majority of the marmalade and a few half pint (8 oz.) jars for the remainder.  We made twenty-four of the 4 oz. jars and six 8 oz. jars, plus one extra 8 oz. jar filled to the brim with the leftover marmalade to be kept in the fridge for home use.  The rest of the jars were canned in a water bath.  They all sealed, so that's good.

Calamondin Marmalade

We made a batch of peach jam on Sunday evening.  Again, the fruit was from our garden and daughter had cut and peeled the peaches earlier in the summer and frozen them.  The bag contained 8 cups of sliced peaches.  I added the juice of three small oranges that had fallen from the tree before they had a chance to ripen, 6 cups of sugar, and some cinnamon sticks.  We made a dozen 4 oz. jars and four 8 oz. jars (with a little leftover which went into another jar for home use).

Peach Jam

Daughter will make some labels for the jars of jam and marmalade, later.

I am also planning to make a batch of blueberry jam, later on.  My plan is to give a trio of jams to several people on my gift list at Christmas and New Year.  Currently, I have approximately 25 people on my gift list; family, friends, and neighbors.  Most of the adults will receive jams and/or chutneys. They make frugal gifts because I am using homegrown fruit, so the only costs are for the jars and lids, the sugar, and the gas to cook the jam.  The homegrown fruit is a blessing.  I still have to figure out gifts for the children, but, they will get toys or games.

This weekend, I am grateful for:

- The calamondin, blueberry, and peach harvests
- Daughter's help with preparing the fruit and

- Daughter's help with the jam/marmalade making
- Being able to preserve the bounty from the garden
- Getting started on the holiday gifts

Besides making jam, we also vacuumed the house and did laundry.  Daughter also watered the back garden and planted some winter vegetable seeds.

It was a good, productive weekend.

November Groceries - Part 1

 

November Week 1 Groceries (11/7)

I ordered groceries on Friday night and they were delivered today (Saturday).  I needed half and half, bread, and some fruit.  The rest are all wants - more hot cocoa, some whip cream (yes, for the hot cocoa!), graham crackers, cookies, and candies.  My total came to $36.54 after coupons and discounts.

Here's the receipt:

Order Summary

Original Item Total$42.79

Item Coupons/Sales-$6.65

Fulfillment Fee+$0.00

Other Fees+$0.40

Sales Tax$0.00

Order Total$36.54

---

Item Details

12 Items

Bakery Fresh Chocolate Chip Cookies, 12 count

$3.00

1 x $3.00 each

Fresh Bunch of Bananas – 5-7 Bananas, 1 bunch

$1.78

2.58 lbs x $0.68 each (approx.)

Kroger® Cinnamon Graham Crackers, 14.4 oz

$3.59

1 x $3.59 each

Kroger® Extra Creamy Dairy Whipped Cream Topping, 13 oz

$4.49

1 x $4.49 each

Kroger® Fresh California Seedless Black Grapes, 1 lb

$3.84

1.93 lbs x $1.98 $3.99 each (approx.)

Item Coupon/Sale: -$3.86

Kroger® Half and Half Quart, 1 qt

$3.69

1 x $3.69 each

Kroger® Milk Chocolate Flavored Hot Cocoa Mix, 8 ct / 11 oz

$8.97

3 x $2.99 each

Kroger® Starlight Mint Peppermint Candy, 8 oz

$2.29

1 x $2.29 each

Werther's Original Caramel Hard Candies, 5.5 oz

$2.50

1 x $2.50 $3.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.49

Western Hearth® 12 Grain Bread, 24 oz

$1.99

1 x $1.99 $3.29 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.30

---

Other Fees

$0.40

Bag Fee$0.40

4 x $0.10 each

My total came to:  $36.54

November Grocery Budget: $250

Spent to date: $13.25 (on 11/2 at the dollar store) + $36.54 = $49.79

Balance left in the November Grocery Budget = $200.21

As always, I am grateful for:

- The availability of groceries
- Being able to order online
- Being able to have the groceries delivered
- A working fridge and freezer
- Electricity to run the fridge and freezer

Have you grocery shopped yet this month?

Yesterday and Today

 

Chrysanthemums 

The chrysanthemums in the garden are blooming.  They are considered to be November's flower of the month and, apparently, they mean joy, friendship, optimism, and longevity, although that might change with the color of the flowers, culture, and history.  These days, yellow chrysanthemums represent joy, optimism, and friendship, but, in the past they have also represented rejection and sorrow.  I'm going to choose joy and optimism! 

Yesterday (Thursday), I had a dental appointment in the early afternoon.  In the morning, I fed the chickens.  Of course they ran out of the coop as soon as they could and made a bee line to the cats' kibble, although I hadn't fed the cats yet and there were only a few crumbs for the chickens to peck at.  Then, I bribed the chickens with dried mealworms to get them both back in the coop, and once they were safely in the coop, I fed the cats!

I made us scrambled eggs and toast, along with the last few slices of bacon I had cooked earlier, for brunch, replied to blog comments, and then, it was time to leave for my dental appointment.  I always leave an hour or so early; it's a half hour drive if the traffic is good, but, I always allow time for traffic delays.  Yesterday, for example, there was some road construction and two lanes of the road were closed at a busy intersection with freeway on and off ramps.  But, I got to the dentist's in good time and could even read a few pages of my library book before I was called in.

I had a new dentist this time, as the previous dentist had left the practice to pursue an academic career.  The new dentist was good, but, I missed the previous dentist.  Anyway, yesterday's visit was to be fitted with my partial dentures (since I have stubbornly refused dental implants for various reasons).  The whole procedure took one and a half hours; the partials are being sent back to the lab for final adjustments and I have another appointment in two weeks to receive my partial dentures.

On the way home, I got burgers, fries, and shakes as a treat for us (daughter had taken time off from work to accompany me to the dentist's since she knows how much I love these visits!)  We got home about 20 minutes before daughter had to attend a work meeting, so she had time to eat.  

Later, I let the chickens out to run around the garden for half hour or so, until daughter finished working for the day.  Then, she cleaned the coop and we let the chickens perch on us for a bit, which they seem to like to do.  Afterwards, daughter settled them in the coop for the night and I made us some tea and watched the evening news.

Yesterday, I was grateful for:

- Access to dental care
- A safe drive there and back
- Daughter being able to take time off work to go with me
- The new dentist seemed quite nice
- Time spent in the garden

Daylily

Today, Friday, has been a lovely, warm day, with a high of 84F.  I let the chickens out for a little bit in the morning and for a longer time in the evening.  Daughter had the day off from work and we had tentatively planned to shop for new shoes, but, she had a headache, so we stayed at home and took it easy.  Eventually, daughter felt better and did a load of her laundry, unpacked some packages that had arrived (cat food, chicken feed, two small electric space heaters, some spare batteries, etc.) and emptied one side of the composter that we use to compost kitchen scraps.  We spread the compost under the orange tree and the chickens enjoyed scratching around in it.

M arrived in the evening to tend to the garden.  We chatted for a bit and then, he watered the garden, both front and back.

We had bagels for brunch and I made fried rice for dinner.  Afterwards, I ordered some groceries to be delivered tomorrow.  

Today, I am grateful for:

- The lovely, sunny, warm day
- M's help with the garden
- Being able to order various needed items online and have them delivered
- Working appliances
- Water for the garden

Joyful activities these past two days have included reading, watching online videos, emails and texts with friends, and spending time in the garden.

How was your Friday?  What are your plans for the weekend?

Mid-Week

On Monday, I went to the pharmacy to pick up medication refills that were ready to be picked up.  I received several reward coupons, totaling $10 and a $2 off coupon on a specific brand of snacks.  The snacks included bags of pistachios which were originally priced at $8.49 each and were on sale for $5.99 each.  I was able to redeem the coupon and the reward vouchers for two bags of pistachios!  I was very happy with that exchange!

Afterwards, I went to the adjoining dollar store and picked up some snacks that my daughter had requested and some treats that I wanted - microwave popcorn, freeze dried apple slices, chili ramen noodles, some shortbread cookies, a package of hard candy, and some fruit cups.  I spent $13.25 at the dollar store.

Later in the evening, daughter's friend brought us some pumpkin cinnamon rolls she had baked and still later, daughter took the trash cans out to the curb for me.

On Tuesday, I continued to mend my sari (almost done with the mending), watched some online videos, read for a bit, and then, settled down to watch the coverage of election results on TV.  They are still counting the ballots to decide who will be the next elected Mayor of my city, with first one and then the other candidate in the lead.  

On Wednesday, M was here to tend to the garden.  He did some clearing and pruning and watered the back garden.  Afterwards, I let the chickens out of their coop and let them run around for a bit.  I also mended a doily my mother had crocheted.  I checked this week's grocery prices and I think I'll go to the Armenian store because they have salmon steaks on sale for $7.49/lb. this week and a few other good deals on produce.

Later, I texted with cousin N and my late cousin P's daughter, and chatted on the phone with friend R. 

Plans for Thursday include another dentist appointment in the afternoon.  

Mid-week on the first week in November, I am grateful for:

- Sunny weather after last weekend's rain
- The availability of medications
- Insurance to help pay for the medications
- Reward coupons and sales
- M's help with the garden

This week's joyful activities have included spending time in the garden with the chickens, reading, and keeping in touch with family and friends.

How is your week coming along? 

Meal Plan Options: October Week 4 Review and November Week 1

Tuesday Brunch: Omelet, Fried Diced Potatoes, Bacon

These were my meal plan options for the last week in October:

Brunches:  Scrambled eggs and toast or fried potatoes; Waffles, Hot pockets; Boiled mung beans, milkrice (on Sunday, November 1st); Fried rice; leftovers

Dinners:  Chicken curry with vegetable rice (rice cooked with mixed vegetables and chicken bouillon); Tortillas and chicken curry; Breakfast for Dinner (scrambled eggs, bacon, fried potatoes or toast); Chicken and vegetable soup; leftovers

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit; Yogurt; Ice cream; Chips, crackers, popcorn, cookies, etc.

Here's how that worked out:

Monday:

Brunch: Leftover Chinese food

Dinner: Vegetable Rice and Chicken Curry

Snacks/Dessert:  Popcorn, dates

Tuesday:

Brunch:  Omelet, fried diced potatoes, bacon, calamondin-ade 

Dinner: Hot pockets baked in the air fryer

Snacks/Dessert: Graham crackers, dates

Wednesday Brunch:Tortilla with Eggs and Lunu Miris

Wednesday:

Brunch: Tortillas coated with with beaten eggs and lunu miris stirred into the eggs; calamondin-ade

Dinner: Leftovers: Rice, chicken curry, breadfruit curry, stir-fried kale, peach chutney

Snacks/Dessert:  Strawberries with chocolate hazelnut spread; dates

Wednesday Dinner: Leftover Rice and Curries

Thursday Dinner: Rice, Hot Dogs, Cucumber Salad

Thursday:

Brunch: Leftover Chinese food (me); I think daughter skipped brunch as she was having back to back meetings all day

Dinner: Rice, hot dogs, cucumber salad

Snacks/Dessert: Apple slices sauteed with butter, sugar, and ground cinnamon

Sauteed Apple Slices

Friday:

Brunch: Cold cuts sandwich (me), leftover Chinese food and cucumber salad (daughter)

Dinner: "Breakfast for Dinner": Scrambled eggs, toast, bacon

Snacks/Dessert:  Hot cheetos (daughter), chocolate covered dried cherries

Saturday Brunch: Waffles and Seeni Sambol

Saturday:

Brunch: Waffles with seeni sambol and/or bacon and syrup

Dinner: Fried rice

Snacks/Dessert:  Popcorn, chocolate covered cherries

Saturday Dinner: Fried Rice

Sunday: November 1

Brunch: Milkrice with seeni sambol and jaggery

Dinner: Rice, teriyaki chicken, and sauteed broccoli (me); Rice, chicken curry, and broccoli (daughter)

Snacks/Dessert: Chocolate covered cherries, dates, cereal

Sunday Dinner: Rice, Teriyaki Chicken, Broccoli

I didn't quite stay on plan, but, it worked out well enough.  

Moving on to November, I cooked a tray of chicken drumsticks, last night, in two different ways; half was sauteed with onions and teriyaki sauce, ginger, garlic, etc., and the other half was made into a chicken curry.  I'm calling it my weekly meal prep!  A good number of our dinners this week will be based on these chicken dishes with the addition of rice and vegetables.  

Here are the meal plan options for the 1st week of November:

Brunches:  Scrambled eggs and toast or fried potatoes; Bagels; Sandwiches (cold cuts and/or egg salad); Pancakes or French toast (or both!); Leftovers

Dinners:  Rice, chicken curry, and vegetables; Rice, teriyaki chicken, and vegetables; Tortillas and chicken curry; Breakfast for Dinner (scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, fried potatoes or toast);  Fried rice; Hot pockets; leftovers

Snacks/Desserts: Fresh fruit/fruit salad; Yogurt/cottage cheese; Pumpkin cinnamon rolls (compliments of daughter's friend A)

I am hoping to keep to my meal plan options, this week.  

As always, I am grateful for:

- Having the option of planning what to eat
- Having access to a variety of food
- Fresh eggs from our two hens
- Fresh produce from our garden
- Generous friends who share what they bake with us

How about you?  Will you be making a meal plan this week?

Starting November

 

Selfie with Chickens!

November started with a time change, with daylight savings time ending and the sun setting at 5:00 p.m,

As usual, I made milkrice in the morning and we had it with seeni sambol and jaggery.  

We didn't have any trick or treaters on Halloween.  In any case, I had stopped handing out candy several years ago.  I took down all the Halloween decorations this morning and put them back in the bin in the garage.  Then, I dusted and polished the furniture in the living room and dining room.  I really need to get back to my weekly cleaning routines so I can keep the house maintained between now and the almsgiving.  

I had more bottled water delivered this afternoon.  While I had the minimum of one gallon a day per person for 10 days, per the County's recommendations, I wasn't sure if that would be enough.  What happens on Day 11?  Will all services be restored by then?  So, I went ahead and ordered a few more bottles of water.  One grocery store was limiting bottled water to 3 gallons to a customer.  But, the store I usually order from didn't put any limits.  I'm considering it as emergency preparedness and it is not coming from my grocery budget.  

I did some meal prep in the evening and cooked a tray of chicken drumsticks in two different ways.  I sauteed half of the chicken with onions and teriyaki sauce and made a curry with the other half.  This week's meal plan will have chicken made two ways in addition to whatever else I decide to make.

After dinner, I did the dishes, wiped down the stove and the counter tops and wiped the inside of the microwave.

On the first day of November, I was grateful for:

- The rain we received the night before; I didn't have to water the garden
- The start of a new month
- The delivery of more bottled water
- Fresh eggs from the chickens
- Spending time in the garden with the chickens and my daughter

Today's joyful activities included making milkrice on the first of the month and spending time in the garden.

Plans for Monday include:

- Going to the pharmacy to pick up another refill that is ready
- Vacuuming the living room and dining area
- Taking the trash cans to the curb

How was your day?  What are your plans for Monday?