On Saturday

 

Saturday Lunch Compliments of Neighbor S and Her Mother

On Saturday, daughter woke up early,  did her laundry, and started making the fish cutlets we've been asked to bring to Easter lunch at our friends' house on Sunday.  She boiled the potatoes and made the mixture using canned tuna since we didn't have any canned mackerel.  I got to taste test the mixture and suggested adding a bit more salt, curry powder, and some ketchup to the mixture to get the taste just right.  Then, I helped her to scoop up the mixture and roll them into little balls, dip them in beaten eggs and coat them with bread crumbs.  We made 82 cutlets.  We set aside the majority of the cutlets to be fried in the morning before we take them to our friends, but, decided to fry 10 cutlets for our brunch and to do a taste test.

But, just before I started to fry the cutlets, neighbor S called me.  Her mother had fried tilapia fillets and would we like to have some and also some Easter eggs they had made?  I accepted the offer, gratefully, and quickly fried 12 cutlets to give to her in return.  She brought us a whole feast!  Plates with tilapia (hidden under all the herbs), rice, half a tomato, a boiled egg each, some sort of grated pickled root vegetable, tzatziki, a piece of Armenian cheese on one of the plates, bread, two puff pastries filled with lentils (the lentil filling was delicious), and dessert (chocolates and baklava)!  

We had cutlets and the puff pastries for brunch.  Then, daughter took a nap and I watched some online videos and the evening news.  

We had the tilapia and rice, etc., that neighbor S brought us for dinner.

On Saturday, I was grateful for:

- Making the fish cutlets with my daughter
- Neighbor S bringing us a delicious meal
- Being able to give neighbor S some of the cutlets we made
- Pleasant weather (a high of 85F)
- Electricity, running water, indoor plumbing, etc.

Saturday's joyful activities included exchanging food gifts with my neighbor.

Plans for Sunday include frying the cutlets and going to our friends' house for Easter.

I wish all my blog readers, who celebrate Easter, a very happy Easter. 

A Busy Day on Friday

 

In the Rose Garden

We had a busy day on Friday.  Daughter had the day off from work and we had planned to go to the botanical gardens, again.  Daughter had gifted me (and herself) with a dual annual membership, last year, as I had so enjoyed my previous visit to the botanical gardens last November.  We couldn't go earlier because I was experiencing sciatica flare ups and other health issues.  But, I'm feeling better now and so, we decided to visit.

So, on Friday, we packed a lunch (roast beef sandwiches, tangerines, bottles of flavored water and plain water) and set off to visit the gardens.  I will do a separate post about it, but we spent about an hour enjoying the botanical garden, as one hour of walking (with short breaks to sit for a few minutes) is about the extent of my stamina,, these days.

In the end, we decided to come home and eat, so, we brought our packed lunch home and enjoyed it in the comfort of our home.  

After lunch, I showed daughter how to sew hooks and eyes on her dress and she finished sewing her dress.

Daughter's New Dress

She was still putting some final touches to her dress when her friend V arrived to spend the evening.  I had tidied the living room and dining area, on Thursday, and daughter had vacuumed Thursday evening, in anticipation of V's visit, so the front rooms were company ready.  They chatted and played some games for the next three hours or so.  

M also arrived to tend to the garden and he brought us an Easter treat:

Cupcakes

M was happy to hear that we had visited the botanical gardens again.  

Daughter and I had tortillas with beef curry and cucumber salad for dinner and shared a cupcake for dessert.

On Friday, I was grateful for:

- A lovely day filled with fun activities and pleasant company
- A safe drive to the botanical gardens and back
- An enjoyable visit to the botanical gardens
- The sound of laughter as daughter and her friend chatted and played their games
- M's help with the garden and an Easter treat

Friday's joyful activities included spending time at the botanical gardens.

Plans for Saturday include making Sri Lankan fish cutlets.  Daughter and I have been invited to Easter lunch by our friends and when we asked if they'd like us to bring something, we were asked to bring cutlets!  LOL.  I am going to make them with canned tuna, this time, because I don't have canned mackerel on hand.  

How was your Friday?  What are your plans for Saturday?

April Grocery Shopping- Part 1

I put in an order for groceries last night (Wednesday) as that's when the new week's grocery prices go into effect and I've learned that waiting to get the specials often means that they are likely to be out of stock by that time!

I was also very careful to specify either "No substitutions" when I was ordering the sale items or lowest priced item (usually store brand) on the regular priced items or choosing a specific substitution (for example, if the gallon sized container of store brand vinegar, which was marked low in stock, was not available, then, substitute the 64 fl. oz. container of  store brand vinegar and not a gallon of brand name vinegar that was higher priced). 

Some of the items I ordered were items I was running low on and had written down on the list I keep on the fridge door (soy sauce, sesame oil, baking powder, etc.).  I have heard the phrase, "Two are one and one is none" when it comes to stocking the pantry, but, I don't always follow that rule, especially when it comes to items that last a long time.  As a result, I was rather shocked to realize that I was almost out of baking powder when I went to bake the banana bread on Tuesday night and didn't have a spare can in the cabinet.  Other items were stocking up items as they were on sale or I had a coupon.

The items were delivered this afternoon and there were no substitutions.

Here's the receipt:

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Order Summary

Original Item Total$79.99

Item Coupons/Sales-$21.99

Fulfillment Fee+$0.00

Other Fees+$0.30

Sales Tax+$1.23

Order Total$59.53

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Item Details

16 Items

BOOST Original Ready to Drink Chocolate Protein Shake Multipack, 6 pk / 8 fl oz$12.98

2 x $6.49 $12.99 each

CA Redem Val$0.60

1 x $0.60 each

Fresh Bunch of Bananas – 5-7 Bananas, 1 bunch$2.33

3.37 lbs x $0.69 each (approx.)

Fresh Ripe Whole Pineapple, 1 ct$1.99

1 x $1.99 $3.99 each

Kikkoman® Soy Sauce, 20 fl oz$6.49

1 x $6.49 each

Kroger® 100% Pure Vegetable Oil, 48 fl oz$0.00

1 x $0.00 $4.49 each

Kroger® Baking Powder, 8.1 oz$2.99

1 x $2.99 each

Kroger® Distilled White Vinegar, 1 gal$4.49

1 x $4.49 each

Kroger® Handmade Style Burrito Size Flour Tortillas, 8 ct / 20 oz$1.99

1 x $1.99 $2.49 each

Kroger® Less Sodium Soy Sauce, 10 fl oz$2.49

1 x $2.49 each

Kroger® Pure Baking Soda, 16 oz$2.38

2 x $1.19 each

Kroger® Pure Sesame Oil, 7.5 fl oz$5.29

1 x $5.29 each

Kroger® White Sandwich Bread, 20 oz$1.99

1 x $1.99 each

Sparkling Ice® Summer LTO Lemonade Variety Pack (Pack of 12), 12 ct / 17 fl oz$11.99

1 x $11.99 $13.99 each

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Other Fees

$0.30

Bag Fee$0.30

3 x $0.10 each

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I spent a total of $59.53.

The protein drinks were practically half off with a digital coupon and while I don't always drink it, I paid full price for it when I had the tooth extraction and couldn't have solids for a few days.  I have more dental work to come and I thought I'll take advantage of the sale price and stock up a bit.  

The vegetable oil was free with a "Best Customer" coupon and while I still have an unopened bottle of vegetable oil in the pantry, I was not going to turn down a free bottle of oil!

I bought some fruit, but, didn't buy any vegetables because I'm picking more kale and leafy greens from the garden than we can eat and I've some frozen okra and moringa from last year's garden, as well.

My April grocery budget is $250 - $3.70 March overspend = $246.30

Total spent to date = $59.53

Balance remaining = $246.30 - $59.53 = $186.77

As always, I am grateful for:

- Being able to order groceries online
- Being able to have the groceries delivered
- The availability of groceries
- Sales, coupons, and special offers
- Being able to fill in the gaps in the pantry

What do you think?  Have you done any grocery shopping in April yet?  

Starting April

 

Dr. Huey Roses

The Dr. Huey rose plants are among the most commonly used rootstock roses to graft hybrid tea roses on to as they are very hardy.  In my garden, I have at least six Dr. Huey rose plants happily growing after the hybrid tea roses died out.  M doesn't much care for them and they bloom only once in the year, but, I love them because they are so hardy!  

Being the first of the month, I made milkrice and seeni sambol (a spicy onion relish) for brunch.  I also dusted the living room and picked some fresh flowers to bring indoors:

White Gladioli

M was here to tend to the garden in the afternoon.  Even though we had a shower of rain on Tuesday night (the forecast had said 0.1 inch of rain was expected, but we actually received 0.31 inches!), he watered the garden as the rain hadn't been enough  He also did some weeding and I asked him to prune some of the euphorbia tirucalli plant that was crowding out the nectarine tree.  Finally we transplanted one of the gazania plants that was growing in a pot in the backyard, to one of the front garden beds.  I am hoping that it will grow well there and I'll get more gazania plants in the front.  I used to have gazanias growing in the parkway at one time, but, they died over time.

M enjoyed a slice of the banana bread I had baked on Tuesday evening to use up some very ripe bananas:

Banana and Walnut Bread

Daughter and I had already enjoyed slices of it on Tuesday night while it was still warm from the oven.  We had more banana bread today, too.

In the evening, after a cup of tea, I drove daughter to the Mall where she was meeting two friends to see a movie.  I just dropped her off and came home; one of her friends gave daughter a ride home afterwards.

I spent a quiet evening, watching the news and a few online videos.  After dinner (rice, beef curry, cucumber salad), I did the dishes, wiped down the kitchen counters, and ordered groceries to be delivered on Thursday afternoon.  This time, I was careful to specify which items I didn't want substituted and on those items that I OK'd for substitution, I chose the specific item with which to substitute.  Let's see how that works out.

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

- The start of a new month

- M's help with the garden
- Water (and some rain) for the garden
- Daughter was able to get together with her friends
- Being able to order groceries online

Wednesday's joyful activities included spending time in the garden.

How was your Wednesday?  Are you excited to start a new month?  

Dr. Huey Red Rose

March Photo Challenge: Drinks

The theme for this month's photo challenge, hosted by Eileen at A Bracelet of Days was "Drinks" (which I had the pleasure of choosing).

Here are my drinks:

Water

Flavored Carbonated Water

Faluda - from the Sri Lankan restaurant

Faluda - Homemade with my homemade rose syrup

Lemonade - from homegrown lemons

Rose Lemonade - with homemade rose syrup 

Passionfruit Nectar

My Cup of Tea

Daughter's Coffee

Thank you Eileen for hosting the monthly photo challenge.  As always, I enjoyed participating in it.  

March Grocery Shopping Part 4 and Week 4 Meal Plan Options

I put in an order for groceries on Saturday and it was delivered today (Sunday).  This time there were a few mishaps because I was not diligent about specifying no substitutions on sales items.  It didn't use to be a problem when the store would substitute for an out of stock item with a similar item and charge the lower amount, whichever that might be.  But, now, the store charges the price of the substituted item, which is often higher than the sale priced item I had ordered.  I forgot to specify no substitutions on this order and so, substitutions were made.  I did receive text messages when items were substituted and I texted back to indicate if I did or didn't want the substitution.  I approved of the substitution for the salmon (the salmon fillet on sale for $9.99/lb. was not available and I said yes to the center cut salmon at $10.99/lb.).  However, the shopper forgot to return the substituted cans of condensed milk (I wanted the brand that was on sale for $2.49/can) and they were included in the shopping.  As a result, I went over my budgeted amount, but, that's a lesson learned and I'll be more diligent to specify no substitutions, next time.

Here's the receipt:

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Order Summary

Original Item Total$80.22

Item Coupons/Sales-$22.01

Fulfillment Fee+$0.00

Sales Tax$0.00

Order Total$58.21

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Item Details

15 Items

10# Smartway Granulated, 10 lbs$7.99

1 x $7.99 each

Cucumber, 1 ct$0.99

1 x $0.99 each

Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk, 14 oz$13.16

4 x $3.29 $4.49 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.20

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.20

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.20

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.20

Fresh Seedless Red Grapes, 1 lb$3.03

1.77 lbs x $1.71 $3.99 each (approx.)

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.50

Item Coupon/Sale: -$3.53

Kroger® Cage Free Large White Eggs, 18 ct$1.99

1 x $1.99 $4.39 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.40

Kroger® California French Style Salad Dressing, 16 fl oz$2.00

1 x $2.00 $2.79 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.79

Kroger® Fresh Jumbo Hass Avocados Bag, 5 ct$5.00

1 x $5.00 $9.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$4.99

Kroger® Half and Half Half Gallon, 1/2 gal$5.79

1 x $5.79 each

Kroger® Sweet Relish, 10 fl oz$1.99

1 x $1.99 each

Ralphs® Vitamin D Whole Milk Half Gallon, 1/2 gal$2.99

1 x $2.99 each

Royal® Family Size Flan Mix, 3.81 oz$2.29

1 x $2.29 each

Service Counter Fresh Atlantic Salmon Center Cut Loin Farm Raised (never frozen sustainably sourced), 1 lb$10.99

1 lbs x $10.99 $15.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$5.00

Total = $58.21

My March grocery budget: $250 + $73.64 carried over from February = $323.64

Total spent to date: $69.63 + $57.54 + $56.93 + $85.03 + $58.21 = $327.34

Balance left = -$3.70

Oops!  I went over the budget!  I will be deducting that $3.70 from my April grocery budget of $250.  

Later in the evening, on Sunday, I did some cooking and baking.  I cooked the salmon, a beef roast, devilled beef, and kept aside the rest of the beef to marinate for a beef curry.  I also baked some banana muffins to have as snacks over the week.

March Week 4 Meal Plan Options:

Brunches:  Bagels with butter or cream cheese, scrambled eggs and toast, tuna salad sandwiches French toast or pancakes, milkrice with seeni sambol or curry or jaggery (onWednesday, April 1), garden salads; roast beef sandwiches

Dinners:  Sauteed salmon with rice, green beans, peach chutney; Devilled beef with rice, green beans, cucumber salad; beef curry with rice, green beans, peach chutney; Roast beef with mashed potatoes and carrots, green peas or salad; leftovers

Snacks/Desserts:  Pumpkin Spice Banana muffins (made from a mix a friend gave me as a gift), fresh fruit,  Sri Lankan sweets, crackers, cereal,etc.

Pumpkin Spice Banana Muffins

How did you do with your March grocery shopping and grocery budget?  Were you able to keep to your budget or did you go over like I did?

Are you making a meal plan for the week ahead?  

Making Cards This Week

 

Birthday Card

It was my half-sister's birthday, this week, and I made her the above card, using leftover papers from scrapbooking and flowers I had pressed, years ago.  The flowers are buttercups and a wildflower.  Growing up, I had read about buttercups, but, had never seen them.  But, when I was in Wisconsin attending university, the grounds around the student apartments where I lived were full of buttercups and I picked a few and pressed them.   Later, I glued them to some writing paper that I had.  I used a few of them whem I wrote letters to friends, but, I still have a few of them in my stationery box.  Some of them are discolored because I didn't separate them and a pressed flower from the paper beneath has stained it.  But I found one sheet of paper with pressed flowers that hadn't been too discolored and cut it down to size.  The card still seemed to need something else, though, and my daughter gave me a butterfly cut out from a package of cut outs that one of her former supervisors had given her.  I think it was just what the card needed to finish it.  I wrote happy birthday at the bottom after I took the photo.

Sister's card was mailed to her.  She didn't mention receiving it when I called to wish her on her birthday, but, I hope she received it!

Then, it was time to make a card for an engagement party that daughter and I have been invited to:

Engagement Card

Once again, leftover scrapbooking paper, some sparkly "rhinestones" I had in my stash, and a heart I drew with a stencil and cut out.  

Daughter made her own card:

Daughter's Card

Daughter chose to draw and color her card with oil pastels and acrylic paint pens.

We both enjoyed making our cards.  Do you make your own cards?  Is that an activity you enjoy doing?

On Wednesday

Purple Martha Washington Geraniums

On Wednesday, M was here to tend to the garden.  I walked around the garden with him, both of us pointing out the new developments we were seeing to the other.  He mentioned that one of his clients wanted some damaged azalea plants taken out and I offered to rehome them.  I had made yogurt on Tuesday and I offered him a bowl of it with my homemade strawberry jam and he enjoyed it.  

I made a flan, too, using the box of flan mix I had bought.  It used to be that this flan mix came with a packet of caramel syrup to be spread on the bottom of the dish before the mixture of flan powder and milk was poured into the dish to set.  Well, apparently, the box of mix no longer includes the packet of caramel!  I'd call it a cost cutting measure, except for the fact that the price of the box of mix, even without the caramel, had increased!  Anyway, I made a caramel syrup and the flan turned out well.  

Daughter made us cold cuts sandwiches to have with our tea in the evening as we had not had a proper brunch (I ate a bowl of yogurt with strawberry jam and daughter ate a bowl of flan!)  For dinner, I cooked half of the green beans that had been delivered on Monday and we ate it with leftover rice and curries.  

I did a little sewing on the quilt top I am making and watched some videos online.  Later, I texted one of my cousins to check on her.

Wednesday was a fairly relaxed, quiet day and I was grateful for:

- A sunny and warm day
- M's help with the garden
- Medications to keep my health maintained
- Emails and texts with friends and family
- Time to sew

Wednesday's joyful activities included tending to the garden with M and sewing.

I'm hoping for another relaxed, quiet day on Thursday, too.

How was your Wednesday?  What are your plans for Thursday?