Monday - perogies, beans, fried onions and corn (sensing a pattern here?)
Tuesday - tofu and zucchini in a black bean sauce with rice
Wednesday - omelette and spicy potatoes
Thursday - leftover omelette with toast (O in Calgary, so not inspired to cook for myself)
Friday - sichuan eggplant with rice
Saturday - gingered carrot soup and my first attempt at focaccia bread
Sunday - not sure, but either pasta with tomato sauce or going to O's dad's
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
we have such a good dog
She's crazy, she nibbles on things she shouldn't, and she won't quit pulling on her leash. But she's happy, she likes the cats, she loves us and she's oh, so patient.
falling off the wagon
Had a stupid day yesterday, filled with people who I wanted to strangle. Instead either walked away from them or sent them an email to asking them politely to refrain from being horrid. Both apologized after, so that says something.
Anyway, the cure for my stupid day was a piece of old fashioned chocolate cake and a reviving cup of Earl Grey at Baked Expectations with my friend Elizabeth. And since I was falling off the wagon, I dragged O with me and took him home a piece of chocolate orange mousse cake. Total cost? $20. Yep. Food budget for the week blown in one frosting-filled evening.
It was so delicious. And I felt so much better. And we almost made it the entire month. But excuses, excuses. Will channel my guilt into summarizing our experiment next week.
Anyway, the cure for my stupid day was a piece of old fashioned chocolate cake and a reviving cup of Earl Grey at Baked Expectations with my friend Elizabeth. And since I was falling off the wagon, I dragged O with me and took him home a piece of chocolate orange mousse cake. Total cost? $20. Yep. Food budget for the week blown in one frosting-filled evening.
It was so delicious. And I felt so much better. And we almost made it the entire month. But excuses, excuses. Will channel my guilt into summarizing our experiment next week.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
week 3 - the menu
Monday - perogies, fried onions and beans (a repeat from last week, but it was soooo good!)
Tuesday - black bean chili and corn muffins
Wednesday - grilled cheese sandwiches
Thursday - mushroom carrot loaf and a salad
Friday - cream of broccoli soup and oven fries
Saturday & Sunday - chick pea and cauliflower curry with brown rice
Week was a little uninspired, but we had a meeting at the community centre on Wednesday, and I had a meeting on Thursday. The oven fries rocked, though!
Tuesday - black bean chili and corn muffins
Wednesday - grilled cheese sandwiches
Thursday - mushroom carrot loaf and a salad
Friday - cream of broccoli soup and oven fries
Saturday & Sunday - chick pea and cauliflower curry with brown rice
Monday, March 15, 2010
week 3 - the list
sour cream $1.99
balsamic vinegar $3.99
2x frozen orange juice $1.19 ea
jumbo pack of perogies $4.68
1 can tomatoes $1.49
1/2 kg mushrooms $2.93
small cream $.99
3lb bag of onions $1.88
broccoli $.97
tomatoes $3.48
peanut butter $4.59
1 can maple brown beans $.99
bag of organic apples $3.99
1 litre of milk $1.69
loaf of pumpernickel bread $1.39
loaf of irish soda bread $1.39
------------------------------------------
TOTAL $38.82
Redemption! Total for the 3 weeks is $119.06 so we're just a little under our allotted $120. However, I did eat out twice in Regina on the weekend, which cost about $25. Couldn't be helped though. And still really pleased with our experiment. We've been much better about cooking for ourselves, and are wasting much less food than we typically do.
balsamic vinegar $3.99
2x frozen orange juice $1.19 ea
jumbo pack of perogies $4.68
1 can tomatoes $1.49
1/2 kg mushrooms $2.93
small cream $.99
3lb bag of onions $1.88
broccoli $.97
tomatoes $3.48
peanut butter $4.59
1 can maple brown beans $.99
bag of organic apples $3.99
1 litre of milk $1.69
loaf of pumpernickel bread $1.39
loaf of irish soda bread $1.39
------------------------------------------
TOTAL $38.82
Redemption! Total for the 3 weeks is $119.06 so we're just a little under our allotted $120. However, I did eat out twice in Regina on the weekend, which cost about $25. Couldn't be helped though. And still really pleased with our experiment. We've been much better about cooking for ourselves, and are wasting much less food than we typically do.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
week 2 - the menu
Monday was perogies, baked beans and steamed carrots.
Tonight was a little weird, because I had a meeting and O is still sick. He made oven fries. I made broccoli salad and hard boiled eggs. Toast and honey for dessert.
Tomorrow I'm finally making the African bean mush (sounds more appetizing every time I write it, but it actually is really good.) Also going to make cream of broccoli soup to have later in the week.
Thursday is a Lebanese chick pea and potato dish.
I'm gone to Regina from Friday to Sunday, taking the Garden Fundamentals course as part of the Master Gardener program, so O is on his own for the weekend. But there will be leftovers, and he can make pasta and tomato sauce, cauliflower curry, omelette... so I'm sure he'll survive without me.
Tonight was a little weird, because I had a meeting and O is still sick. He made oven fries. I made broccoli salad and hard boiled eggs. Toast and honey for dessert.
Tomorrow I'm finally making the African bean mush (sounds more appetizing every time I write it, but it actually is really good.) Also going to make cream of broccoli soup to have later in the week.
Thursday is a Lebanese chick pea and potato dish.
I'm gone to Regina from Friday to Sunday, taking the Garden Fundamentals course as part of the Master Gardener program, so O is on his own for the weekend. But there will be leftovers, and he can make pasta and tomato sauce, cauliflower curry, omelette... so I'm sure he'll survive without me.
Monday, March 08, 2010
week 2 - the list
2 cans frozen orange juice $1.59 each
half and half $.99
dry black beans $1.54
1 can of tomatoes $1.49
frozen perogies $2.48
5lb bag of oranges $3.98
bulk raisins $.69
1 head of garlic $.17
1 l plain organic yogurt $3.99
broccoli $.99
dry chick peas $1.12
1 can maple brown beans $.99
feta cheese $ $4.35
cauliflower $.93
butter $3.59
cilantro $.48
bulk pasta $2.69
organic bread $3.70
mayonnaise $4.79
-----------------------------
TOTAL $42.14
First let me explain why we went over $40. We wanted to buy mayonnaise, but the stuff at the store was so full of crap, that we decided to buy it at our local Food Fare, where were were going to buy bread (fresh, local and organic... and $1.29 cheaper than the bread we bought last week). We estimated that the small mayo at Food Fare was about $3.99, which would still have put us over by $1.34, but we were slightly under last week, so it balances out. Except the mayo was more than we thought.
Could we have bought everything on our list and be under $40? Absolutely! First, if we really only had $40 to spend, we would not have bought the mayo. Or if we were buying everything at the same store, we could have gone cheaper on some items. For example:
half and half $.99
dry black beans $1.54
1 can of tomatoes $1.49
frozen perogies $2.48
5lb bag of oranges $3.98
bulk raisins $.69
1 head of garlic $.17
1 l plain organic yogurt $3.99
broccoli $.99
dry chick peas $1.12
1 can maple brown beans $.99
feta cheese $ $4.35
cauliflower $.93
butter $3.59
cilantro $.48
bulk pasta $2.69
organic bread $3.70
mayonnaise $4.79
-----------------------------
TOTAL $42.14
First let me explain why we went over $40. We wanted to buy mayonnaise, but the stuff at the store was so full of crap, that we decided to buy it at our local Food Fare, where were were going to buy bread (fresh, local and organic... and $1.29 cheaper than the bread we bought last week). We estimated that the small mayo at Food Fare was about $3.99, which would still have put us over by $1.34, but we were slightly under last week, so it balances out. Except the mayo was more than we thought.
Could we have bought everything on our list and be under $40? Absolutely! First, if we really only had $40 to spend, we would not have bought the mayo. Or if we were buying everything at the same store, we could have gone cheaper on some items. For example:
- 2 frozen orange juice @ $.99 ea (Grade C rather than Grade A) would save us $1.20.
- 1 can of tomatoes @ $1.39 (but 13% daily sodium instead of 5%) would save us $.11
- Plain yogurt @ $3.59 (not organic) would save us $.40
- 1 can of no name baked beans @ $.79 would save us $.20
- margarine instead of butter (didn't even price out margarine, but I'm sure it would be cheaper)
We also could have bought smaller amounts of the bulk items, and of course, mayo that was full of crap. And obviously, feta is a luxury we could have done without.
Will do better next week.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
week 1 - review
So far, so problem. O's conclusion is that $20 a week for food is no fun. Though he has had a bad cold all week, so it was no fun anyway. My conclusion is that it really helps if you know how to cook. I don't know how we could have managed if we had to buy prepared food.
We didn't have to make all the meals we had planned. Having stir fry tonight, and still have enough food to make the African bean mush thing tomorrow. It has taken more work and more planning, but we definitely have not been suffering.
Case in point...
We didn't have to make all the meals we had planned. Having stir fry tonight, and still have enough food to make the African bean mush thing tomorrow. It has taken more work and more planning, but we definitely have not been suffering.
Case in point...
Oatmeal Scones from The New Best Recipe cookbook
i have my brain back
Though, hopefully only until September.
Olympics are over and on Friday, I sent in the final pieces of my grad school application. Mostly, I'm quite confident that I'll be accepted. But part of me is hesitant to get too excited just yet, even though I have started researching my thesis topic. It's like with a job interview. You can nail it, but you still don't know who else has applied.
Olympics are over and on Friday, I sent in the final pieces of my grad school application. Mostly, I'm quite confident that I'll be accepted. But part of me is hesitant to get too excited just yet, even though I have started researching my thesis topic. It's like with a job interview. You can nail it, but you still don't know who else has applied.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
week 1 - the menu
Breakfasts
The first big change is my morning beverage. Switching from coffee to tea, because on this budget, we can't afford fair trade organic coffee. Currently using up some green, and when that is gone, will switch to the mint from last summer's garden.
Also switching from toast to porridge, as a huge bag of oats is actually quite cheap. Planning to make scones this weekend. And yes, there are Scots in my heritage.
Lunches
This will basically remain unchanged, as I usually eat leftovers.
Dinners
Tonight I made a huge batch of lentil brown rice soup. That fed us for the evening meal, with 3 servings in the fridge and 4 servings in the freezer. Substituted the chicken broth for 2 veggie bouillon cubes, but everything else is basically the same.
Tuesday is pasta with tomato vegetable sauce. I cook up red lentils until they are mushy, and add them to the sauce so we get some protein. Will use half the broccoli and cauliflower.
Wednesday is this corn, spinach, red bean mush (sounds so appetizing, I know!). Not really sure what it is called, but is from the New Internationalist cookbook. Think it is an African recipe. Will likely make roasted potato to go with it.
Thursday is stir fry with half of the tofu, and the other half of the broccoli and cauliflower.
Friday is fried rice with the other half of the tofu.
Saturday, O's dad is taking the family out for dinner. Hurray!
Sunday is leftovers, if there are any. An omelette if there aren't.
The first big change is my morning beverage. Switching from coffee to tea, because on this budget, we can't afford fair trade organic coffee. Currently using up some green, and when that is gone, will switch to the mint from last summer's garden.
Also switching from toast to porridge, as a huge bag of oats is actually quite cheap. Planning to make scones this weekend. And yes, there are Scots in my heritage.
Lunches
This will basically remain unchanged, as I usually eat leftovers.
Dinners
Tonight I made a huge batch of lentil brown rice soup. That fed us for the evening meal, with 3 servings in the fridge and 4 servings in the freezer. Substituted the chicken broth for 2 veggie bouillon cubes, but everything else is basically the same.
Tuesday is pasta with tomato vegetable sauce. I cook up red lentils until they are mushy, and add them to the sauce so we get some protein. Will use half the broccoli and cauliflower.
Wednesday is this corn, spinach, red bean mush (sounds so appetizing, I know!). Not really sure what it is called, but is from the New Internationalist cookbook. Think it is an African recipe. Will likely make roasted potato to go with it.
Thursday is stir fry with half of the tofu, and the other half of the broccoli and cauliflower.
Friday is fried rice with the other half of the tofu.
Saturday, O's dad is taking the family out for dinner. Hurray!
Sunday is leftovers, if there are any. An omelette if there aren't.
Monday, March 01, 2010
week 1
For the month of March, O. and I are going to try to live on $20 worth of food each per week. This idea was inspired by a session that I attended at the Growing Local conference. David Northcott, executive coordinator of Winnipeg Harvest, put out this challenge to the audience, because $20 a week is all the average person on welfare has to spend on food. Their actual allotment is more like $50, but food costs are one of the few that aren't fixed, so people are forced to dip into their food money for other things.
Week 1, Day 1: Made a menu for the week then hit the grocery store with our list.
1 can diced tomato $1.49
5lb bag of carrots $3.48
1 bunch celery $1.98
1 bag frozen peas $2.68
1 bag frozen corn $2.68
3 tomatoes $.91
small bunch broccoli $.72
small bunch cauliflower $.70
1 bunch spinach $1.48
1 bag organic apples $3.99
5lb bag navel oranges $3.98
2 cans frozen orange juice $1.19 each
1 block firm tofu $1.97
multigrain bread $4.99 (a total rip as we could have bought local organic for less, but we read the sign wrong. dang!)
10 lb bag russet potatoes $2.98
3 lb bag onions $1.69
-----------------------------
TOTAL $38.10 (woohoo!)
We are cheating a smidge. We are still going to buy local cheese and eggs, which would totally blow this budget, but we will limit it to one block of cheese per week, and one carton of eggs per two weeks. One other thing, we will be eating out of our cupboard and freezer. Not starting from scratch on this, which would obviously be much harder.
Obviously, there will be NO eating out, no payday lattes, no junk food.... will probably be good for our arteries as well as our pocket books.
Week 1, Day 1: Made a menu for the week then hit the grocery store with our list.
1 can diced tomato $1.49
5lb bag of carrots $3.48
1 bunch celery $1.98
1 bag frozen peas $2.68
1 bag frozen corn $2.68
3 tomatoes $.91
small bunch broccoli $.72
small bunch cauliflower $.70
1 bunch spinach $1.48
1 bag organic apples $3.99
5lb bag navel oranges $3.98
2 cans frozen orange juice $1.19 each
1 block firm tofu $1.97
multigrain bread $4.99 (a total rip as we could have bought local organic for less, but we read the sign wrong. dang!)
10 lb bag russet potatoes $2.98
3 lb bag onions $1.69
-----------------------------
TOTAL $38.10 (woohoo!)
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday, February 08, 2010
coming up...
February 13 Seedy Saturday
With co-hosts Seeds of Diversity, Winnipeg Community Gardening Network, Rare Breeds Canada, The Friends of the Assiniboine Park Conservatory and
Fort Whyte Centre
Free Admission
Location: Fort Whyte Alive
Winnipeg's Seedy Saturday has a new home! On February 13, 2010, 10 am to 4 pm, the 10th annual mid-winter gathering of gardeners takes root at Fort Whyte Alive on McCreary Road. Celebrate prairie biodiversity with a full day of workshops, displays, vendors and visiting. Bring your seeds and join the fun of the seed swap. This grassroots garden show offers inspiration and information on heritage seeds, organic gardening, native plants, and urban agriculture. Admission to Fort Whyte is free for this special event.
Enjoy a tour of Fort Whyte Farms winter greenhouse project, crafts for kids, and outdoor activities for the whole family. Meet some heritage poultry breeds, live and in full feather, thanks to the Anola Cluck and Quack Poultry Club and Rare Breeds Canada.10:00 am Seed Swap Begins
11:00 am Pollinator Friendly Gardens … Susan Leblanc
12:00 pm Growing Heirloom Vegetables … Mandy Botincan
1:00 pm Community Compost Projects … Compost Action Project
2:00 pm Poultry Raising for Beginners … Wian Prinsloo
Participants include: Devil's Creek Herb and Berry Farm, Herb Society of Manitoba, Heritage Harvest Seeds, Living Prairie Museum, Mandy's Greenhouse, Prairie Flora, Sage Garden Herbs and more.
Fort Whyte Alive is beyond the city bus routes – if you have a vehicle please offer a ride to your friends and fellow gardeners. Limited shuttle service will be available between the Assiniboine Park Conservatory and Fort Whyte.
Thanks to Food Matters Manitoba and Heifer International. Brought to you by volunteers from Seeds of Diversity Canada, the Friends of the Assiniboine Park Conservatory, and the Winnipeg Community Garden Network; hosted by Fort Whyte's Naturescape program. Contact: winnipegcgnetwork@gmail.com
Sunday, February 07, 2010
need music!
Have been running regularly since October, and yet my ipod only has 47 songs on it. Great songs... but I'm getting a little tired of them.
So, here are my top 5 songs to run to. Please send me your favorite workout music and help kill my boredom!
Hey Ya / Outkast
And one to cool down to...
I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman / k-os f. Nelly Furtado and Saukrates
Still trying to figure out how to add video to my posts, but too lazy to attempt it now. Tips would be great. :]
So, here are my top 5 songs to run to. Please send me your favorite workout music and help kill my boredom!
- Reggae Got Soul / Toots and the Maytals f. Ken Boothe and Marcia Griffiths
- Version on "True Love" is the perfect running beat. Linked version is a bit slow, but you get the idea.
- Paper Planes / M.I.A
- Again... all about the beat. Seems a bit slow, but every gun shot is a step
- Queen Bitch / David Bowie
- Madly in love with this man!
- Shake Appeal / Iggy and the Stooges
- And what's David without Iggy? No link as vids are too embarrassing for words.
- I Only Want You / Eagles of Death Metal
- Actually, quite a bit like the Iggy tune. Hmmm... maybe I better add one more...
Hey Ya / Outkast
And one to cool down to...
I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman / k-os f. Nelly Furtado and Saukrates
Still trying to figure out how to add video to my posts, but too lazy to attempt it now. Tips would be great. :]
Friday, January 29, 2010
our crazy critters
Not much new, so thought I'd just post a few pics of our pets being wacky. Enjoy!
Cleo washing her belly
Rufus basking in front of my SAD light
Lexi playing with our friend's Bichon/Shitzu, Linus
home sweet home update
Back in May 2008, I posted about the things we wanted to do to the house we just bought in order to make it more energy efficient, to indulge my gardening addiction, and just to make it all round nice to live in.
From our original list, we have accomplished:
From our original list, we have accomplished:
- 5 new windows, including the one that is basically our whole living room wall. After much research and deliberation, we went with fibreglass over PVC. The choice seemed simple, but fibreglass windows are quite a lot more expensive. Very happy with our choice, though, and will replace the rest as well are able.
- New front and back door. Steel & insulated = more secure & warmer. Also new storm doors.
- Insulation in all the walls and attic. Our house was built in 1912. You'd think even back then insulating the walls would be something builders would just do. But no. We have gone from no insulation to fully insulated and are noticing a huge difference in our comfort level. Hoping to notice a huge difference in the heat bill as well!
- Fence & raised garden beds in the back. The summer sucked, so gardening was frustrating. Loads of rain and cool weather through July & August, then hot in September. Everything was leggy. Nothing fruited well. We got loads of small tomatoes, but many of the skins split. Being a gardener, I've already put it behind me and I'm planning for this season. We're a hardy bunch, even when the plants aren't.
- We also painted the trim on the house and the whole garage, using Benjamin Moore's Aura paint. Seemed very thick but was actually great on the trim, especially when we were reaching up, as it doesn't drip. It's self priming, so two coats were enough. Has no smell, and as proof... we were painting under a wasp nest and they completely ignored us.
Oddly, the easiest and cheapest things that we could have done, we haven't gotten around to yet. Next on the list: low flow shower head and programmable thermostat!
A few pics of our progress:
When we moved in...
Summer 2009...
The after pics were taken prior to painting the garage and getting insulation. The garage is now the same burnt orange as the trim, and our house is pretty polka dots from where the insulation was blown in. Will repair and paint the stucco this summer, and then, I dunno... maybe just enjoy it for a while!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
weird day
Have this mild but persistent GI thing going on. Sore stomach, nausea, and some other things I won't mention here. So, I wasn't in the best frame of mind (or tummy) when I got up this morning.
First thing Omar told me was that our garage was broken into last night. Gate wide open, garage door no longer has a lock. Oddly, nothing was stolen. Not that there is much to steal, but car stereo and all glove box contents are still there. No damage either, other than the lock. Still, it gives you a queer feeling to know that someone was in our yard and up to no good while we blissfully slept.
Work was fine, but all our computer systems have been super ornery and slow since we got back from holidays. Michele and I were both feeling frustrated, and I was wishing that I had called in sick again today.
Then in the afternoon, I think I got asked out for coffee by one of the researchers upstairs. He's a scientist and I work in a library, so obviously the whole thing was very awkward. This sort of thing never happens to me, plus, I totally insulted and mocked this guy (semi-accidently) not long after I started working there, so I didn't really think he was my biggest fan. In any case, if he comes back, I'm going to ask him if he'd be interested in meeting a friend of mine, because I think they might hit it off. Have already cleared this with her and my one previous attempt at match-making was highly successful, so I'm going with my gut on this one.
And speaking of guts... still not feeling too hot, so I'm off to bed. Hoping that everthing just goes a little better tomorrow.
First thing Omar told me was that our garage was broken into last night. Gate wide open, garage door no longer has a lock. Oddly, nothing was stolen. Not that there is much to steal, but car stereo and all glove box contents are still there. No damage either, other than the lock. Still, it gives you a queer feeling to know that someone was in our yard and up to no good while we blissfully slept.
Work was fine, but all our computer systems have been super ornery and slow since we got back from holidays. Michele and I were both feeling frustrated, and I was wishing that I had called in sick again today.
Then in the afternoon, I think I got asked out for coffee by one of the researchers upstairs. He's a scientist and I work in a library, so obviously the whole thing was very awkward. This sort of thing never happens to me, plus, I totally insulted and mocked this guy (semi-accidently) not long after I started working there, so I didn't really think he was my biggest fan. In any case, if he comes back, I'm going to ask him if he'd be interested in meeting a friend of mine, because I think they might hit it off. Have already cleared this with her and my one previous attempt at match-making was highly successful, so I'm going with my gut on this one.
And speaking of guts... still not feeling too hot, so I'm off to bed. Hoping that everthing just goes a little better tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
why weeding the garden is good
I discovered this...
Which turned into this:
And left behind this:
Three weeks of patient waiting this past August paid off in the best way. Didn't get to see the butterfly emerge, but spent three hours protectively watching while it dried its wings and blended into the sidewalk. Prior to this, I only knew the name of one butterfly. Monarch, obviously. But now I know two. This one is the Eastern Comma.
In love with the new Ron Hawkins album. Looking at these pictures again, in the middle of a bracing prairie winter, I keep thinking of a line from one of his songs: mighty as a sparrow, fragile like a whale. Wonder if my fragile, mighty cocoon will still be tucked under its leaf once the snow is gone?
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