Thanks to the wonderful fruit my in-laws sent us last week for my birthday, we didn’t even need to go to the grocery store last week. But then my husband asked me if I wanted anything special for my birthday. 🙂
A few months ago I found a recipe for a German chocolate cake online with steller reviews, and knew I wanted to give it a try. But hey, it was my birthday so I asked the HH if he would make it for me. And he did. {And he rocked it!} I think this was only his second time baking a cake too. Well done HH!
Our big purchase last week: Hannaford $6.28
We had all the ingredients for the German chocolate cake in the pantry except for buttermilk and pecans. So off to the store he went.
Dinner wise, last week started off a little on the boring side with pre-made soups {chicken noodle and black bean} pulled from the freezer and then heated up on the stove top. I served the soups with homemade biscuits and slices of toasted Dutch Oven bread.
I also found a leftover container of teriyaki beef in the freezer and served that over rice one night.
And then things got a little more interesting…
My in-laws sent me another gift basket… this time the basket was filled with all sorts of baby vegetables!!! Can you believe it? Who knew you could send baby vegetables as a care package?
Baby carrots, beets, green beans, squash, broccoli raab, new potatoes, onions, brussels sprouts, zucchini, artichokes… you name it, it was in there.
It was the gift that just kept on giving…
I think the tiny patty pan squash were my favorite.
Roasted weenies with brussels sprouts and potatoes? Yes please!
Cake, salmon, buttered rice and broccoli raab? Oh my it was lovely. We gobbled up all those veggies in about 4 days. It was awesome. And now that all the vegetables are gone… I think we’re going to have to make a trip to the market to stock up on some more.
But first… we’ve got to get out there and check the sap buckets. Yesterday the temps started to rise above freezing for the first time in about a week and so the sap finally started to flow again. We were able to collect a 1.3 gallon jug of sap yesterday and today with temps predicted in the mid 40’s we’re hoping for another one.
Just think… it will take 40 of those jugs filled with sap to equal 1 jug of maple syrup. Whoa Nellie. This should be interesting.
Here’s to a warm and productive week,
~Mavis
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries $6.28
- Total Spent in March on Groceries $6.28
- Total Spent in February on Groceries $94.64
- Total Spent in January on Groceries $96.58
- Total Spent on Groceries in 2022 $197.50
Lissa says
Easy to make homemade buttermilk for baking with vinegar or lemon.
Joyce says
Yes. And, I also was out of eggs for my box cake so I used my substitute bible and realized I could use Mayo. Plus, are it s poke cake with strawberry jello.
lisa says
Had no idea!!!
Darlene Butler says
Wow. I am 72 and spend at least $300 a month. I also shop at Aldis and Dollar Tree
What’s your secret?
Tracey says
Pretty, consumable, practical and delicious, with bonus points for healthy! Awesome gift!
Rosemary Calhoun says
Did you know that they make a buttermilk powder? You just mix it with water (like the powdered milk). Great to keep on hand for those times when you need a little buttermilk.
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes! And I totally forgot we have buttermilk powder! Whoops.
Cindy Miller says
Do share about buttermilk powder. I’ve never seen or heard of it. Where do you find that or do you make it?
Leslie M says
I find the powdered buttermilk in the baking aisle. It’s in a round canister about 4” tall.
Rosemary Calhoun says
I got it at Walmart but you can probably find it anywhere. Here’s a link so you can see it: https://www.walmart.com/ip/SACO-BUTTERMILK-12OZ/10319960
Tanya B says
Bob’s Red Mill also sells buttermilk powder in a bag. I keep mine in a sealed container in the freezer to help keep it from turning lumpy over time.
Diane says
I always add a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of milk because I can never use up a container of buttermilk before it goes bad!
Sharon Sorrels says
One of the baking blogs I follow had experimented with this and decided 2 tablespoons was perfect.
J in OH-IO says
Wow- the gift box of baby vegetables is a great gift idea and I enjoyed seeing how you used them with various meals all week! Yum! I agree with Tracey -*bonus points for healthy*! What delightful birthday gifts you received! Hope you had a wonderful birthday! I love reading your blog each day – you are an inspiration! So many great adventures, tips, information, meals/recipes, book recommendations, gardening, decorating, renovating, and a whole bunch of neat ideas! You are amazing! Thank you for sharing with us along the way. Rock on!
Teresa M says
You must have wonderful in-laws! Enjoy your bountiful feast☺️
Jeanine says
How’s the potato stash holding up? Curious minds want to know!
Diana says
Don’t forget to keep the sap outside or in the fridge/freezer until you get enough to start boiling! Don’t want it to go bad!
Melonie says
I love the Harry & David basket – that’s amazing. I’m getting the impression your in-laws are having a grand time finding unique ideas like this; and I’m a fan. I can’t wait to see if they find some other goodies along these lines so you can share them with all of us for future gifting. (I’m seriously considering getting myself that baby veggies box, frankly. Just because!)
Cindy Miller says
Wow! That veggie gift is the bomb! Yum. Those little patty pans look great.
How much longer can you leave buckets on the Maples? Till April? certainly not until June? Is there any chance… you could get 40 gallons? This is interesting for sure. If you only get a small amount of final product, what is your favorite way to eat maple syrup? I had some on vanilla ice cream at a fair last year for the first time and I have to say it was delish. 🙂
Beth says
The vegetables are a spectacular gift! My birthday is this week and o told everyone who gives me gifts to please give me King Arthur gift cards because I have a long list of things I’d like to get. I just got home from a 2 store grocery trip…and let’s just say it would equal 2 months of your targeted budget. I did get a flank steak for my birthday dinner which will be much more frugal than going out to dinner and there should be leftovers also. You are rocking your grocery budget-good job!
Nanci Fitschen says
My SIL and 5yo granddaughter tapped my maple tree today. It was kind of exciting. Your birthday cake looks delicious. Happy Birthday by the way.
tia in boise says
Am I the only one that is surprised by the clear color of the sap?
Annette says
The veggies look awesome, and of course, cancel out calories from the equally awesome looking cake.
Cecile says
Mavis, the jug of sap you are filling, are you keeping that in the refrigerator or outside in the cold? Sap will go bad, think of it as natural hummingbird feed! You can actually freeze it in your freezer until you’re ready to start boiling it down.
Renee says
If there is any buttermilk left, maybe a buttermilk ranch might be good.
Debi says
I have made my husband German chocolate cake for his birthday every year for 49 years. I don’t make the cake from scratch anymore (but I should!) but I still make the frosting from scratch.
Annette says
Wow, 49 years is awesome! Congrats!