So apparently my husband is all about casseroles these days… Who knew they were one of his favorite foods? I tell you, after 28 years with this guy, I am STILL LEARNING. 😉
Green beans and chicken.
Ritz cracker chicken with honey and garlic corn.
Beans and rice, rice and beans. {My favorite!}
Big salad with homegrown tomatoes Yummaroo!
Big salad with bacon … even better. 😉
And then with salami, which isn’t as exciting as bacon… but hey, not bad.
Tuna and crackers… easiest lunch ever.
Pasta with Rao’s sauce {best sauce on the planet earth!}
Split pea and ham soup {from the freezer}. The HH asked how long ago did you make that? And I was like, I have no idea but it still tastes good. 🙂
Homemade apple crisp from the best neighbors ever. 🙂 Brought over WARM and right after we had eaten our dinner. Talk about perfect timing.
Oh hey… BIG NEWS… The Girl moved out over the weekend. Like for real… with a buddy … and now we are officially empty nesters. Can you believe it? Two full grown kids… off on their own. When I started this blog they were in middle school. It kind of makes me feel old, but also very happy that we have raised two happy, self sufficient, productive citizens.
The HH helped them move in and get squared away and I took her shopping at ALDI to fill her fridge and cupboards to celebrate. It was the first time I had stepped foot in an ALDI store in over a year.
ALDI $22.83
Oh how I have missed ALDI’s pita crackers and pickled beets, I couldn’t resist stocking up. Have you tried their pita crackers? Oh my word they are the best. And pickled beets… why are they so hard to find these days? Finding those was like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, I was so excited.
Life is good!
Has there been something on your grocery list these past few months that has been hard to come by? If so, leave us a comment. Curious minds want to know.
Have a wonderful Monday everyone,
~Mavis
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries, Bakery Treats We Brought Home $22.82
- Total Spent on Groceries and Bakery Treats We Brought Home in September $22.82
- Total Spent on Groceries and Bakery Treats We Brought Home in August $426.99
- Total Spent of Groceries and Bakery Treats We Brought Home in July $222.60
- Total Spent of Groceries and Bakery Treats We brought Home in June $194.12
- Total Spent in May on Groceries and Bakery Treats $256.47
- Total Spent in April on Groceries and Bakery Treats $1083.55 WOWZA
- Total Spent in March on Groceries and Bakery Treats $446.03 {includes a $50 gift card}
- Total Spent in February on Groceries and Bakery Treats $416.98 {the fridge and freezer are packed!}
- Total Spent in January on Groceries and Bakery Treats $346.47
- Total Spent on Groceries and Bakery Treats in 2020 $3416.03
You can go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories
Nan says
Why haven’t you been to Aldi? I just love that store and it’s the only one I’ll go to during this pandemic- they sanitize the carts and only allow a few folks in the store at a time. I get there at 8:30 and am out by 9:00 AM- can’t beat that. The only thing they don’t have that I like is jarred pimentos for homemade pimento cheese. I’ve ordered them a couple of times along with printer’s ink, envelopes and paper! PS Congrats to your daughter.
Barbara says
I’ve had the same problem near Columbus,Oh. Cannot find pickled beets and I love them.
Meg C says
Not sure if you have Giant Eagle in C-bus but they have pickled beets that are decently yummy. I get the Giant Eagle brand. Also, Wal-Mart sells a brand called Aunt Nellie’s that’s not too bad. Giant Eagle pickled beets are my favorite store bought brand, though.
Dianne says
Barbara,
If you are near a Meijer they stock pickled beats in the vegetable aisle.
Dianne
lilton says
I can’t find plain Sauerkraut, in the can, not in the fancy jars or refrigerated bags. It’s a head scratcher…is it becoming a seasonal item? Or has Kroger just hidden it in their most recent remodel?!? Need to check next time I go to Aldi. And I agree…Aldi has gone above and beyond in sanitizing carts and maintaining a clean and safe shopping environment. It’s my go to store, with only occasional stock up trips to Kroger for things Aldi doesn’t carry.
Brianna says
Pickled beets are so easy to make. Our CSA keeps sending me a bounty of beets and I have a few jars of refrigerated pickled beets now, made a beet cake with cream cheese custard filling, and just roasted a bunch and put them in the freezer for smoothies. I am the only one in my family who eats beets as is, my hubby thinks they taste like dirt and mushrooms. I see your pics of beets on your salads and it makes my mouth water. I love them.
Mary says
Ziploc pint-sized freezer bags and canning supplies. Winco used to carry them near me but it’s now a hit and miss. Finally ordered the bags online from Uline. Still looking for canning stuff.
Susan says
I was in our local Winco this morning. NO canning supplies . No jars,,No lids, rings or pectin.
Nothing!!
Also NO fishsticks!! The spot in the freezer where they usually are was totally bare. I don’t buy fishsticks, but you couldn’t help but notice that large gaping emptiness 🙂
It’s really weird what items are “gone” It’s something different whenever you shop.
Emily says
The canning supplies are a national shortage. My store told me the plant had to shut down for some time due to covid.
Christy says
I was able to find canning lids at my local Ace Hardware. Every other place i looked was out.
Lissa says
Question about your salads: do you use a salad dressing on them? wish I liked beets–they look so beautiful, but don’t taste that way to me. I’m with Brianna’s husband. hahaha. My mom used to make pickled eggs by soaking the peeled eggs in beets and their juices. Just like Easter
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, I usually use this dressing: https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/basic-balsamic-vinaigrette-recipe/
Katie says
My local HEB has been out of sliced pepperoni for like 3 weeks! Shelf stable and refrigerated. But there’s still plenty of pizza crusts and jars of sauce.
Kim says
I saw on the news a few weeks ago there is a pepperoni shortage!
Toni Wood says
Supply and demand does make you wonder. We can get bread flour now but no yeast. What’s up with that? Not to be found right now is dried kidney beans and black eyed peas and I’m ready to do my fall bean canning!
Lynda says
There’s not a canning lid to be found in the stores on Prince Edward Island. I hear canning jars are hard to find, too. Luckily I have lots of both.
Linda Practical Parsimony says
I cannot find Ball rings and lids for canning jars.
HollyG says
Any suggestions for some healthy finger foods that don’t need refrigeration? We’ve had to evacuate our little farm with four wildfires burning in the area. We’re lucky to have a trailer to stay in but the fridge, stove and sink don’t work and we’re really tired of takeout.
Susan says
Holly-
So sorry you had to evacuate your little farm!!! I hope you are able to go home soon. Really looking forward to the rain we are supposed to get by Thursday.
It is just horribly smokey where I live. It would be terrible to have to leave!!
Linda Sand says
Granola bars, fruit & nut bars like Lara bars, oatmeal raisin cookies, almonds for protein. Tuna or salmon or chicken if you have forks and a can opener–eat right from the can. We also have Pringles in our emergency foods but that’s only healthy if you need a source of salt, which I do.
Anne Wiebe says
Peanut butter and crackers. Red peppers in strips (they can be out of refrigeration for several days). Tomato sandwiches, the tomatoes also don’t have to be refrigerated if uncut. Apples and peanut butter. Mandarin oranges of course. Bagels with peanut butter. Good bread with string cheese, which can also go several days without refrigeration if unopened. Raisins, dates, dried fruit in general.
HollyG says
Thanks everyone for the great suggestions – they were a lifesaver. This afternoon the threat was downgraded to level 1 – green. We’re heading home!
Donna J says
Yes, the canning lid shortage as others have noted–luckily I found a stash that I didn’t know I had! One thing I haven’t been able to find for quite awhile (pre-Covid, even) is canned grapefruit. One of my favorite treats. Also, I love tuna and crackers!! But I have it on Ry-Krisp multi-grain wafers. It is food that just makes me feel so healthy and happy. I also load my tuna salad up with celery and green onions. Yum. I think I might have to crack open a can of tuna today!
Janet says
I can’t find Tapioca, and I’ve looked at several stores.
Anne Radesi says
There is a drought where tapioca is farmed. I believe it is Brazil. Also staff shortages because of Covid.
ann in E. oregon says
Could you please share the casserole recipe? 🙂
Julie P says
Yes I liked the look of that! The recipe if he has one would be good as a new variant makes a change.
Linda Sand says
I like tuna on crackers but it’s even better with fresh tomatoes diced into it.
Rebecca says
Please share the casserole recipe and the split-pea soup recipe.
Mavis Butterfield says
I’ll post the casserole recipe tomorrow… Here is the link to the split pea soup: https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/recipe-rustic-split-pea-soup-with-ham/
Lynda says
Hard time finding JIF peanut butter and paper napkins. A true friend shared a jar of peanut butter from her stash as I was running out.
Gigi says
I couldn’t find paper napkins either (they’re still out). I switched the family to cloth napkins. It helps the laundry room is right off the kitchen and they can toss them right into the wash after every meal. The kids don’t even complain any more.
Mandy Mascaro says
Can you share your casserole recipe and also your Green Beans & Chicken recipe? They both look so good!
Mavis Butterfield says
I will share the casserole recipe tomorrow. This is the recipe I used {pared down to just the beans and chicken} https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/a-lighter-version-of-general-tsaos-chicken/
Mrs. M. says
Mrs. Mavis,
I’ve ways found it interesting that our lives follow a parallel path… our daughter just moved out as well making us officially empty nesters, too!
And, we are very happy our daughters are happy, productive citizens as well!
(But, it does make one feel older!)
We’ve been married 26 years, and I’m still learning about my HH, too! I believe it’s a never ending lesson in life. 😉
Sam’s has been out of white vinegar several times. It seems there’s no simple explanation for what items are hard to find this season. ♀️
Blessings,
Mrs. M.
Teri says
Best wishes to the girl! Is she far or close enough to go for walks on the beach with you and Lucy once in a while? I guess there is no Aldi close by to where you are now. Good excuse for you to go visit her!! That casserole looks tasty; would love the recipe!
Granny B says
Freezing everything I put up this year. Tomatoes and freezer pickles are in the freezer. Luckily I had quart size freezer bags for tomatoes and using jars and plastic lids for pickles.
Your salads look so yummy!! I’ve got to start adding more toppings and less lettuce.
Nancy D says
Congratulations to your daughter on her big leap! I remember all your school treats you made in massive scale and also the frozen T-shirt competition for one of their parties! My four boys left one by one and although they were gone much of the time, it always seemed different when they officially moved out. Alot of mixed emotions. My oldest moved out 14 years ago. Every once in awhile I come across a book or game or something that he really loved and I tear up. Life is full of stages. It helps me understand all the feelings my mom must have felt. I had fun sending them off with a storage tub of kitchen items, cleaning supplies and a bunch of groceries also! Big hug Mavis.
Annette says
What brand of balsamic vinegar do you like to use in your dressing recipe?
Mavis Butterfield says
Nothing in particular. Right now we are using Market Basket Balsamic. 🙂
Julie P says
We have no jars, lids, rings etc really difficult to get any canning supplies here in U.K. no other gaping holes in our stores although I fear the worst as COVID appears to be on the increase again so people will panic buy and there will be empty shelves which I find quite disconcerting!
Dee says
I have a list of things I haven’t found lately, when I shop. 20 Mule Team Borax, Mighty Dog food, malt powder, yeast, cream of asparagus soup, 8″ paper plates. I’ve been told, by Purina, that a key ingredient for the dog food is not available. Production has been suspended for now. Everyone is stocking up on yeast because prop!e are learning to bake bread, since they have more time at home during this pandemic.
Paper plates are convenient, but we can do without them. But I really miss the Borax for the laundry. Ever notice that when you can’t find something, you stock up on it when you finally find it? Makes me wonder if shortages are intended.
Vicki in Birmingham says
Hearing about your daughter moving out made me think about Monkey Boy and Mrs. HB…living in that smoky part of the world. I hope everyone is doing well there.
Enjoy the visits from the Girl who eats like a bird and her friend…but enjoy the freedom of your empty nest as well!