The goal for this week was to not spend a dime on food, but to instead eat food we already had in the fridge {HELLO BBQ LEFTOVERS from last week} the freezer and pantry. But a funny thing happens when it’s summer, and it’s too hot to cook and all you eat is pickety bits…. You tend to forget to take pictures. So…. I totally failed there.
Luckily though, yesterday was the big neighborhood progressive dinner. 😉 And I did remember to snap a few photos so my show and tell food post for this wasn’t a total loss.
The first stop {appetizer course} was at my neighbor Susan’s house {the same place it was last year} and I don’t know this for a fact, but I’m pretty sure Susan was born with a gene to entertain. Just like last year, everything was spot on. Even down to the outdoor fans and food stations sprinkled along the back patio to keep guests moving around and mingling through the crowd {which we guessed was about 30+ neighbors}.
I planted myself next to one of the fans and a very large bowl of guacamole and didn’t budge until it was time to move on to the next house. 😉 I still don’t think I’ve acclimated to the Northeast, but it’s getting a little better.
The next course {main dish} was held at another neighbors house and we were responsible for bringing something to share for that portion of the progressive dinner. {The way the progressive dinners works is that the house numbers were split up into 3 sections and the first 1/3 brought an appetizer, the second brought a main dish or side and the last third brought something for the dessert portion}.
The HH of course brought grilled steak tips. Shocking, I know. Also, he wanted me to tell you that Mr. Yoshida’s marinade is excellent for grilling. {All he does is cut the meat up, let is marinate for 30 -45 minutes and then pop it on the grill}. Anyway, I was just happy everyone liked the steak tips.
Back at the appetizer course I asked my neighbor Carole if she made her famous grape salad and she smiled and said no, that she had made one, but brought it to an earlier function. I think the potato salad might have been hers {everyone was raving about it so OF COURSE she must have made it} but I didn’t get a chance to try it.
The last stop, was a Sundae bar where everyone filled up on ice cream and toppings before heading home. That too, was lovely. I know I’ve said this before, but we really did hit the neighbor jackpot when we moved here and getting to know everyone on our street through these informal gatherings has been so nice. I love the age range from babies to grandparents, and it really feels like an extended family of sorts.
It’s exactly the way a neighborhood should feel. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Monday, it’s here. Let’s do this!
~Mavis
Total Spent on Groceries This Week $62.87 {BBQ stuff of course}
- Total Spent on Groceries in August $218.09
- Total Spent on Groceries in July $300.74
- Total Spent on Groceries in June $259.12
- Total Spent on Groceries in May $262.39 {More meat!}
- Total Spent on Groceries in April $284.56 {My husband bought a smoker and a BUNCH of meat!}
- Total Spent on Groceries in March $321.69
- Total Spent on Groceries in February $220.92
- Total Spent in January on Groceries $41.19
- Total Spent So Far on Groceries in 2019 $1908.70
You can go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories
Pat says
Junkie Yoshida and his wife Linda live near us in Troutdale Or. They are so generous to the community it’s amazing. They resenting donated their beautiful estate along the Sandy River to Randall’s Children’s Hospital. Cancer patients and their families will be using it as a place to relax and rejuvenate away from the hospital.
Mavis Butterfield says
I just read the article. How wonderful that they are donating their home. Here is a link to the story if anyone want to read about it. https://www.legacyhealth.org/our-legacy/stay-connected/story-center/stories/2019-stories/community/2019-03-yoshida-donation.aspx
Carolina Cooper says
So glad you found a great neighborhood here in New England and sincerely hope that your terrible HOA experience is erased from your memory!
Kimberly O'Donoghue says
My exact thoughts deserving after your last experience
Kerri says
You will acclamate better to our Northeast with some AC!
Mary Ann says
Yoshida’s is the best! We’ve been using it for years. I marinate a nice tri-tip in it and grill it. SO delicious! I always have to pour a puddle of it on the plate to lay the tri-tip slices in, too. It’s THAT yummy!
So nice to have a neighborhood that gets together and does things like that. You hit the jackpot!
Connie says
The steak tips sounds delicious! I’ve been looking for a new marinate sauce and this sounds yummy! Thank you for the tip!
Shirley says
Not only do we love Mr Yoshida’s bbq sauce, too, but we also have Mr Yoshida at our high school! One of the relations to the Mr Yoshida of the famous sauce was my son’s English teacher and the class was taught in the room with all of those little kitchens, but that’s a story for another time.
Linda says
I don’t cook so when I was asked to bring a salad to a progressive dinner I went to Arby’s and bought three of their Martha’s Vineyard tossed salads. They had chicken, apples, dried cranberries, nuts and cheese on them with a raspberry dressing. I chopped them up a bit more and tossed them altogether. Big hit! Good thing no one said I had to actually cook. 🙂
Marcia says
Sounds lovely. Our ‘hood has a potluck every Sunday night at the park at the end of the street. Last night we had at least 40 people. Lots of families, new ones joining from time to time. Sometimes we have a spread where everything is different. Sometimes, 5 different families bring a version of tomato and mozzarella salad, ha! Last night we had 2x baked salmon, 2x chips and guac, 2x chocolate chip cookies, and 2x macaroni and cheese (plus a lot of other things too!)
Shari Harniss says
That sounds like fun, Marcia!
Kate says
I have a chicken in the attic, and a shaker thread box, too. Wink wink. Our backyard has been host to many wonderful dinner parties, and has been the “main course” spot for progressive dinners with friends lots of times. Our neighborhood is shifting, with newcomers up and down the street, but our closest neighbors have been here for years and are all great neighbors. The farmers market is only a block away (and Dairy Queen is not much further!). Love your blog. Will be following. All my best.