So. That whole “no spend challenge” I did in April…. it was totally planned. Because really, how else was I going to buy groceries and fill the fridge for the boys while I was away? I’ve been married almost 22 years and if there is one thing I know for sure…. it’s that my husband does not cook. He doesn’t even open cupboards. Seriously, we lived in our last house for over 8 years and he still didn’t know where the plates were kept when we had to pack them up to move.
How can this be you ask? It’s all my fault. For better or worse I’ve always made breakfast, packed his lunch, or had dinner waiting for him when he got home from work. That’s just always been my job. No biggie. Without ever really talking about it, our roles have always been very defined. Whatever. It works for us.
Except for when I go out of town. 😉
Before I left I made the boys a few freezer meals and stopped by Costco to stock up on their favorite {just add water or warm up in the microwave} foods. Gag.
If you’ve read this blog for any length of time you know Eggo waffles, corn dogs and Cup of Noodles are a rare treat {if you can call it that} around here. Let’s just say they were giving each other high fives as they were unloading the car for me. Monkey Boy was especially excited. I didn’t even bother buying eggs or anything like salad blends because I knew they wouldn’t take the time to make or put them together.
My son, the big spender that he is, eats out every single day at work and I have given up trying to convince him to save his money and pack a lunch instead. Luckily, the HH either has some sort of business lunch {I think he said he has 2 this week} or will shove something in a bag, or will just wait until he gets home to eat when I am away.
I try not to worry too much about them when I’m gone. They’ll probably order pizza a few times but other than that, they’ll just live off Zaycon breaded chicken and what you see above until I get back home. 😉 My boys. They’re funny like that.
Here’s what I ate last week {minus snacks}:
Monday
Breakfast – Cinnamon roll, yogurt, the world’s worst orange juice and tea
Lunch – Random snacks, 2 bananas, 5 clementines
Dinner – Subway meatball sandwhich
Tuesday
Breakfast – Bagel with cream cheese, yogurt
Lunch – Bananas, clementines
Dinner – Chicken Caesar Salad
Wednesday
Breakfast – Bagel and cream cheese, banana
Lunch – I have no idea
Dinner – Lasagna, salad, rolls and rhubarb crisp
Thursday
Breakfast – Ham
Lunch – Ham, corn, green beans and rice
Dinner – Split pea soup
Friday
Breakfast – Tea
Lunch – ?
Dinner – Split pea soup, bread with raspberry jam
Saturday
Breakfast – Bacon, eggs with spinach and black beans
Lunch – Split pea soup and bread
Dinner – Spring quiche
Sunday
Breakfast – Oatmeal with raspberry jam
Lunch – Spring Quiche
Dinner – Spring Quiche
So. I bet you are wondering what I bought for groceries here on the east coast. 😉 Well it’s not a box of barfalicious corn dogs that’s for sure. It’s kind of exciting actually and I’ll tell you all about this afternoon. 🙂 🙂
~Mavis
Total Spent at Costco:$151.48
- Total Spent in April $0
- Total Spent in March $136.58
- Total Spent in February $106.85
- Total Spent in Janaury $105.36
Freebies we’ve been gifted or were earned in 2016: $200
- $100 gift card to Whole Foods {Christmas gift from my parents}
- $100 gift card to Trader Joe’s {Christmas gift from my parents}
- 22 packets of vegetable seeds
Go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories.
Bridget P. says
Hi Mavis!
Still loving your posts! I recently scored a lot of peppers and zucchini from our resteraunt supply store and some other great deals on meat. Sooo my freezer is stuffed and so is my second freezer and I started my garden! LoL looks like I will be making meals from what I have in my freezer this week! Going to be interesting! Thanks for being such a great example for us of frugalty and fun! 🙂
Nancy H. says
When my mother went out of town and left my father home alone, she stocked up on canned beans and sauerkraut. Dad would open a can of each and call it dinner. It was a good thing he and the dog were the only ones in the house!
Mavis Butterfield says
That’s awesome.
Mrs. C. says
Too funny!
Marcia says
omg
Marcia says
How old is your son? I have to say, go a little easy on him. I remember being young, in my 20s, in my first job. First out of college and in the DC area, I packed lunch and made dinner.
But then I got my first raise 2 years into it. I have to say, it was pretty bad. Towards the end of my stint, I was sometimes eating out breakfast, lunch, and dinner, because I couldn’t really cook. (Except spaghetti). My boyfriend/fiance/husband moved away for my final 2 years in the DC area.
I mean, it was bad. Like $800 a month eating out bad.
As long as your son wise’s up before he’s 29 or 30, he’ll be ahead of me!
Aline says
My Dad’s very favorite meal when Mom was away was sardines! He loved them on white bread! Mom was pleased it was so easy and so pleased she was not there for the smell! 🙂
Here’s an asparagus recipe I have been enjoying the last few years:
Quick Asparagus Lasagna
Recipe courtesy of Sara Moulton, “Sara’s Secrets for Weeknight Meals,” Broadway Books, 2005.
Serves 4 to 6
Hands-on time: 20 minutes
Total preparation time: 65 minutes
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly milled black pepper
1 pound asparagus, trimmed
1 medium onion, halved and sliced (about 1 cup)
2 garlic cloves, sliced (about 2 teaspoons)
One 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
2 teaspoons unbleached all-purpose flour
18 refrigerated wonton skins (a package of egg roll wrappers also works fine)
8 ounces Italian Fontina cheese, coarsely grated (about 2 cups)
Directions:
1. Preheat the broiler to high. Lightly oil a rimmed baking sheet and a 13 x 9-inch square pan. Combine the oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a shallow bowl. Peel the lower stalks of the asparagus if they are thicker than 1/3-inch. Toss the asparagus in the oil mixture and arrange at one end of the oiled baking sheet. Toss the onion and garlic in any remaining oil in the same bowl and arrange it on the other end of the baking sheet. Broil until the edges just begin to brown, about 5 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 375° F. Combine the onion and garlic with the ricotta cheese, flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a blender; puree until smooth. Cut the asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Arrange 6 wonton skins in the bottom of the pan. Top with half of the asparagus, one-third of the ricotta mixture, and one-third of the Fontina cheese. Add another 6 wonton skins, the remaining asparagus, another one-third of ricotta mixture and Fontina cheese. Top with the remaining wonton skins, ricotta mixture, and cheese.
3. Bake the lasagna in the top third of the oven, 30 to 35 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned.
By the way, there’s no reason to put this recipe up on the shelf when asparagus is out of season. It’s just as delicious with broccoli flowerets or sautéed spinach.
Enjoy!
Carmen says
My husband is another who doesn’t cook, though he will “cook” noodle soup, a store bought pizza and grilled cheese on toast, if I am sick or away. This is fine for 1 or 2 meals/days.
I’ve left him alone with one of our teenagers who was studying for school exams, for almost a week: she begged me for vegetables upon my return!
I’m actually disappointed that my husband thinks it’s okay to feed a school aged child meals without any vegetables for that long. Although I don’t approve, I accept that as an adult, he can eat as he chooses. But how he thinks it’s acceptable to eat KFC, McDonalds and other crap at his age (mid 40’s) does honestly disgust me. It’s brilliant that you are much more tolerant Mavis!
Carmen says
… especially when he complains about being tired all the time. Erm hello darling, please look at your diet! Processed food and sugar do that.