It pretty much felt like the HH and I snacked and nibbled our way through last week. With the weather being so hot and humid, popping something quick and easy into our mouths between working on projects {the chicken coop, and rug hooking} just seemed a lot eaiser than preparing a real meal. Some weeks are like that I guess.
I did manage to make Ritz Cracker chicken one night though….
And the HH made a batch of Rice Krispie treats… Or a half of a batch to be exact. 😉 If you’ve been reading this silly little blog of mine for a while now then you know my husband doesn’t really cook {with the exception of maybe, ONCE a year}.
For basically the last 25 years, he was busy working 70-80 hours a week. Which, in my book is pretty much the best excuse ever for not cooking, cleaning, shuttling kids around, running errands or performing any sort of household task other than setting rat traps, lifting heavy items, fixing the cars, and mowing the lawn.
Because you know, there are only so many hours in the day. Sure, there was the occasional small building project every 5 years or so, but for the most part of the last 25 years…. I’ve run the household. Cooking included.
Well, the HH recently retired from his job of 25 years, and is taking the summer off before he starts his new {work from home} job in the fall. Which is so AWESOME in so many ways. He’s growing a beard! Sleeping in. Building stuff. His phone isn’t ringing or pinging every 20 minutes. His stress level has gone from 100 to 10 {because you know, c’mon, I have a honey-do list about a mile long}. He’s happier. I’m happier. We are talking more, exploring more, EATING more and getting to live the life of a somewhat normal couple again. Something we haven’t done since our 20’s. It’s lovely.
Except when we try to cook {or shop} together.
Yada yada yada… what does this have to do with a pan of Rice Krispie treats?
It’s the end of the month… the pantry staples are running low… I was craving something sweet {and I was busy} so I asked the HH to make a pan of Rice Krispie treats… 3 ingredients… How hard can that be? Right?
HH: {halfway thru melting the butter in the pan} “Where is the other bag of marshmallows? The recipe says you need 2 bags of marshmallows and you only have one on the counter.” {Clearly, looking in the pantry for another bag is not an option, but shouting upstairs is.}
Mavis: {after walking downstairs and looking in the pantry} “Oh, I guess we only have one bag. Just cut the recipe in half.” {Duh!}
HH: BUT I’VE ALREADY STARTED!
Noticing that the butter was melting and my husband was looking around frantically as if the house was on fire and he didn’t know what to grab first, I quickly got took a spatula out of a drawer and scooped half the butter out of the pan and into a dish.
Mini cooking crises averted. Until the next one arose.
HH: “You need to come look at this… it’s ALL WRONG… THE PAN IS TOO BIG… LOOK AT THIS! It’s like you are setting me up for failure or something.”
I almost fell on the floor in hysterics.
Mavis: “Umm, here’s a thought. Smoosh all the Rice Krisipe treats to one side of the pan?”
Good grief. Re-entering the real world. The learning curve, it must be a steep one. Bahahahahahaaa! 😉
Random frozen pizza. Not a bad lunch when all you have to do is take off the wrapper and pop it on the oven.
And then their was the day trip to the camp my friend Heather from Massachusetts was staying at in Maine. Looking for a shotgun wedding package? Hussey’s General Store in Windsor, Maine has got you covered. And, they have chocolate Necco wafers in stock to boot!
Amish Charcuterie in Unity, Maine $38.50
While we were in town we also stopped by a small {and Amish owned} smoked meat shop. The owners {husband and wife} were gracious and offered free samples. I would have liked to stayed a little longer but we’ll be back in the fall so maybe I can linger a little longer then and glean a few recipes ideas.
- $7.50 a pound for smoked sausage {the jalapeno was our favorite}
- $12.00 a pound for extra sharp cheddar {the best I’ve ever tasted}
- $3.00 a pound for home grown organic green beans
It’s funny, when I’m in a grocery store, I’m always cautious about food prices. But I have absolutely zero problem paying the asking price for real, quality made food from the person who makes or grows it. Why is that?
Smoked sausage, it tastes great in a quiche.
And last but not least…. We tried out a new lobster shack with Heather and her husband. Gee… I wonder who ordered the chili fries. 😉
How about YOU? Did you buy anything exciting this week? Do tell.
~Mavis
Go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories.
Total Spent in July $276.56
Total Spent in June $206.47 <- Attempting once a month grocery shopping
Total Spent in May on Groceries $216.50 <- Included a stock up trip to King Arthur Flour
Total Spent in April on Groceries $169.98
Total Spent in March on Groceries $306.75 <– Apartment life, moving across the country and settling into a new house
Total Spent in February on Groceries $259.81 <- Living in an apartment and buying a lot of ready-made meals
Total Spent in January on Groceries $240.15 <– Packing mode and not cooking from scratch as much
Mrs. C. says
I started making that Ritz. Racker chicken recipe of yours a few years ago, and my HH loves it. He practically dances a jig when I make it. I did buy some very high quality flannel sheets on line and they were about 70% off, which made me happy. And I’m with you on the who,e prices for groceries thing versus home grown.
Joanna says
Nice price! Can you mention where you got them, please?
Susan says
Talk about living your best life! Good for you two! Wondering how Monkey Boy is doing? Branching out on his own?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, and Monkey Boy is loving it. 🙂
tia in boise says
“it’s like you’re setting me up for failure”–cant. stop. laughing….oh my!
please tell me Monkey Boy is calling or texting on a weekly basis with questions like: i don’t have a strainer for this mac and cheese….how do i make it? and is this bread [dated 3 weeks ago] still good? (my 19YODS in school)–for a while 4 of us moms with best friend sons had a running text thread of all the hilarious things they were texting/asking us.
Marybeth says
I agree with you. I shop at Aldi and watch my grocery budget like a hawk. But at farmers markets or farm stands I will pay 3 times as much. It usually tastes much better too. The quiche looks amazing. Sorry, I don’t like chili fries. I’m with everyone else , lobster roll for me.
Stephanie says
I see the way my husband cooks is fairly normal! He’s like your husband, working long hours with a sizable commute (along with putting in more hours at home), so cooking isn’t something he’s ever done much of, nor has he spent much time thinking about. And he doesn’t know his way around the kitchen at all, can’t find anything without asking where it is. But man, is he a great scientist and father, so I give him a pass on shouting, “Where’s the mustard? Are we out?” when we have at least three open containers of it IN THE CONDIMENT BASKET in the refrigerator, haha. 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
Funny funny! 🙂
Alice says
Your lobster roll looks delicious!
I went to Abbott’s last week while vacationing in CT and I was served a hamburger bun with lobster meat which was cold and really nothing to brag about. I was expecting a hot dog bun-like sandwich with a LOT of lobster meat. Didn’t get that for some reason. Even my cup of new england clam chowder was just OK.
But those chili fries sure look good!
Alice
Mel says
After losing power and a good deal of food with it last week, I’ve finally wrapped up freezer cooking for fall. I always freeze a few months of dinners, but lunch-packing for work is the bane of my existence, so I finally got wise and also froze individual portions of soups, meatballs, hot pockets, pudding, applesauce, granola bars, pasta sauces, etc. to help pack lunches whenever we’re short on leftovers. So, I now have 120 dinners, about 60 emergency lunches, and about 16 batches of scones, muffin batter, and doughnut batter for weekend breakfasts.
Mavis Butterfield says
Wowie zowie Mel, you are set!
Mel says
Thanks! Minus the power outage, it was far easier and faster than it sounds.
debbie in alaska says
How awesome that the HH has been able to take a work hiatus this summer as you settle into your new home — and after so many years of hard work … Well deserved! And getting to work from home is awesome — especially in that house! I took a 15 month hiatus from the work world when I moved cross country (from New England to Alaska) at the age of 35 and it was AMAZING. I had enough saved up to do it and I know not everyone has that luxury — but if one ever gets the chance to do it I highly recommend it.
Lissa says
I was sad to hear about the Necco wafer company closing. I loved the chocolate ones; it just won’t seem like Valentine’s Day without the candy hearts–even though I didn’t like to eat them.
Pretty soon you’ll have green beans everywhere and it will be great! We finally have flowers on our plants.
Did you have an adjustment to having HH around all the time? My mother said it was pretty strange for awhile because he kept wanting to hang out and she had her routine all set after many years. I’m guessing that because your day-to-day life had changed so drastically with the move it was easier.
Mavis Butterfield says
Actually, it’s been really nice and there haven’t been any freak outs yet. Ha!
Marcia says
It must be nice that his stress level is reduced right now. Stress is no joke.
My husband travels for work occasionally. We had one year of no travel, whee! But he traveling again.
And it’s just no fun. This last trip, he left on Sunday morning. Came back Friday morning. 2 long travel days. 4 days in between working 12 hours a day at a customer site. Eating crappy mid-western restaurant food (you know if it had been me, I’d have been at the grocery store buying fruits and vegetables to eat.) Alternating nights of no sleep and dead-sleep to catch up.
Then home and back at it. It’s no picnic for me either, 2 kids, 2 separate camps, and a full time job (I often have to take vacation time – a couple of hours a day, a few times a week, when he’s gone because I just can’t get the hours in!) When we intentionally take time to relax, it is so worth it.
Mama Cook says
My heart just sighed hearing about the HH’s stress level!!! My hubby didn’t retire, but just being in the (somewhat) country has changed our whole lives!!!! Glad to hear it has yours as well!
Marie says
Keep an eye out on your Ritz cracker lot #. Many recalled last week
Julia says
My family LOVES the Ritz cracker chicken. It is now one of my go toos. I even made it on vacation! Congrats to your husbands retirement/transition! How exciting.
Rita says
Your quiche looks DELISH! Yum Yum. Love that you get to spend your days and nights with your HH. Your love of life is so refreshing! Thanks for writing your blog.
Andrea says
My friend just bought her wedding dress at Husseys!
Mavis Butterfield says
AWESOME!!!!!