This week I was able to work three days. We had two snow days and one two hour delay. One job was cancelled, but I was proactive and ended up with a job for that day too.
To do this I keep a list of teachers who I have to turn down because I'm already working. If for some reason my first job gets cancelled, I go down the list of teachers and ask if they still need a sub. It doesn't always work, but it works sometimes and it worked this week.
In My Frugal Kitchen:
This week I did a lot of batch cooking. I made a large pot of vegetable soup and put that into individual containers for lunches. I baked a large pan of both sweet and regular potatoes.
I made a two pound bag of soup beans and we ate those several days and I put some into individual containers into the freezer. That way if I get called to sub at the last minute I can grab one out of the freezer for my lunch.
I also cut up cucumbers and carrot sticks and made several containers of those for lunches. Along with those I also cut up red onions, purple cabbage, and kale for salads this week, and also made a chopped salad and divided it up into a couple of different containers.
Having food prepared ahead helps me with my goals of eating at home and taking lunches with me, which helps me to save money. And of course, food I prepare at home is healthier than takeout.
Added to the Pantry:
-1 can Del Monte tomatoes from crash and burn section
- 1 bag red onions
- 4 (5 lb) bags Yukon Gold potatoes (IGA had them marked down to $1.50)
- 3 (28 oz) cans tomatoes ($1 at Ingles this week)
IGA also had oranges marked down to 33¢, so I picked up some of those and they had their bags of clementines on sale for $3.69 per bag, so I picked up one of those as well. I also picked up an apple to toss into my salads this week.
Dinners This Week:
Sunday & Monday: Cheesy Potatoes, Soup Beans, Carrots, and Broccoli
Tuesday & Wednesday: Vegetable Soup
Thursday: Baked Potatoes & Salads
Friday: Still Deciding
Stayed Home/No Spend Days:
Tuesday & Wednesday (Snow Days!)
Freebies This Week:
This week I earned another $5 gift card to Amazon from Microsoft Reward points.My balance is now $10 on Amazon.
That's all the news from here this week. It's been cold, but not as cold as Chicago, so we count our blessings. I hope you all have a great weekend!
This has been a soup week for sure. I made 15 bean soup with smoked sausage and it lasted 2 meals (there are 5 of us). Tonight I plan on make chicken corn chowder. Its a new recipe so hope its good!
Definitely a soup week with such cold temperatures. Your 15 bean soup sounds delicious. I hope your chicken corn chowder is good too. I have a recipe from a friend that she gave me back in 1990 and is so good. I haven't made it in years. I need to pull it out.
Good finds, especially the Yukon Golds. We are soup eaters year 'round. Love veggie soups.
Promised electric/gas billing for mid-December through mid-January was $114 and a few pennies. Coldest temperature was probably 19 degrees, and we had 2 snow dusts.
Wrap up good to stay warm and keep winter's germs away.
Hi Belinda, I see you guys have soup beans regularly... What exactly are "soup beans"? Is it always the same kind of beans or is it a way of cooking whatever type of beans you have on hand? Thanks!
Soup beans are always the same kind of bean in our home. They are great northern beans and the name comes from cooking on the stove all day long, which makes them soupy. Of course these days I cook them in my instapot and they don't get nearly as soupy as the ones cooked on the stovetop. Hope that helps.
For one pound of beans I add 1 tablespoon of salt. I grew up having them seasoned with bacon grease, but I don't do that anymore. I then switched to seasoning them with a little vegetable oil, but I no longer do that either. I want them to be less calorie dense, which is why I no longer do that. I like them simple and love the flavor like this.
This has been a soup week for sure. I made 15 bean soup with smoked sausage and it lasted 2 meals (there are 5 of us). Tonight I plan on make chicken corn chowder. Its a new recipe so hope its good!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a soup week with such cold temperatures. Your 15 bean soup sounds delicious. I hope your chicken corn chowder is good too. I have a recipe from a friend that she gave me back in 1990 and is so good. I haven't made it in years. I need to pull it out.
DeleteWe also had soup for several meals but tonight I am going to chicken and salad. Actually fried chicken Yum. Stay warm
ReplyDeleteTHat sounds good. Thank you, Kim. :)
DeleteI need to develop a habit of cutting up vegetables in advance. Sometimes I cut up onions, but not vegetables.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week Belinda.
Thank you, Nil. You too. :)
DeleteGood finds, especially the Yukon Golds. We are soup eaters year 'round. Love veggie soups.
ReplyDeletePromised electric/gas billing for mid-December through mid-January was $114 and a few pennies. Coldest temperature was probably 19 degrees, and we had 2 snow dusts.
Wrap up good to stay warm and keep winter's germs away.
Will do, Anna. I know you will do the same.
DeleteRedeeming Discover Cash Rewards, I earned an extra $15 this week. Forgot about this in first post. Woot Woot.
ReplyDeleteAwesome!
DeleteSaturday: 69 degrees in Memphis Metro!!!
ReplyDeleteWe got up to almost 60 and it felt sooo great!
DeleteHi Belinda,
ReplyDeleteI see you guys have soup beans regularly... What exactly are "soup beans"? Is it always the same kind of beans or is it a way of cooking whatever type of beans you have on hand?
Thanks!
Soup beans are always the same kind of bean in our home. They are great northern beans and the name comes from cooking on the stove all day long, which makes them soupy. Of course these days I cook them in my instapot and they don't get nearly as soupy as the ones cooked on the stovetop. Hope that helps.
DeleteWhat sort of seasonings do you put in?
DeleteFor one pound of beans I add 1 tablespoon of salt. I grew up having them seasoned with bacon grease, but I don't do that anymore. I then switched to seasoning them with a little vegetable oil, but I no longer do that either. I want them to be less calorie dense, which is why I no longer do that. I like them simple and love the flavor like this.
Delete