1 down, 4 to go... March is a long month
We have survived one week of Battle Dish Month! Yeah!!
Has it been hard? Yes. Has it been delicious? Yes. Has it been economical? Yes.
First....The financial side? In reality, it isn't as hard as I thought to make low cost yummy meals while adding more veggies and new recipes... I must have been playing dumb. I do admit that when I take out my huge money-sucking recipes and last minute 5-star-whim recipes, it is much, much easier to keep things on the low down. In the end, it all comes down to my favorite activity of actually taking time to plan out my list and menu... that has definitely proven to be the most resourceful $ saver in making new recipes and adding new foods.
Honestly, I have not done anything very note/blogworthy so far... I can share with you what we have eaten or will eat? Let's see... I did make 2 homemade soups with homemade breads which were new to me since I am not a soup eating/making person by nature or a baker by nature. And this week I have added a few more new recipes to our mix... jambalaya, tuna pot pie (homemade shell), onion soup, halibut with grilled asparagus and a tuna and rice casserole... again, nothing fancy pants.
The main $ adder is the meat source and now with the whole scare on hormones in meat, ugh... I would like to buy a quarter cow from a safe, local farm & save on the worry... are you in? As well, a future cost saver will be a stash of homemade canned goods. Translation: Assuming our garden works again this year & produces a bumper crop & if I do figure out canning then canning will be a great $ saver.
One trick I did learn... if you are really faithful with the list and menu then if you want to plan a fun 5-star-whim recipe that includes, say halibut? You can! Because you did so well and saved so well, you have $ to work with... yeah!
Second ... How are the kids? We are definitely not out of the woods yet on any of these dishes or veggies (Alicia M said 15 times to make it stick and I believe it!) but I know we will slowly and surely make progress over this month. Again, it is not like we never served hard to eat dishes, the point is that the dishes I normally make had their battles ages ago and it is only right that they are no longer battles. My hopes for all these new dishes rests on that fact.
Third... How are the parents? I do not naturally like soups or grainy foods, while Josh does. I am learning to get them more for all of us, not just him, and to eat them without complaining. (The children are doing way better with the grainy foods than I am.) Now Josh has been reeling about the thought of casseroles in our house. To the point that he told me he would take a 4th job so I wouldn't have to make them. (I love that guy!) However, I realized that I need to make a few more of them not only to help our kids familiarize themselves with the ranges of casseroles, their looks and their ingredients but because though we don't make them, others do and we need to be happily ready to eat what is served elsewhere. (A point that was very clearly brought home to me this weekend, oy! for being outnumbered.)
In any event, last week went fair, this week is just starting. The hardest dish of last week was the wild rice soup. It was absolutely delicious in our mouths but not in the kids'. This week I think it will be the onion soup. Even though they saw the picture of the Onion Soup and asked me specifically to make it, I think it too will prove a hard one.
On the plus side, I scored a free bread maker from Amber for my honey! Yeah!
Tony hates casseroles too! I grew up on them and wish I could make them more.
Hey..our family usually buys a whole cow from a family friend and share it with other families. If you would like any information or what meat locker my parents take it to after they buy it I am sure they would pass along that information.
Here's a favorite at my house - you can add more vegetables of whatever you like to the mix. It's not necessarily lowfat but it's always a hit! I never make less than a double batch and generally use a lot more veggies than called for. CHEDDAR CHOWDER 2 cups Water 2 cups chopped potatoes ½ cups chopped carrots ½ cups chopped celery ¼ cups chopped onion 1 ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 1 can whole kernel corn, drained 1 cup cooked ground beef or sausage (optional) Cheese Sauce ¼ cup butter or margarine ¼ cup flour 2 cups milk 4 ounces Velvetta cheese 4 ounces cheddar cheese Bring water to a boil. Add potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, salt and pepper. Cover and cook until tender, do not drain. In a different large heavy bottomed pot melt butter. Add flour and milk, stirring constantly until think (which means that it has boiled). Add cheeses. Stir until cheese is melted. Combine all ingredients and add corn. Add meat if desired as well. Makes 4 to 6 large servings.
That would be awesome Britt! My folks did it once and loved it. Thanks for the recipes Amy & Alicia! What fun!
Hey Dana - it's been a while! We also get excellent beef and pork if you're interested. The kiddo's will come along . . . when I started making my own bread from freshly milled flour 5 years ago I remember our oldest (who was 6 at the time) "enjoyed" every slice of the last loaf from the bread store. Now, he won't eat the stuff 'cause "it's all air with no nutrients" according to him! I've "spoiled" them with such good food their wives may have a lot to learn . . . :-) Keep up the good work, Mama!!