Weekly Menu Retrospective #66

Welcome to my weekly roundup of the past week's eats. I prefer to report what we ate in the last week, rather than what we're planning to eat in the coming week. Why? The reason is pretty simple: although I usually have a general idea of what we're going to eat in the next week or so, life often unfolds a little differently than planned, and I adjust my menu plan on a near-daily basis to accommodate leftovers and other not-possible-to-plan-ahead circumstances. I find this is the easiest way to ensure that I minimize our family's food waste. I'm also willing to admit that I'm a rather spontaneous cook, given to preparing foods that strike me as the most appealing thing to eat right here and now!

If you'd like a whole book full of inexpensive, quick and kid-approved recipes, check out my book, Cheap Appétit : The Complete Guide to Feeding Your Family for Less Than $400 a Month (While Eating Better Than You Ever Thought Possible) on Amazon (Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Amazon UK) and Barnes and Noble.  It's gotten multiple 5 star reviews!! I've included page references to recipes that are in the book in my menu plans so you can locate them quickly. For more details about the book, go here.

Breakfasts:
Granola (p.92) with homemade yogurt, French toast, Aloha Muffins (p. 99), Cherry Clafouti (variation of the Blueberry-Peach Clafouti on p. 223) 

Lunches: 
leftovers, pizza, salad, sandwiches 

Dinners:

Monday: Sausage and Lentil Stew (p. 158)

Tuesday: Pork and Apple Stew (p.156), Garlic and Cheddar Biscuits (p. 213)

[Yep, we had stew two nights in a row! We had a couple days of cold, rainy weather and were in a very "stew" mood - although these are two very different types of stew, so it didn't seem repetitious at all.] 

Wednesday: Broccoli, Bacon and Cheese Egg Puff (p. 181), Creamy Cucumber Salad (p.205), leftover biscuits

Thursday: Italian-Style Baked Pasta (p. 172), peas and carrots, Old-Fashioned Butterscotch Pudding (p. 233)

Friday: Turkey Pinwheels (p. 111), tossed salad

Saturday: Quinoa and Zucchini Corn Cakes (recipe coming on Wednesday!), Build a Cucumber and Bean Salad (p. 209)

Sunday: Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, roasted carrots, Chocolate Quinoa Cake.

In keeping with my local and organic challenge, I'd also like to note the local and/or organic items on this week's menu:

Organic: coconut oil, coconut milk, sunflower oil, brown sugar (in granola),  raisins (in granola), sunflower and pumpkin seeds (in granola), bananas, puffed kamut (snack), quinoa

Local: apples, potatoes, carrots, onions, cucumbers (hothouse), red peppers (hothouse), strawberries (in smoothies - from last year's pick-your-own expedition), milk, eggs, sour cream 

Local AND organic: oats (in granola), sesame seeds (used to top bread loaves), milk (used to make yogurt)

For more great meal ideas, check out Menu Plan Monday at orgjunkie.com.

Weekly Yard Sale Report for April 28, 2012

After a long morning of cycling around, this is going to be a very short report. 

I hit one church rummage sale and two yard sales plus another nonexistent sale (the one that cancelled last week advertised again this week and did not run it AGAIN!). I rode quite a bit outside of my usual yard sale shopping boundaries to attend the rummage sale, whose ad promised that it was "giant" and that they had "1000s of items". Well, as it turned out, it was just an average-sized rummage sale and I only ended up finding one item worth purchasing (although if the guys in my family had smaller feet, I could have picked up a few pairs of shoes and boots at great prices).

What I walked away with was this:

A T-shirt ($1.00) that will either become my husband's or son's, depending on who it fits better and who likes it more :)

I struck out at the other 2 sales I checked out - at least I got some exercise!

Grand total for the day: 1 item for $1.00

Did you find anything great this week?

5 Kitchen Tools I *DON'T* Own

 Photo by nuchylee/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I cook three meals a day from scratch and have even written a cookbook. To say that I spend a good deal of time in the kitchen would hardly be an exaggeration. Most people who know how much I cook would probably be surprised to find out how much of a kitchen minimalist I am; I don't like to keep a lot of unnecessary equipment hanging around and cluttering things up. Multi-purpose tools are what I'm all about and I try to avoid anything that serves only one function (my waffle maker being the only exception that comes to mind).


You really don't need a lot of bulky, expensive equipment to cook a whole lot of great food. Here are five tools I get by without just fine:

1. Microwave: When our microwave died several years ago, we made the decision not to replace it and have never looked back. You can read about how and why we decided to go microwave-free here.

2. Bread maker: We make almost all our bread from scratch, but I've never felt tempted to acquire a bread maker. I really enjoy kneading dough by hand, and with my handy refrigerator dough recipe, making bread is super convenient (and I can make up to three loaves at once if I need to).

3. Yogurt maker: I used to have one of these (I received it as a gift). I found I got very inconsistent results with it, and as a result, I came up with my own yogurt incubation method that uses basic items you already have around the house. Not only do I get much more consistent results than I ever did with a yogurt maker, all of the items used to create my "incubator" can be used for other purposes when I'm not making yogurt.

4. Popcorn popper: This is another appliance we used to have and decided we didn't need to replace after it died. We now make stovetop popcorn in our trusty saucepan - and it's the best popcorn ever!

5. Rice cooker: We make rice just fine in our saucepan, eliminating the need for yet another bulky appliance.


Are you a kitchen minimalist, too? What tools do YOU think are unnecessary in your kitchen?

Weekly Yard Sale Report for April 21, 2012

I finally had a couple of yard sales to hit up this week, but it turned out to be an anticlimactic start to yard sale season. One of the sales turned out to be cancelled (the weather was cold and overcast, but not rainy, so I wasn't too impressed that they chickened out - especially after paying for a newspaper ad!).

I did manage to find a couple of items for my boys at the one sale that was actually running:

A National Geographic documentary on how actual historic events relate to The Lord of the Rings (both my boys are huge LOTR fans and also enjoy learning about world history) and a book of logic puzzles which should come in handy for our camping trips this summer!

I paid a total of $1 for these two items.

Grand total for the day: $1 for two items, or 50 cents an item.

Did you find any great deals this week?

Change One Thing and Save $12,000 a Year

Want to reduce your expenses by $1000 a month in one fell swoop? Consider ditching your second car (if you're particularly brave, you can consider getting rid of the first one, too). The Canadian Automobile Association estimates that it costs $11,964.85 annually to own a car as of 2011. That's more than we spend on our mortgage!

Now before you shake your head in disbelief and click on over to the next blog on your reading list, stick around and read the rest of what I have to say - it might just convince you to at least consider the possibility of life with less cars :)

I'll admit I'm often amazed at the fact that cars are one thing even families who are quite frugal in most other aspects just won't consider giving up. Of course, I know there are some situations where it's just not possible, but many families (especially those living in urban areas) could easily live with a single car if they seriously explored other alternatives. We currently have one vehicle, and were entirely car-free for about three years with two small children. In addition, we know several other families that live quite happily with one car (or none at all).

There are quite a few factors that allow us to live quite easily with only one car. We live in a highly walkable urban neighbourhood, with many amenities an easy 5-10 minute walk away (that includes everything from the library, bank and grocery store to the community pool and arena). We're also a half hour walk from our city's downtown, with a shopping mall, Farmer's Market and many other facilities. We also have access to public transit (although it's far from a stellar transit system). We don't often ride the bus, though, because cycling is usually a quicker and more convenient option. The bike in the photo above is my primary form of transportation, along with walking. It was trash-picked and rebuilt by my husband a few years ago (mostly using parts he'd scavenged from other free bikes). It takes me everywhere from yoga class to my yard sale rounds, and I often ride with my boys down to their drama classes, about 5 km away.


Yes, we have a lot of advantages that allow us to live easily with only one vehicle (and, in case you're wondering, it's largely my husband's job, which absolutely requires a car, that's keeping us from going car-free again). The bottom line, though, is that we are really committed to the idea. Yes, sometimes it is slightly inconvenient not having a second vehicle. At times, it can take more planning and creativity to get everyone where they need to go. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing, though. We're getting a lot more exercise than most people, and my kids are learning not to be depend on driving, which will serve them well later in life. Hopefully they will give careful thought as to when (and if) they need to own a car of their own.

If you're thinking about ditching your second car, what I would suggest doing is what we did when we were first considering going totally car-free: Keep a log of how you're currently using that second car, and brainstorm the alternatives you could have used. In the book Cutting Your Car Use by Randall Ghent, it states that more than a quarter of all car trips are one mile or less. These trips can easily be made by walking or cycling. Many trips could be eliminated altogether by better planning to combine multiple errands, or by taking advantage of Internet shopping rather than driving to the store.

It's also important to keep in mind that just because you get rid of that second car, it doesn't mean you can't occasionally have access to a second vehicle if you really need it. Car sharing groups are an option that is available in a growing number of cities (local reader can find information about the Hamilton CarShare here). Of course, you can also rent a car on occasion, too. When we were car-free, we found we needed to rent a car only a few times per year to meet our transportation needs (there wasn't a car sharing option back then!).


This is a topic about which I feel particularly passionate (in case you haven't already figured that out!). I feel that reducing car dependency has many benefits beyond just the financial ones and it's something I wish more people would consider exploring. I hope I might have convinced you to give it some thought, anyway. Here are some resources I would recommend checking out for more in-depth information about alternatives to driving:








(Disclaimer: The above are Amazon affiliate links - of course I recommend checking out your local library first, but if you decide to purchase any of these resources, you can help support this blog by using these links). 

Does your family live with one (or no) cars? Do you have any great resources or tips to share?

Weekly Menu Retropective #65

Welcome to my weekly roundup of the past week's eats. I prefer to report what we ate in the last week, rather than what we're planning to eat in the coming week. Why? The reason is pretty simple: although I usually have a general idea of what we're going to eat in the next week or so, life often unfolds a little differently than planned, and I adjust my menu plan on a near-daily basis to accommodate leftovers and other not-possible-to-plan-ahead circumstances. I find this is the easiest way to ensure that I minimize our family's food waste. I'm also willing to admit that I'm a rather spontaneous cook, given to preparing foods that strike me as the most appealing thing to eat right here and now!

If you'd like a whole book full of inexpensive, quick and kid-approved recipes, my book, Cheap Appétit : The Complete Guide to Feeding Your Family for Less Than $400 a Month (While Eating Better Than You Ever Thought Possible) IS NOW AVAILABLE on Amazon (Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Amazon UK) and Barnes and Noble.  I've included page references to recipes that are in the book in my menu plans so you can locate them quickly. For more details about the book, go here.

Breakfasts:
Granola (p.92) with homemade yogurt, Rhubarb Streusel Muffins (p.97), blueberry buttermilk pancakes.

Lunches: 
Turkey, cheddar and avocado pasta salad, pizza & salad, leftovers

Dinners:

Monday: "Turkey overs" (leftovers from Easter dinner)

Tuesday: Ham and Vegetable Coconut Curry (a variation of this recipe, p. 136)

Wednesday: Spinach, Bacon and Cheese Egg Puff (p. 181), Creamy Cucumber Salad (p. 205)

Thursday: Mexican Shrimp Bisque, cornbread (p. 212), tossed salad

Friday: Cheesy Mac & Beef Skillet (p. 148), leftover salads

Saturday: Bacon and Egg Potato Hash (a variation of Make-It-Your-Way Potato Hash on p. 140)

Sunday: Fish au Gratin (p.190) with Honey-Orange Roasted Root Vegetables (p. 202), Martha Stewart's Vanilla Sheet Cake with chocolate ganache frosting

In keeping with my local and organic challenge, I'd also like to note the local and/or organic items on this week's menu:

Organic: coconut oil, coconut milk, sunflower oil, brown sugar (in granola),  raisins (in granola), sunflower and pumpkin seeds (in granola), bananas, puffed kamut (snack)

Local: apples, potatoes, carrots, onions, cucumbers (hothouse), strawberries (in smoothies - from last year's pick-your-own expedition), milk, eggs, sour cream 

Local AND organic: oats (in granola), popcorn, sesame seeds (used to top bread loaves), milk (used to make yogurt), rhubarb (in muffins - from my neighbour's garden last year, trying to use up what's in the freezer before this year's crop comes in!)

For more great meal ideas, check out Menu Plan Monday at orgjunkie.com.

How to Yard Sale Like a Pro #1: Go, and Go Often!

 
I start to get a bit giddy this time of year as I anxiously anticipate the arrival of Yard Sale Season. I'm sure it's probably begun already in some areas, and things are just getting rolling here in my area. I know many of my longtime readers look forward to my weekly Yard Sale Reports on Saturdays throughout this time of year that holds a special place in the hearts of all frugalistas :)

I'm going to be trying something a little bit different this year just to shake things up a little. While I'll still be sharing all my yard sale finds, I will also be doing a series featuring my best tips and tricks on how to get the most out of yard sale shopping. I will be running these articles throughout the season, on weeks I come up empty-handed on my yard saling adventures. So, you should get a good yard sale fix nearly every Saturday until the end of the season; either through the documentation of my most recently procured treasures or some ideas on how to get the most out of your own excursions. Of course, those of you who are seasoned yard sale shoppers are welcome to jump in and add your own tips, too!

I've had a lot of people express amazement over the items I find at yard sales. They often say things to me like "I've gone to a few sales here or there, but they were all selling total junk." The key here is that they have only gone to a few sales. To be really successful at yard sale shopping, volume is crucial. On a typical Saturday during the yard sale season (late spring to early fall around here) I go to at least half a dozen sales, and on the busiest weeks I might hit a dozen or more. That means I hit well over a hundred sales each season (and some years it's probably been closer to 200). 


You might be wondering if it's really worth it, if you have to go that often to find the good stuff. I definitely think it is - other than curbside finds and Freecycle, yard sales are just about the cheapest source of goods you're going to find. And when you go often, you find the GOOD stuff for really cheap - like all the items I used to pull together our front entranceway makeover or a great patio set. I usually don't spend more than a couple hours on most Saturdays on my yard sale rounds (and remember, I'm going by bike, too!). I do have an advantage in that I live in a very population-dense urban area, so I only have to travel a few kilometers each week to get to the sales I'm interested in. Also, I'm one of those people who really enjoys the "thrill of the hunt", so even on weeks I come home empty-handed, I've still had a good time!

Fellow yard sale shoppers: how often do YOU go to find the good stuff?