Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Mondays
Lately I have been just sick at the rising cost of groceries to feed our family. I don't buy organic unless it's as cheap as conventional, but we do try to eat a "whole foods" diet. I would love to garden, but there's not much you can grow at 9200 feet and with the extremely short growing season. (even tomorrow, May 12, we're supposed to get a 6-12 inches of snow) I also want to get some chickens eventually, but that will have to wait.
Our most expensive foods are the five gallons of raw milk we buy from a local farm and the meat and eggs we buy locally - grassfed beef and completely free-range chickens - but I think they're definitely worth it for our long-term health. I also love supporting local farmers.
In an effort to lower the cost to feed our family, I asked my wonderful husband if it would be okay to have black beans and brown rice every Monday, and then have leftover beans and rice Tuesday as well but wrap it up in a now-homemade tortilla and bake it. He was all for it, thankfully, and it's one of my kids' favorite meals.
There's not much else as cheap as black beans and rice for dinner, especially when you buy it in huge bags. I bought a 25-pound bag of black beans for $25.00 and a 25-pound bag of long-grain brown rice for $24.00.
To feed our family of eight two dinners, we use about three cups of black beans and three cups of rice. That's one CHEAP meal, and also easy when all you have to do is throw the beans in the crockpot first thing in the morning. It would be even cheaper if Jimmy didn't request that I throw a few pieces of bacon in it! :) My kids have some Iowa in them and don't mind bland food.
Our most expensive foods are the five gallons of raw milk we buy from a local farm and the meat and eggs we buy locally - grassfed beef and completely free-range chickens - but I think they're definitely worth it for our long-term health. I also love supporting local farmers.
In an effort to lower the cost to feed our family, I asked my wonderful husband if it would be okay to have black beans and brown rice every Monday, and then have leftover beans and rice Tuesday as well but wrap it up in a now-homemade tortilla and bake it. He was all for it, thankfully, and it's one of my kids' favorite meals.
There's not much else as cheap as black beans and rice for dinner, especially when you buy it in huge bags. I bought a 25-pound bag of black beans for $25.00 and a 25-pound bag of long-grain brown rice for $24.00.
To feed our family of eight two dinners, we use about three cups of black beans and three cups of rice. That's one CHEAP meal, and also easy when all you have to do is throw the beans in the crockpot first thing in the morning. It would be even cheaper if Jimmy didn't request that I throw a few pieces of bacon in it! :) My kids have some Iowa in them and don't mind bland food.
Scouter
Me and the kids went hiking today with our neighbors. We went down to the creek next to our property and hung out. Scout fell in the VERY cold creek trying to jump across. She was a trooper. She still hiked for another hour after falling in and never complained once. By the time we made it to our driveway, this is what she looked like - her pants were so wet they wouldn't stay up any longer. She found a huge bone in the woods - I have no idea what kind of animal it belongs to.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Whole Wheat Tortillas
We buy our whole wheat tortillas from a Columbian lady at the local farmers' market, and they are delicious. We go through them very quickly here, probably three bags a week - one bag for burrito night, one bag for egg/cheese/potato tacos, and the other bag Owen eats throughout the week just plain as a snack before bed.
They're $3.25 for a bag of eight 10-inch tortillas. Jimmy has mentioned a few times that he thinks that's expensive. I think it's a steal since they're not made with lard and they're fresh. I haven't compared the price to the yucky ones in the grocery store, though.
Well, today I decided to make homemade tortillas, so I ground up some wheat, mixed in some water, baking powder, salt, and olive oil, and then cooked them on a tortilla press, and they turned out great! They were super easy and very delicious. And of course dirt cheap. Jimmy's frugality has definitely been a "mother of invention" for me in the kitchen. Well, not mother of invention - more like mother of a larger baking repertoire.
The kids ate them plain faster than I could make them, but here's a picture of the few I had left:
They're $3.25 for a bag of eight 10-inch tortillas. Jimmy has mentioned a few times that he thinks that's expensive. I think it's a steal since they're not made with lard and they're fresh. I haven't compared the price to the yucky ones in the grocery store, though.
Well, today I decided to make homemade tortillas, so I ground up some wheat, mixed in some water, baking powder, salt, and olive oil, and then cooked them on a tortilla press, and they turned out great! They were super easy and very delicious. And of course dirt cheap. Jimmy's frugality has definitely been a "mother of invention" for me in the kitchen. Well, not mother of invention - more like mother of a larger baking repertoire.
The kids ate them plain faster than I could make them, but here's a picture of the few I had left:
Friday, May 2, 2008
My Kids Have the Coolest Daddy in the World
Owen wanted Jimmy to make him a bow and arrow, so tonight after dinner they went off to the woods to get them some aspen branches, and wah-lah! He never ceases to amaze me...
Happy Birthday To Me!
I had a fabulous birthday today! I'm not the type that makes a big deal on my own birthday (or others' birthdays, for that matter... :) or expects much, but I must say today was my best birthday yet! I got up at 6:00 a.m. when I heard the children, and Jimmy told me he was going to take care of them this morning, so I slept in till 7:45! Then as soon as I came out of our room they said Happy Birthday and presented me with some "cards" they had made. They got out the typing paper this morning and Owen wrote his own card for me, and Eli and Scout dictated to Daddy what they wanted their cards to say, and they were sooooo precious to me. I don't save much but I think I'll keep these.
Owen's card said: "Happy Birthday, Mommy! I love you sooooo much! Your a great Mommy! Bey. Love, Owen" (supposed to say bye) And in every O he put a smiley face.
Eli's 1st card said: "We hope you have a great birthday because this is your 2nd birthday in Colorado and we hope you love us for the rest of our lives. Eli."
Eli's 2nd card: "I love you very much and I'm glad you are my Mommy. I hope you and Daddy have a good time on your vacation even though I'm going to miss you. And I hope you love me a long time!"
Then he wrote a song for me: "I love you, Mommy, because it is her birthday today; I love you, Mommy, because she takes care of me; I know my love, it is so powerful. I know I love her to me!"
Scout's card: "Happy Birthday, Mommy! It is your 2nd Birthday in Colorado! And I hope you enjoy your birthday! Love, Scout."
Jimmy's card: "Honey, since I didn't make it to the store this week, this is your homemade birthday card. Happy Birthday! You're the best wife a guy could want and I can't wait for Mexico. I love you. Hubby."
I am soooooo blessed! So many kisses, so many hugs, and so many birthday cards. It just doesn't get much better than that.
After lunch I made chocolate chocolate chip cookies and blew out my candle! Of course I didn't get to taste my birthday cookies because I'm on a juice fast! Arrrggghhhh...
Owen's card said: "Happy Birthday, Mommy! I love you sooooo much! Your a great Mommy! Bey. Love, Owen" (supposed to say bye) And in every O he put a smiley face.
Eli's 1st card said: "We hope you have a great birthday because this is your 2nd birthday in Colorado and we hope you love us for the rest of our lives. Eli."
Eli's 2nd card: "I love you very much and I'm glad you are my Mommy. I hope you and Daddy have a good time on your vacation even though I'm going to miss you. And I hope you love me a long time!"
Then he wrote a song for me: "I love you, Mommy, because it is her birthday today; I love you, Mommy, because she takes care of me; I know my love, it is so powerful. I know I love her to me!"
Scout's card: "Happy Birthday, Mommy! It is your 2nd Birthday in Colorado! And I hope you enjoy your birthday! Love, Scout."
Jimmy's card: "Honey, since I didn't make it to the store this week, this is your homemade birthday card. Happy Birthday! You're the best wife a guy could want and I can't wait for Mexico. I love you. Hubby."
I am soooooo blessed! So many kisses, so many hugs, and so many birthday cards. It just doesn't get much better than that.
After lunch I made chocolate chocolate chip cookies and blew out my candle! Of course I didn't get to taste my birthday cookies because I'm on a juice fast! Arrrggghhhh...
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