Striving, I agree that meals should be a time to connect. I DO go to a lot of effort for special meals, such as for holidays or birthdays or when we (rarely) have guests. But the effort invested in "special" meals isn't feasible on a daily basis.

If I had to make pizza from scratch, I wouldn't eat it; I'd make do with something else. It's not one of my favorite foods. On the other hand, I'm happy to eat tuna in almost any form.

I think having people to cook for, and who appreciate not just the effort but even the food, makes a difference. It hasn't been quite the same since DH passed away.

In April, I'll have my book club over for the monthly meeting (we rotate among members' homes). It starts at 8:00, so isn't a real meal, but there will be various snacks, and I've already been thinking about what I could serve that would be appealing and not run-of-the-mill. I was thinking, for instance, of mini-quiches as an appetizer. Maybe something with shrimp or crab as a dip, though will check to make sure no one is allergic to them first. I like doing things like that on an occasional basis.

On a day-in, day-out basis, the main goal is just to get three meals eaten with a certain amount of nutrition and variety without taking any longer than necessary. I like to look at recipes, too, but decide not to use a significant portion of them because of the time required to prepare them.

Even when I theoretically am not in a rush, I find so much competing with cooking time. Among several things I must do tomorrow, I'll be taking DS around a wider radius of our town on his expanding job search. So instead of something like waffles for breakfast, I'll probably eat an English muffin or two, because it's quick to fix. Sunday morning, I'll be visiting a friend's church, so instead of an omelet, I'll just boil an egg.

Sometimes, too, the thought occurs to me that if I keep eating simple, I will do less of it, which will help me with weight control.

i had a fist full of coupons that tog added up to 5$ all for things i regularly buy anyway, so i took mike shopping w me and he drove the cart while i riffled thru the coupons. i spent 2663 on 4 bags of groceries at food lion. i got:

potato bread (the only thing i got w/o a coupon) 319
3 boxes cheeze-its 200 ea
marz salad dressing 299

chef boyardee
beef ravioli 100
mac and cheese 100
lasagne 100
beefaroni 100
spaghetti and meatballs 100

lunch meats
budding 399
4 cb 69 ea
2 hillshire farms 379 ea

i couldn't match up which coupon went w which

this week we had
sun salad; pork chop, brocolli w cheese, stuffing
mon chicken and cheese sand; hawiian shrimp
tue burrito; anytizer, potatoes, brocolli w cheese
wed salad, lasagne
thu ham, chicken and cheese sand; pizza
fri out to dinner at taco bell
mike taco supreme
me 7 layer burrito

mary

B'fast: pancakes with peach jam
Lunch: leftover stir fry with rice
Dinner: steak, with onions, bell peppers & green peas, and rice; grapes for dessert (what I really want is some ice cream or chocolate or pudding, but I am trying to be good)

I am really implementing a meal plan for the weekend and monday until lunchtime (I am going away for the week) so I want to use up as much as I can out of my fridge.

Saturday:
breakfast -fried eggs, leftover steak, and frozen hash browns
lunch -leftover pizza
supper -poutine (will use up cheese)

Sunday:
breakfast -egg, bacon, cheese slice on english muffins
lunch -pasta and butter
supper -poutine

Monday:
breakfast -something with eggs
lunch -leftover pizza

I am making a list of groceries to buy while I am away that I will ship up here.

Tina: [Calgarian]Katherine Kitcho wrote a "Use it Up" cookbook which looks interesting. I think it's download-able.

i did my reg 3x/month shopping at bj's sat and spent 4946

i got
6 half and half 179 ea
6 pak olives 649
12 pak tuna 799
34 qt koolaide mix 599
22 qt tang mix 599

12 pk c batteries 1079

i shouldn't need to shop there again for at least ten days

mary

Went grocery shopping today and spent $20.25.

Bought:

1 pkg. (24 oz) mung beans = $3.69
1 container salt = $.59
1.49 lb. mandarins @$.69/lb = $1.03
1.16 lb. green beans @ $1.49/lb = $1.73
1 6oz. pkg. chicken breast/cold cuts = $.99
1 lb. carrots = $.50
1.36 lb. Asian pear @ $.99/lb = $1.35
1 cucumber = $.50
1 container blue berries = $1.49
1 loaf (24 oz) Italian bread = $2.39
1 jar Nutella = $5.99

I was most unhappy about the price of the mung beans. I used to be able to buy them from the bulk bin at $.79/lb. the last time I bought them (admittedly, some time ago). Now they are no longer available from the bulk bins and are sold only in the packages at an inflated price.

Total spent on groceries so far this month: $49.17 + $20.25 = $69.42

Why did I read this thread? I am on the prep day for a colonoscopy and I am HUNGRY. Wait until supper tomorrow. Ann 39

Ann: Hope you have something really yummy planned for tomorrow's supper!

Had to go to a different store for cat food (yesterday's grocery shopping was done at one of the ethnic grocery stores); spent $24.12 on cat food, but that comes from the Pet Care budget.

However, since I was at the grocery store, I decided to pick up a few more groceries:

4 frozen indiv. pizzas, @ $1.00 = $4.00
1 gal. milk = $2.59
1 bag reg. popcorn = $1.79
2 box microwave popcorn, @$1.29 = $2.58
1 box pancake mix = $2.00
1 bottle pancake syrup = $1.99
2 lbs. strawberries, $1.50/lb = $3.00
4 lb. beef roast, $4.99/lb = $20.01
3.9 lb. beef roast, ($19.86; buy one, get one free sale) = $0

Almost 8 lbs. of beef for $20.01, at an average of $2.53/lb., for DD's b'day party dinner. I plan to cook both pieces (beef curry) and freeze until needed.

Total = $37.96 of which $17.95 was for regular groceries and $20.01 for DD's party.

Total spent so far: $69.42 + $37.96 = $107.38

Today's menu:

B'fast: bread & jam
Lunch: pizza and strawberries
Tea: spice cake with cream cheese frosting
Dinner: leftovers brought home from last night's prayer meeting