Second hand gift card fuckery

So Winter and I went to Comic Con on Sunday. I had bought a $50 gift card from Raise.com for Subway (of which we had used $15 in January) and we planned to have lunch at Subway since there is one in the convention center. But when I went to use it I was told it had a zero balance. I had to use another form of payment. When I got home I did some detective work and found out that evidently the person who sold it had registered the card with Subway immediately after purchase, sold it, and then reported it lost or stolen. As such, the remaining balance was removed from the card.

I sent a screen shot of the evidence to Raise, and Monday morning I got a call from them saying they were refunding the amount I had paid for the card, which was $43.50. I am really mad that this person did this, and I hope Raise is able to recover the funds from that seller. They did the right thing, and I am happy to keep buying gift cards through them, but in the future I will be registering any cards I receive (which are able to be registered) immediately upon receipt.

The Con was fun, I guess, in as much as being in a huge crowd of people can be fun. Winter dressed up as Louise and I dressed up as Tina from Bob's Burgers. Quite a few people took pics of us, though I haven't seen any come up on Instagram yet.

After the convention I made soup for dinner, and then Jeremy and I went for a walk. They were having a good sale at QFC, so we decided to stock up on a few things. We got two boxes of whole wheat crackers, three boxes of whole wheat pasta, shredded cheese, frozen blackberries, reduced fat cream cheese, a lemon flavored Noosa yogurt (we plan to split it, and luckily Winter hates yogurt), and a box of cereal. Jeremy also got a diet Arnold Palmer drink. We spent about $18.

Here is what I ate Sunday:

Breakfast: smoothie made with almond milk, plain yogurt, banana, strawberry, blueberry and honey (was really good)
Lunch: six inch turkey sub on whole grain bread with lettuce, tomato, olives, oil, and vinegar (was kind of boring)
Dinner: chicken soup with carrots, celery, quinoa and wild rice blend and brown rice
Snacks/desserts: lemon ALT bar, blackberry yonanas
Beverages: water

Monday I had a busy day at work. Bought three Fage plain Greek yogurts on the way home for $3.

Breakfast: two lemon ALT bars
Lunch: leftover chicken rice soup, turkey and herb goat cheese sandwich with lettuce on GF bread
Dinner: leftover chicken deal with plain yogurt
Snacks/desserts: Easter candy at work (ugh again), wheat thins with PB and a drizzle of honey
Beverages: water

Why do today, what you can put off until tomorrow?

Has been my motto over the weekend. I planned to catch up on my posting yesterday, but then my schedule blew up and I had zero downtime. Oh well.

Winter went to art class on Friday. I brought food with me, and hung out at work with my tablet, trying to ignore all the creepy noises in the dark. I spent $1.00 on a dark chocolate bar on the way back, which Winter and I shared.

Breakfast: nut bar
Lunch: salmon salad sandwich with avocado and lettuce, apple
Dinner: leftover turkey sausage and rice soup, two clementines
Desserts/snacks: 1/2 bar of dark chocolate, Alpha-Bits with nut milk
Beverages: cocoa mint flavored coconut milk, water
______

Saturday. What even happened on Saturday? I went to work. Winter met me after work and we went to Menchie's on the way home. I got some pomegranate raspberry sorbet with lots of strawberries, blackberries, and toasted almonds. We spent $2 at QFC on milk and a can of creamed corn from the reduced section. I wasn't hungry when I got home.

Breakfast: granola with chopped dates and nut milk
Lunch: leftover curried lentils, apple
Dinner: pomegranate raspberry sorbet with strawberries, blackberries, and toasted almonds
Snacks/desserts: apple Lara bar
Beverages: water
_____

Jeremy caught some kind of cold at work and it was blown up by Sunday. Winter and I went to Uwajimaya. We spent $22 on:

Can of bamboo shoots
Rice noodles
Gluten free soba noodles
Black sesame oil
Pistachios
Strawberry flavored almonds
Can of coconut milk
Ramune soda
Mango popsicle

We stoped at a Thai place in the food court, and I bought crispy spring rolls for Winter, and chicken with brown rice, baby bok choy and peanut sauce for myself. Winter also had the Ramune, and the mango popsicle. She ate half of the spring rolls and gave the rest to Jeremy when we got home. We spent $14.

We went to a friend's birthday party and had issues on the way there because of a missed bus. We had to wait half an hour for the next one. We went to Taco Bell and spent $4 on a bean burrito and soda (for Winter), and a tostada with no cheese for me.

I decided to have a small piece of cake at the birthday party. Luckily this diet is not one that is all or nothing, like some. The doctor who developed it says the closer you follow it the better, but it should help, even if you don't follow it 100%.  I didn't feel any worse from eating it, which is good to know.

Breakfast: smoothie with coconut milk, pb, banana and honey
Lunch: chicken, brown rice, baby bok choy, peanut sauce
Dinner: Taco Bell tostada, pistachios, strawberry almonds, peanuts, baby carrots
Snacks/desserts: cranberry orange cake, key lime Luna Bar
Beverages: cocoa mint flavored coconut milk, peach-pear flavored unsweetened sparkling water, ginger apple hard cider
______

Yesterday I went to work, then went home. Jeremy went to work too. He is still kind of sick, but not as bad. We got in an order I made on Amazon for 6 jars of sodium free chicken bouillon, and 4 lbs of gluten free flour blend. We spent $52 on that. The bouillon should last almost a year at least, but it's a pretty good chunk of our monthly budget, right there.

Breakfast: protein granola with nut milk
Lunch: salad with spinach, avocado, canned salmon, pecans and roasted red pepper dressing, apple
Dinner: leftover curried lentils
Snacks/desserts: cherry Luna bar
Beverages: cocoa mint flavored  coconut milk, water

Free chicken sausage, and sweet GF haul

Yesterday my boss asked if I eat chicken. I said, yes I do, and he said there was a bag of organic chicken sausages in the fridge and to take them home. He had eaten one and didn't like it. There were 11 left! I have no idea why he didn't like it, but we all thought it was really good. They are very garlicky.

For lunch I made a salmon salad sandwich with avocado, using the brown rice bread. I toasted it this time, and that vastly improved the experience for me. It's still not what I would call a tasty bread, but on a sandwich it is thoroughly inoffensive.

I went to QFC on the way home for bananas, and checked the reduced for quick sale section. They had a whole bunch of gluten free Graham cracker style pie crusts, gluten free spaghetti, and gluten free stuffing mixes marked down to less than $1.50 each! I got two of each. I also picked up last week's Free Friday Download, a box of 5 South Beach bars, four bananas, and a bag of pretzels chips. Jeremy took the pretzel chips and one of the tubs of spicy hummus to work today for a potluck they were having. In total we spent $15.

Breakfast: granola with nut milk, walnuts, and bananas
Lunch: salmon salad sandwich with avocado and lettuce on brown rice bread, two clementines
Dinner: organic chicken sausage, broccoli, red bell pepper, seasoned organic quinoa
Snacks/desserts: pecan pie Lara Bar
Beverages: water, Blue Sky Zero ginger ale

Replenishing the food stock

Yesterday I was battling a migraine most of the day. My schedule was empty in the morning, so I decided I might as well take the day off. For breakfast I made overnight oats with coconut milk. I added about a tsp of honey, a sliced banana, and six crushed macadamia nuts to it. I didn't mind it cold, but I may heat it up next time.

For dinner I cut up two of the bell peppers I bought the day before and sauteed them with about a pound of chicken breast, olive oil, chili powder and cayenne pepper. We ate it with brown rice and cilantro. Jeremy added cheese to his.

Jeremy and I went to QFC when he got home from work. We spent $40 and got:

3 Yukon gold potatoes
3 lbs small honeycrisp apples
3 red and yellow bell peppers
1 bunch cilantro
Chex gluten free granola
3 boxes wheat pasta
4 cans Campbell's Chunky Soup
6 pack of Blue Sky Zero Jamaican ginger ale (it is made with stevia, and was on sale, which doesn't happen often)
2 cups Kraft easy Mac
4 Lara bars
Rockstar energy drink
Brown rice gluten free bread
2 quarts of cocoa mint flavor coconut milk (RFQS)
1 box of almond cashew milk (RFQS)

Breakfast: overnight oats with coconut milk, honey, macadamia nuts and banana
Lunch: leftover curried lentils and carrots, sliced strawberries
Dinner: chicken and peppers with brown rice and cilantro
Snacks/desserts: split a lemon Lara Bar with Winter
Beverages: Jamaican ginger ale, water

Wednesday: when so much money was spent

Wednesday morning I could not compell myself to get up and get breakfast or lunch together before work. I didn't sleep well, and I had to leave at 6:30 am. It just wasn't happening this time. I decided to at least try to minimize the amount spent.

Jeremy had given me a Starbucks gift card he got at work which had just over $2 on it, so for breakfast I got an asiago bagel, and spent nothing. For lunch, I had a coupon for McDonald's where I got a free medium beverage and fries with a large sandwich. Luckily, there is a McDonald's in the airport where I was working on Wednesday. I wasn't sure what constituted a large sandwich, so I got the largest one they had: a double quarter pounder with cheese. I also got my free fries and Sprite. It was a lotta lunch. I spent $6.34 after tax.

I got done at two, and after I got home we all took the bus to Grocery Outlet, where we bought the following:

2 lbs of butterball deli turkey ($1.97 each) $3.94
9 caramel flavored Mediterranean yogurts (3/$1.00) $3.00
3 lime flavored Mediterranean yogurts (3/$1.00) $1.00
2 tubs of caramel flavored cream cheese ($.99 ea) $1.98
2.5 lbs frozen chicken tenderloins $5.99
2 lbs frozen mango, pineapple, and papaya mix $3.99
Frozen mango habanero chicken bites $1.99
Raspberries $1.50
1 lb butter $2.99
8 oz. shredded jack cheese $1.79
2 lbs colby jack cheese $6.99
4 coffee flavored Greek yogurts (4/$.97) $.97
2 heads living butter lettuce $4.99
Grated parmesan cheese $1.99
6 oz. peppadew havarti cheese $1.99
4 single serve Campbells's cheeseburger soup ($.99 ea) $3.96
1 lb dry pinto beans $.99
Club style crackers $1.99
2 packages of root beer float Oreos ($2.29 ea) $4.58
1 dozen medium eggs $1.69
20 protein bars ($.50 ea) $10.00
Oatmeal strawberry Pop Tarts $.27
Single serve chicken pot pie soup $.77
3 bags of elbow macaroni 3/$1.00
6 individually wrapped cinnamon roll cookies ($.07 ea) $.42
1 lb black beans $1.09
Toasted oats cereal $.99
Rotini pasta $.89
Fruity Cheerios cereal $2.49
8 oz shelled walnuts $3.99
7 bottles of Mio ($.99 ea) $6.93
1 lb lentils $.99
Pretzel thins crackers $.87
Mild salsa $1.49
26 oz creamy peanut butter $3.49
20 oz. morello cherry jam $2.79

Total $96.78

Winter spent some of her money on a couple of breakfast Lunchables with waffle sticks and syrup, and a tube of refrigerated biscuit dough. She baked the biscuits when we got home.

I also had to run out to my other job for a couple hours and on the way back I picked up a couple more things at QFC:

Dijon mustard $1.69
Pint of egg whites $3.19
Thyme $.45
Sage $.30
Rosemary $.20

Total $5.83

So, overall I did not eat the best on Wednesday, but I guess some days will be like that.

Breakfast: asiago bagel
Lunch: double quarter pounder with cheese, medium fries
Dinner: caramel flavored Mediterranean yogurt, biscuit (Winter offered me one)
Snacks/desserts: cinnamon roll cookie, root beer float Oreos, a few bites of fruity Cheerios with milk shared by Jeremy
Beverages: water, Sprite

Tuesday at the Asian grocery

On Tuesday I worked my usual shift at the airport until 4:30. After work I stopped at Uwajimaya in the International District. This is what I bought:

Chinese 5 spice: $1.59
3 ice cream bars ($.99 each) $2.97
Low sodium teriyaki sauce $3.29
Soba noodles $1.79
Caramel Corn (like Cheetos but caramel flavored) $2.59
Gyoza wrappers $1.69
Ground chicken $3.41
Spring onions $.89

Total: $18.22

When I got home I cooked up some casserole lasagna noodles, and added a couple packets of pre cooked ground beef, 1 and a half chopped bell peppers, and garlic chili cheddar cheese sauce.

Breakfast: Greek yogurt, mixed berry pop tarts
Lunch: cashews, apple, Balance Bar
Dinner: pasta with bell peppers, ground beef, and chili garlic cheese sauce
Snacks/desserts: honeydew flavored ice cream bar, Caramel Corn
Beverages: water

Wednesday grocery shopping

I really should have posted this on Wednesday. I've had too many days since that I was barely even home. On Wednesday morning I had a massage. After Jeremy got home we took a bus to Grocery Outlet. Here is what we bought:

Box of 18 Balance Bars $6.99
Chocolate puff cereal $1.49
Multigrain O cereal $1.49
Casserole lasagna noodles $.99
Rotini $.89
Penne rigati $.89
Organic Columbia bread $2.50
2 green peppers ($.50 each) $1.00
2 cucumbers ($.50 each) $1.00
Shell pasta $.89
Organic frozen blackberries $2.49
Organic dried figs $2.99
Frozen bacon cheese fries $1.29
2 boxes of Red Baron breakfast scrambles ($1.49 each) $2.98
1 lb bag cashews $3.99
11 pre cooked beef pouches $10.89
Chocolate peanut butter Bugles $.50
4 lbs sugar $1.99
Funfetti cake mix $.99
12 Pop Tarts $1.99
Cinnamon baking chips $1.99
2 bottles BBQ sauce $1.98
8 oz chili garlic cheddar $2.50
6 Muller Fruit Up yogurts (3/$1.00) $2.00
2 mango flavored Greek yogurts ($.50) $1.00
2 heads of living butter lettuce $4.99
4 8 oz packages of deli chicken ($1.49 each) $5.96
2 8 oz packages of deli ham ($1.99 each) $3.98
Sliced Colby Jack $1.99
Cocoa powder $1.99
4 individual Campbell's cheeseburger soups ($.99) $3.96
8 ct Keebler pepper jack cracker sandwiches $1.29
1 lb dried cranberries $2.99
18 oz creamy peanut butter $1.99
Blue raspberry frosting with sprinkles $.50
Shredded jack cheese $1.79
Shredded habanero Jack cheese $1.79
18 oz. roasted honey peanut butter $2.49
2 packages of 2 peeled hardboiled eggs ($.99 each) $1.98
X-large pitted olives $.79
Jar of minced garlic $.50
1 lb lentils $.99
Roasted red pepper hummus $2.99
Club crackers $1.49
Toffee Rice Krispies treat $.50
2 cans tomato sauce ($.59 each) $1.18
4 cans diced tomatoes ($.59 each) $2.36

Total $106.14

Winter went to a classmate's house after school to help make bake sale items for a drama club fundraiser. She also took some no bake cookies she made Tuesday night.

Breakfast: cereal and milk
Lunch: chicken sandwich on Columbia bread with Colby Jack, lettuce and dijon, banana, Campbell's cheeseburger soup
Dinner: fettucini with chicken, broccoli, and herb and garlic goat cheese sauce
Snacks/desserts: chocolate peanut butter Bugles
Beverages: Crystal Light, water

First day back with no food in the house

I didn't have time to grocery shop until after my acupuncture appointment last night, which was right after work, so I didn't get home until 8:30. We had to make do with whatever food was still in the house from before we left.

I packed Winter a lunch with broccoli florets, honey mustard pretzels from the airplane ride, a tube of strawberry Greek yogurt from the freezer, and a wrap made with ham, provolone, and mustard on a flour tortilla.

I also made chili in the crock pot, which was interesting since we were out of so many things I use to make chili. It had half a lb of black beans, two 6 oz. packages of pre-cooked spicy ground beef, 3 7 oz boxes of tomatoes sauce, the rest of the garlic and a teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Jeremy said he'd run to the store if it still needed seasoning. It actually turned out pretty good, and didn't need anything added. It wasn't as thick as usual, but the flavors were fine.

I also wound up buying a banana and a muffin for $3.48 at Starbucks to tide me over.

Breakfast: smoothie made with milk, frozen banana, peanut butter, and a squeeze of honey
Lunch: banana, two tubes of Greek yogurt from the freezer, smoked turkey and cream cheese rolled up in a tortilla
Dinner: chili with shredded hot pepper jack cheese
Snacks/desserts: cranberry apple bran muffin, Butterfinger ice cream
Beverages: water

I went to QFC after my appointment to replenish the fridge and pantry. We'll try to get to Grocery Outlet soon for the things we always get there as well, like lunch meat and canned tomatoes.

Butterfinger ice cream $2.99
1/2 gal 2% milk $1.99
Whipped cream cheese $1.79
5 lbs flour $2.69
Won ton wrappers (RFQS) $1.49
Gourmet peppercorns $7.56
Butterscotch chips $2.99
Dried onion flakes $1.60
8 oz sour cream $1.39
12 oz. tomato penne $1.00
12 oz. mini rotini with fiber $1.00
Red velvet cake mix $1.50
1 lb unsalted butter $3.99
4 flavored Greek yogurts ($1.00 each) $4.00
5.87 lbs honeycrisp apples $14.62
1 lb trimmed radishes (RFQS) $.99
1 cucumber $.99
.10 lb bulk walnuts $1.00
Loaf of potato bread $3.00
Six whole wheat bagels $2.50
Red leaf lettuce $1.79
Small box of red wine $2.99

Total $63.86

Out for dinner on Sunday

On Sunday we decided to try our a pizza place in Capitol Hill that I had a coupon for, called Z Pizza. The coupon was buy one pizza get one free. They also have take and bake options, which are cheaper than dining in, but we haven't gone out to eat in a while, so we decided to eat there. We got two small pizzas, one with bell peppers and double black olives, and one with pepperoni, bell peppers and mushrooms. Winter and I both got sodas, and Jeremy had water. The total after the coupon, tax, and tip was $18.55. There were two slices left, which we took home and Winter took to school for lunch on Monday.

Afterward we went to Yogurtland to try out the new fall flavors. Right now they have pumpkin pie and rocket pop sorbet. I tried both of them, but decided to go with root beer float yogurt topped with gummy cola bottles. Winter got the same. Jeremy got the rocket pop sorbet with no toppings. We had a free 3 oz reward we used so the total was $6.48, but we also paid with a gift card which I got for 10% off on Raise.com, so the actual amount spent was about $5.83.

We also stopped by QFC on they way home. Here's what we bought:

10 flavored Greek yogurts ($.39 each) $3.90
2 bags of cavatappi pasta ($.79 each) $1.58
Starburst candy corn $.50
2 boxes of protein bars ($2.00 each) $4.00

Total spent $9.98

What I ate:

Breakfast: last of the banana bread
Lunch: leftover pinto beans with shredded cheese, apple, protein bar
Dinner: pizza (two pieces of each kind)
Snacks/desserts: root beer frozen yogurt with gummy cola bottles, banana
Beverages: water, root beer

A really long Thursday

Thursday I had an appointment at a nearby massage school for a student clinic session right after work. This school only does student clinic sessions every few months, but they only cost $10 so I jump on it when I can. Afterwards I went to the grocery store. I left before 10 am and didn't get back until 10pm.

I set up the crock pot before I left with 1 1/2 cups of dried pinto beans, which I had started soaking the night before, 1 can of petite diced tomatoes, 1/2 a green bell pepper, chopped, and 3 turkey sausages, sliced. The turkey sausages gave it plenty of flavor so no other seasonings were added. After leaving for work I realized my lunch was going to be a bit light for the long day ahead of me. so I stopped at QFC and bought two hard boiled eggs for $1.99 and a banana for $.25.

After my massage session I went to QFC to pick up more bread, milk, fruit and veggies, and some really good sale items: fancy pasta and Greek yogurt. I got three lbs of cavatappi, two lbs of fettucini, and one pound of another kind of noodle I had never seen before. Cavatappi makes the best macaroni and cheese. I may go buy more of just that one before the sale is over, because it's usually way more than I am willing to spend.

A little over 4 lbs of honeycrisp apples $10.63
6 lbs of assorted pasta shapes ($.79 ea) $4.74
6 flavored Greek yogurts ($.39 ea) $2.34
2 1/2 lbs of bananas $1.80
1/2 gallon 2% milk $1.50
Buttermilk bread $2.79
1 1/3 lbs broccoli $1.30

Total spent $29.10


What I ate:

Breakfast: banana bread, coffee flavored Greek yogurt
Lunch: leftover veggie alphabet soup, two hard boiled eggs, banana bread, carrot sticks with hummus, banana
Dinner: pinto beans with turkey sausage, tomatoes, and peppers
Snacks/desserts: champagne grapes
Beverages: water

Pepperoni Soup Recipe

for real this time

14 oz can of petite diced tomatoes
14 oz can tomato sauce
2.25 oz pepperoni cut into bite sized pieces
1 large zucchini (You can chop it up or grate it. I grated it because Winter does not enjoy the texture of zucchini, but found it to be fine once grated up.)
3 oz red wine
1 T olive oil
1/2 T garlic
1/2 T Italian seasoning
pinch of red pepper flakes
6 oz dry pasta
6 cups water

Combine all ingredients except for pasta in a large stock pot. Bring to a boil, then add pasta. Stir occasionally until pasta is tender. Makes about 10 cups of soup. Nutrition info is for 1 cup. You can reduce the amount of sodium by using canned tomatoes with no salt added.Garnish with some parmesan cheese if you like.

 

Recipe for slow cooker pepperoni pasta

This was intended to be soup, but after cooking the pasta absorbed most of the liquid, so it was not soup like at all. It was basically a normal pasta dish. It was a little on the salty side to me since I used regular canned tomatoes and pepperoni, so if I made it again I would probably use no salt added tomatoes.That would also cut the amount of sodium by a little more than half.

2 oz turkey pepperoni slices, halved
1 zucchini, halved lengthwise and then sliced
14 oz can tomato sauce
14 oz can diced tomatoes
1/3 cup red wine
2 T olive oil
2 T dried onion
1 T Italian seasoning
1 T dried garlic
2 1/2 cups water
5 oz dry pasta

Combine all ingredients except pasta in a slow cooker. Cook on low for at least 4 hours. About 15 minutes before you are ready to eat, turn off the slow cooker and stir in the pasta. Once the pasta has cooked, it's ready to go.  It will cook down to about 6 cups or so. Nutrition info is for about 1 cup.

Meal plans for the rest of the month and Jeremy's eye surgery

This is my tentative plan for dinners through the end of the month. It could change if I get better ideas. I will also make banana bread, which will be good for a few breakfasts. Lunches can be leftovers or sandwiches. I will probably pick up some bananas too once the cherries run out.

Saturday: salsa and sour cream chicken, rice (Jeremy's cooking)
Sunday: chicken salad and homemade bread
Monday: chicken soup with couscous
Tuesday: crock pot Italian pasta soup
Wednesday: leftovers
Thursday: chicken with broccoli, rice, and pepper jack sauce

Will need to buy: lettuce, bay leaves, thyme, zucchini, broccoli, corn starch, bananas


Jeremy had the laser surgery on his left eye today. It went well. There was no pain at all. His pupil was still dilated last time I saw it, so he couldn't read, but he said he could already see better than before. They won't be able to remove the cataract from his right eye until the end of October it looks like.

What we ate 07-07-14, and what I bought today

OMGMOARSPAGHETTI!!!

I made spaghetti sauce with basically the same recipe I used before, but I used mushrooms instead of zucchini, 1/4 lb of browned, drained, and rinsed ground beef instead of veggie burger, and I cut the olive oil back to one tablespoon, since the meat was pretty fatty.

Breakfast: just coffee(see beverages)
Lunch: Wensleydale cheese with dried fruit, sweet potato and cinnamon crackers, cherries
Dinner: spaghetti with meat sauce
Snacks/desserts: apple, butter toffee Rice Krispie treat, Chocolate Therapy ice cream
Beverages: coffee with milk, Crystal Light, Diet Dr. Pepper, water

Jeremy had a fish burrito for lunch, and we shared the Rice Krispie treat and the Diet Dr. Pepper.

Today I picked up 12 oz of raw organic honey for $3.79, and a chocolate LaraBar for $.95 at Target, I also got a milk chocolate Dove bar at Rite Aid for $1.00.

More grocery shopping + what we ate 07-06-14

I went back to QFC and got 6 more 12 oz boxes of pasta for $.49 each. That, plus what I already have, should last us 3 or 4 months. Maybe more.

We also went to Grocery Outlet today and bought:

3 frozen entrees ($1.99 each) $5.97
8 oz shredded pepper jack cheese $1.99
3.7 lb variety pack of deli meat $3.99
8 oz. chipotle chicken deli meat $1.99
8 oz. Cajun turkey deli meat $1.99
12 oz. plum preserves $1.69
dijon mustard $1.29
Wolfgang Puck four cheese pasta sauce $1.99
butter toffee Rice Krispie treat $.50
20 oz. Diet Dr. Pepper $1.09
24 oz ketchup $.99

Total $23.48

Jeremy also bought a Rock Star this morning. He's not sure how much. We'll call it $2.50.

Here's yesterday's food I ate:

Breakfast: French toast with strawberries and a banana
Lunch: turkey and havarti sandwich on a King's Hawaiian bun, cherries
Dinner: burritos with baked whiting, cabbage, and a tangy cayenne lime sauce
Snacks/desserts: cinnamon roll ice cream, cashews, M&M's cookie (my coworker gave me)
Beverages: Crystal Light, water

I don't even remember what Jeremy had yesterday other than dinner.

I'm not sure how I feel about the whiting fish. I squeezed a lime over it, sprinkled chili powder, wrapped it in foil and baked it. The filets have the skin on, and even though I removed the skin after baking it, the flavor was kind of briny. I don't mind strong tasting fish, but I'm not really a fan of the briny flavor some types of fish have. Next time I cook it I will attempt to remove the skin first, and see if that helps.

The sauce we used on the burritos was good though. Jeremy found a recipe on some forum somewhere. He thinks it may have been myfitnesspal.com. Anyway, we wound up adjusting some of the proportions, because as written it wasn't all that good. It mostly tasted like mayo, and was too thick.  Here's what we put in it after "fixing" it:

1/2 cup lite mayo
juice of one lime
3/4 t cayenne pepper
1/8 t oregano
1/8 t dill
1/8 t cumin

burrito on a cat plate

What we ate 07-04-14

Had a decent 4th of July. I worked at the airport early in the day, and Jeremy made burgers with havarti cheese when I got home. Not too many fireworks, although what I did hear was very loud. The cats thought it was the end of the world, which is always entertaining. I basically ate terribly, and have been paying for it all day today.

Breakfast: nada
Lunch: chicken gyoza (same thing as my chicken potstickers, but deep fried), cherries
Dinner: hamburgers and vegetarian baked beans
Snacks: cashews, Reese's Pieces, cashew butter and goat milk caramel sandwich
Beverages: water, root beer

Jeremy had a big ass turkey sandwich for lunch, and also shared the Reese's Pieces and root beer with me. I spent $1.75 on both, from the laundry room vending machine.

Today I stopped at QFC for cat litter and also bought a little food. I got 4 12 oz. packages of Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta  for $.49 each, and two pints of Ben and Jerry's for $2.49 each, after the coupon I had. The pasta is a pretty awesome deal, so I may stock up on more tomorrow. It has extra fiber, and tastes like normal pasta.

Chunky slow cooker spaghetti sauce recipe

OMGSPAGHETTI!

I realized way later that I forgot to put dried onions in this. I usually do, but I spaced it this time. It tastes fine either way.

7 oz tomato sauce
14 oz canned diced tomatoes (no salt added)
3 cloves of garlic, crushed or pureed
1 zucchini, chopped
2 veggie burger patties, torn into small pieces, or 1/2 cup veggie ground round
3 T olive oil
1/4 cup red wine
1 T Italian seasoning

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low heat for at least 6 hours. This recipe cooks down to about 3 cups of sauce. The nutrition info is for one half cup of sauce. Just the sauce, no pasta.

Pasta with white cheddar sauce, tuna, and carrots

the carrots are all hiding

I make some variation of this basic recipe on a regular basis. You can use pretty much any kind of cheese, any veggies, any meat (or none at all if you so desire), and any starch. There are infinite possible iterations, and it's fast, easy, simple, and tasty. Here's what I used this time.

3 medium carrots, sliced
2 cups dry shell pasta
4 oz. white cheddar cheese with black pepper in it
3/4 cup half and half
1 T corn starch
1/2 cup water, divided in half
1 5 oz can tuna, halfheartedly drained

Boil water for pasta, and add pasta when it's come to a rolling boil. Once the pasta is cooked to your liking, drain it and set it aside. If you're a good multitasker you can do this at the same time you make the carrots and sauce. Add carrots and half of the water to a non-stick skillet, turn onto med-high heat and cover. While your carrots are steaming, grate up 4 oz of white cheddar, and mix the corn starch with the other half of the water. Turn heat under skillet down to medium and add half and half and the corn starch mixture. Simmer until the sauce thickens, then stir in the grated cheese until it's melted. Add the tuna and mix in thoroughly, then fold the pasta into the sauce. Makes 4 smallish servings, 3 good sized servings, or 2 very large servings. The nutrition info is for 1/3 of the recipe.